New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-11
THE DR1MA.
THE CITY DIRECTORY.


piece called "The City Directory" was performed
at the Biou Theatre last night for the first time in
New-York aud troop Of fourteen players, called
Russells Company Of Comedians, appeared in 1t, be-
fore an audience that crowded this little theatre to
its extreme limit "The City Directory IS apuy
enough designated in the official play-bl, Musical
A5surdity. such it is. The absurdity of it. how.
ever much exceeds the music OF all the connections
Of trash that have been brought forward since tho
taste for folly in this is perhaps the most
absolutely fOrmleSs. u contains literally no fabric
Of structure that reason apprehend, while tho
style Of il is 4 drve Of mawldsh plaiitude commnsef
with nauseous slang. The brightest OF Its Jokes Is
reference to the man who was so plous that no
opened oysters with prayer. This gem Is 80 eX'
ceptlonal as to be refulgent.
In 80 far as there is any glimmer Of plan the plan Is
anciett Eight persons bear the name OF John smith
They arc brought into association IN an apartment
house. and they become entansled in web Of con-
fusion They are brought together IN theatre where
they dance and sing They are finally assembled ~
a country house, where they sing ana dance III
cidcntal rehearsal Of play IS given, and the a~k
ward WAYS Of amateurs are ridiculed. There IS a
little Of everything. The final effect is that OF
variety show, such as is given in London at the EN-
pire, each performer taking turn II all the chaf'
acters in The CITY Directory at the close 70 as
cend on flying machines, drop down through hct"Iy
chimney and be carried Niagara Fails IN Whecl'
larFOWS-d the Nlllc hlu-uS SclttV H9 INNS ~ N''
Watts-thero would be- no incongruity with the resi-
Of the work in these proceedings.
The piece in brief, is rubbish Of the most ablect
and contemplate kind The players, on the other
hand are mostly persons oil q certain kind Of ability,
md they awaken and sustain real interest. They have
the cypsy quality which Is always attractive. They can
assume serious phases Of the dramatic chara ter and
the dramatic life. They are skilful in mimicry, and
some OF them can sing There is one exceptionally
handsome woman III the company. tall. slender
graceful and possessed Of of those beautiful
faces that 50 commnglc pensive gravity with sudden
mirth that they make the Gazer sad Among tho
men there is one youth who has copied Mr.. Nat
Goodwin, and who /, like enough to that comedian
10 lie his twin brother. The Flch bass voice OF
Mr. William +. Mack IS conspicuous dnOns tho
attractive features OF the troop. No bass voice
Of such compass has been heard here on the dramatic
stag. since the DAYS of George Honey. II would
be loug and tedious and useless TO euunlerdte the
variety incidents OF this representation Oleh ul3
tone. was deplOrdby common a. well As dlouc' ana
af such times a common ana idlOuc clement IN tho
audience responded. This is the corrosive blemlsn
81 hi, part of cntertainment-tat II VIII s"Op 70
please tie baldheaded old Founders, VINO 20 Wherever
ihere ara legs To be and coarse antics 10 10
hailed with their balcful gufaw All the same tleTo
is "A considerable element OF frohc IN the dolMSs
of those actors, such "a, anybody might ENJOY mo
company is an expansion Of the plan OF the salisbury
TroubadOurS OF many years ago. It's pruccedDiS5
might be improved and made valuable by tlc super
vision Of a severe. IudlclOus. and delicate TASTE
Tine reception accorded To IL was extremely cordial,
but the audience Of mixed character mostly
of the common sort. H.. 49,. = A..
company:
John smith, a capitalist. ......-....J W Jennia,,
john smith, j; an atl,e,' t,,,,.,i