New-York tribune., 1896-10-04

Some beautiful passages Of the text were neces-
sarily sacrificed. because no audience could have
endured the prolonged sitting required for the
complete presentation; but excellent judgment
was shown in the curtament. and scenes like
the apparition episodes Of the last act and the
obsolete jests of Cloten could be conveniently
omitted Veteran play -goers united in declar-
ing that it was Of the best Shakespearian
performances ever witnessed on the London
stage.
THE PROBLEM PLAYS DISAPPEARANCE.
While Shakespeare finds in the Lyceum home
worthy Of the best traditions of the English
stage. there is less evidence of high aims ana
noble purpose in the preparations for a busy
season. The most hopeful sign OF elevation OF
public taste is the disappearance of the Problem
Play. Every play of this class seemed to he pre-
destined to failure last year: and there is no
room anywhere this season for what Mr. Pinero
has pantivey described earnest drama"
There has been wholesome moral revolt
against these disagreeable. dispiriting and de-
moralizing plays, but nothing Of permanent
value has yet been substituted for them. Mr..
Wilson Barrett has made fortune out of THE
Sign Of the Cross" and has written new piece
for himself entitled "The Daughters of Baby
lon." which is. presumably, of the same class:
but the phenomenal success Of the so-called re-
ligious drama. with its narrowing realism and
turgid literary style, is to be explained by the
patronage of new classes Of play y-goers who are
not ordinarily seen in theatres
The most noteworthy sign Of the trend OF pub
lie taste is the increasing popularity of musical
comedy This is the bridge between the concert
hall and the theatre. and it is widening every
year. In place of a half-doZen theatres devoted
last year TO this class of entertainment. there
will be a full dozen this season. The Garrick
Theatre, where Mr.. John Hare and Mr.. Willard
have recently made a gallant fight for legitimate
comedy. has already been reopened with mu-
steal comedy called Lord Tom Noddy," and the
Court Theatre will speedily produce The Belle
of Cairo grotesque piece of the same kind
with songs and dances. The London climate Is
depressing and audiences insist upon having
their recreation under bright and cheerful condi-
tons. The musical comedy, while less inane
than the variety shows Of the concert halls. is
hardly more serious. but it is merry and froc-
some and IT drives dull care away. The
Geisha," at Days, is the best one Of the class
and it promises to run another year: but every
piece of this kind is prospering. Veterans Of tho
stage complain that the singers and dancers OF
the CONCERT halls are crowding them out Of the
theatres. and 1t is true
Indeed ii is almost pathetic to observe how
many experienced actors and actresses now
employed in melodrama, apparently because
there is no better work available for them
Stages where such pieces as Boys Together"
"A Blind Marriage" and '"rhe Duchess of Cool
gardie" are now running are crowded with tai
ent which is suffering from lack OF congcnal
employment Veterans have their living to
earn, and with the concert-hall singers swarm
ing upon stages once exclusively occupied WITT
legitimate drama. they are glad to obtain en-
gagements in noisy and lurd meodrama.
The new Drury Lane play follows the lines
which the late Sir Augustus Harris considered
essentia. to success on that stage. 1t is
nance of the Australian gold fields. illustrating
by a series of picturesqu, scenes and exciting
episodes the life and adventures of miners in
a portion Of the British Empire III which Eng
lishmcr ought. perhapg to have a keener in
terest than they have heretofoee taken. South
Africa had its turn last year III Cheer. Boys
Cheer" and Australia holds the field this sea-
son, receiving treatment that Is almost too gen.
erous. for every scene is laid under the South
ern Cross without glimpse OF the mother
country. AS a study of Colonial lifc and pi-
oneering it Is more interesting, II less Inform
ing than a three column letter in The Times
from Westralia: and II the tones OF local color
are opaque rather than luminous. or II the
scenes are overdrawn and grossly exaggerated
there is plenty of action with many startling
SURPRISES 1t is not necessary for any one TO
he critical respecting melodrama at Drury Lane
1t is the crude romance OF the stage. designeo
to startle as we'll as To amuse audience. and
Il serves fairly honest. If not an exalted pur-
pose when the lights turned down after
virtue has triumphed and vilany has been
thwarted and exposed.
Better examples Of romantic drama than The
Duchess Of Coogardic' speedily to be pro-
vided for the entertainment Of London play
goers The st. Jamess Theatre Is To be re-
opened with The Prisoner Of Zenda' and The
Two Vaga bonds" version Of French play.
Les Deux Gosses." which has been highly
successful in Paris is to he produced al The
Princesss ''Cymbclne" and Richard lII are
to be followed at the Lyccum by an Engllsn
version Of Sardou's Madame Sans-Genc. with
Sir Henry irving Napoleon. The Hay mar
ket is TO he reopened with a play founded upon
Mr. Stanley Weyman's story. Under the ked
Robe" That beautiful drama Rosemary ~
TO be restored To the Criterion stage, and MI
Barrie's THE Little Minister" Mr. Gilbert
Packers "rhe Seats OF the Mighty and new
piece by Mr. r. G. Carton, entitled the Tree
OF Knowledge" are to be features Of the dra-
matte season. Mr. Alexander and Miss Nelson
are also TO appear at the st James's Theatre
in "As You Like It." season which has been
virtually opened with almost ideal produc-
tion Of ''Cymbelnn" has acquired distinction AT
the outset and is not without promise.