New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-15
THE DRAMA AND MUSIC.
uTHE TALE OF COAT" AT DALY'S THEATRE

"THE TALE OF A COAT" AT DALY'S THEATRE
The old fire burns low. The light grows dim. 1t
seems almost Incredible that Dion Boucicaut author
of of the most renowned and successful dramas
al this century, should have put his name TO such
q farrago OF Gisjointed nonsense as brought out
al Days Theatre last evening by Sol Smith Russell
and his supporting company This preposerous piece
Of patchwork is entitled The Tale Of Coat but it
might fifty be styled the Tale OF Shattered In
iellect In this construction Mr. Boucicault appears
deliberately TO have attempted 10 write himself down
to the level OF the owcry and OF the EXTREMIST suburbs
OF remOtest Chicago But lie has gone much too far.
lie has succeeded in getting below the level even of
Mr.. Charles HOyt and Mr.. Augustus Thomas II he
had frankly called this giving farce of the widest
and most absurd Sort then the critic might feel in
duty bound to analyze 1t simply as a wclspTing Of
laughter. and to say that in aiming merely to tickle the
sides and provoke that noisy tumult which the Old
Testament compares to the cracking OF thorns under
a pot Mr.. Boucicault had accomplished what lie
desired. But Mr. Bouccaut dign1es thi, ext avsgant
burlesQue with the designation of comedy drama"
Can IL be that the author of London Assurance" old
Heads and Young Hearts The Colleen Bawn,' The
Shaughraun." Tho Jilt,7 Led Astray," and many
more Of the most popular dramas Of the last hafcen
tury expects the public 70 take such stun seriously
Time WAS when Mr.. BOucicault portrayed types, dc
picted characters. embodied the life of the day in
true and vital porsonases. set before US
the conflict II passions, the workings OF
ambitions. hopes and desires, the cashng Of hostile
aims, the development of individuality, the dramatic
force and pressure Of the time in way and with a
power that compelled the admiration and the cordial
tribute OF every critic. well as of every theatre
goer. But, alas, that dag is gone. lie embefs
of to-day glow no more, though the ancient
ashes ore raIed and siited with Jealous care.
The motive of The Tale Of Coat" is the love Of
poor inventor for the deserted mistress OF
rascal and the children whom that unconscona6lc
scoundrcl has left behind. pleasant theme this for
people of wholesome thoughts and blame,ess life TO
consider. And this motive is handled with rough
ness and coaIseness that would have been impossible
TO the Bouccault Of til rty years ago. Mr. Bouccault
refrain from venting his senile spite against the
newspapers which, rule, have treated him in the
most generous, indulgent and conSiderate manner
Hence he introduces a representative member oil
the press disgusting creature, who Turks be-
hind curtains to take notes of private converse
tons. who obtrudes his unwelcome presence into
family councils, who could only be palaiieicd
In Rsolence and unscrupulousness by the boor
who tried TO sneak on board the vessel which
was carrying the President of the United States
to the slip Baltimore in New York iiarbor the
other Mr.. ROuccault evidently eXults over the
delusion that in putting forward such rulfan rs a
recognized and permissible newspaper man ne is
gratifying all the grudges and grievances that he has
cherished for many years against the Journals oil ths
town. But The Tale of Coat Will be a short
"othine Of extremely brief existence and of no nnu
ence or credit anywhere the venerable playwright VIII
not be satisfied with the outcome from his malicious
design ,
II any saving grace could redeem "Thc Tale OF q,
Coat" the delightful acting Of sol smith kuSSciI
might do II. This is praseworthy indeed tmlshed'
delicate without the least stralnine after ehect t0uc-
ing and sympathetic, II failed TO please the all-
dence. It's patlOs near to tears, and rs hImor
enforced and ENJOYABLE. John p. kellcrI IN
the Villains part excellent and Miss Linda Dletz
as Miss Cora Welby Mrs. Mary BARKER as Mrs John
Carter and Miss Mcrr Osborne as Bohhie' acqUlt-
ted themselves well. The little boy and girl who
took the parts OF Dick" and Ehe" were charming
child rem and did not make nuisance Of themselves.
as children generally do on the stage; But " The
Tale of Coat" is the tale OF old, unhappy far-on
things and cannot be too soon buried