Year: 1869

A New Era for the American staso'


II is manifest that o new era has dawned for
the American stage. We are already far re-
moved from the Puritanical days when repres-
sive enactments against "playgoing were
passed and enforced in almost every STATE
Even the pulpit has well nigh ceased to anatn-
ematize actors and actresses, although occa-
sionally we still hear Of such an outburst OF
holy wrath against the theatre as was INDUCED
in few Sundays since by Poughkeepsie par
son. But while few country preachers rival
the Rev. Mr. Smyth in furious invectives upon
the nudities and other enormities of the Black
Crook order, without, perhaps, having so con-
scientioAsly made personal study OF them,
more liberal divines, like the Rev. DIR. Bel
lows, recognize the capabilities Of the stage as
a school of morals and as q source OF widely
extended genial influences. Such divines ac-
cept Talfourds assertion :-sIt is only in the
theatre that any image Of the real grandeur OF
humanity, any picture of generous heroism and
noble self-sacrifce is poured on the imagina-
tions and sent warm into the hearts Of the vast
body of the people. There do the low
est and most ignorant catch their only glimpse
Of that poetic radiance which sheds it's glory
around our being While they gaze they forget
the petty concerns of their own individual
lot, and recognize and rejoice in their kindred
with o nature capable Of high emprise, Of
meek suffering and Of defiance to the powers
of agony and the grave. Surely, the
art which makes the heart of the child leap
with strange joy and enables the old man to
fancy himself again child is worthy of no
mean place among the arts that refine our
manners by exalting our conceptions" Nor
is the happy effect to be under-estimated which
is produced by the theatre merely by affording
evenings of healthy relaxation and innocent
merriment to community like our own, fever
ishly overworked during tie day. In fine, Our
Poughkeepsie parson himself could not honestly
repeat against the modern stage all the male
dictions which the early Christians consistently
and reasonably hurled at the obscenities and
denominations of Paganism as exhibited ON the
stage in their times


Notwithstanding all its blemishes and de-
fects, of European origin, the American stage
has at length become an institution. New York
can now boast of having some of the largest
and finest theatres in the world, and plans
have already been formed for the erection OF
others still larger and finer. Neither London
nor Paris nor any other European capital has
proportionately greater theatre-going popu-
lation. The numerous experiments which
it has encouraged during few years
past to introduce to the American
public many of the best and most distinguished
representatives of the stage as it exists in
foreign countries-in England, France, Ger
many, Italy, Spain, and even China and
Japan-s -strikingly illustrate the cosmopolitan
character which our great metropolis is
acquiring. Not all Of these experiments have
been successful; and main reason for this
fact is to be found in the excessive competition
which success Of any kind is apt to provoke
here. For example, the Introduction Of opera
Jo,l6e into New York was signal for the
uprising of host of rivals and imitators of
Bateman and Grau. Burlesques became the
order of the day or Of the night in all the
minor theatres and negro minstrel saloons.
The airs of Offenbach's operettas were echoed
on every hand organ in the streets, as well
as by the orchestras of the very theatres


most ambitious to promote q new Shaksperian
revival The direct result of thus OVERRIDING
the whole business was the dispersion of the
two leading optra bou1e troupes, which were
sent flying about the country from Albany
to Washington. These troupes, indeed, viii
soon come back to New York-the one to
the elegant little theatre of John Brougham,
and the other to produce in the French theatre


la Vie Parisienne,' at the well merited
benefit to be rendered to Manager Grau on
Easter Monday. Especially in view Of the
utter failure of Italian Opera during the pre-
sent season, except when galvanized to q
semblance of life equally brilliant and brief on
the memorable kellogg nights, the two opera
5o,lDe companies will be heartily welcomed on
their return. At the same time it is due to
both these troupes to say that by the splendid
mise-o,s- scene of some OF the operettas per-
formed by them, by the completeness of their
arrangements for filling subordinate parts and
for their choruses, as well as by the superior
qualifications Of certain artists, either as sing
ers or as actors, or as both, they have con-
tributed in no small measure to elevate the
standard Of public taste. Their beneficial
influence is perceptible in all the theatres in
town. No manager in the new theatrical era
put piece on the stage in the slov,nly man
ner which used to be tolerated.


Every manager begins to be aware that he
must spare no expense to secure the very best
and most renowned artists Of the day If he
would win the golden opinions which the
American people lavishly bestow upon the