New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-24
THE LOCAL THEATRES LAST NIGHT.

4 farce called /" ImaginatiOn"-a title which. Tor a
farce is extremely infecltous-was brought forward
last night at the Fourteenth street Theatre. 1t had
been acted before, in Philadelphia. but was now Tor
he first time represented here. The piece was written
by Mr. sidney Roscnfeld. writer more remarkable FOR
persistent industry than FOR dramatic faculty
At this of the year a light entertainment Is
more appropriate than a serious one: vet. when the
great preponderanre OF tiivaty the stage con
idered, the observer who for the good OF the
stage and OF the public cannot view with unqualified
favor an accession TO the stock Of farccs. already
prod gtous The stage Is degraded when it is devoted
Overmuch to nonsense and the public tone Is lowered
when the general disposition toward vacuous levty
Is unduy stimulated. The welfare OF the dramatic
profession imperatively requires q return to the
better standard of reason taste. and thought. New
theatres-far too many OF them !-are going mp. In all
directions, dramatic enterprise, whether new DID,
is mostly promoted by spectators; the ferocity of
competition will presently prompt resort to the most
grotesque expedients; and more and more unless the
current for hippant rinng with arr and life IS
opposed and checked the theatre will be turned into
q mere shop, wherein fools will Singer to provide
subsistence for ney-rrabbing janitorS
Many the late Dion Boucicaut said-and
saM truly-that the favorite idea Of the American
dramatist is carCature Of character, invested with
4 flowing structure of Dialogue. Mr.. Bouccnult
not martyr to principle whether intellectual or
moral. but he certainly knew it by sight and he In
tmaed il In his implied condemnation OF that plan OF
play making. The idea still remains prominent "Mr.
Potter OF Texas has staked through the land, bowling
and snorting, type Of American manliness Mr..
Crane has fourished with his parody on the char
acter OF an American senator, and last night TINS
public was again favored by Mr.. Richard Golden with
ns hav-seed embodiment OF Old Jed Prouty Those
stage figures not representative They are wholly
out OF proportion They only remarkable as the
exaggerated and generally annoying reflex Of I'M
pleasant peculartes Traits o. humor are conminclcd
with their odions attributes, and by these they are
measmobly redeemed. Dut American character and
life not justly portrayed In those carcatures. nor
is any good effect wrought upon the public by the
display Of them The Is i-bred, common.
coarse; and the total result Is more than tho
celebration of vulgar eccentrIccs which selfrcspcct
and good taste should prompt n dramatst rather 10
suppress than to exploit.
piece called " Irish Inspiration" manufactured by
Mr.. H. F. Taylor. produced last night nj the
Peoples Theatre, by Mr.. VI ". IIancy Mr.. Fred
erick Pauding played AT the Columbus Theatre In
THE struggle for Life" The meloirama OF The
Midnight Alarm given At the Grand Opera
House.
in Brooklyn Augustn DAYS company appeared
was cordially welcomed by crowded house. To
night Ada Rehan will repeat her matchlcss perform
snce Of the Tanning Of The Shrew.'