Year: 1869

Public attention has Deen repeatedly Cdlicu


in this country as well as in Europe, TO the
pery erted taste of playgoers. The pruriency


of theatrical exhibitions, especially il the form
| of nearly nude female performers, has been


most properly reprobated in the pages of The
! TRIBUNE, as well as in the manifesto of the
! Lord Chamberlain, who is by law the licenser
! and censor of theaters in England but there


is a consideration which has been overlooked
| in the Ircprobation, and should be fairly
weighed in appOrtioning the blame to the pub
lie. And this is the amount of amusement
provided for the necessities or requirements OF
the DAYS Mr. Charles kean, Mr.. Booth, and
Mr.. Wallack, may be properly cited as an


Illustration of this rule and its adaptation to
the wants of the playgocrs. The first of these


gentlemen, without in any way pandering to
the bad taste and worse passions of
mankind, produced the Winters Tale at
a minor theater of London, in a style
and with a magnifcencc that left nothing
to be desired. Purity and correctness Of
detail-every modern appliance of scientific
and artistic excellence was freely layished on
the stage; and the result was an unprecedented
measure Of public favor. The two latter gentle
men, Mr. Booth especially, deserve commenda-
ton for conducting their establishments on the
same principle, and certainly with the same
success. II is true, as in the time of Hamlet


the PLAYERS aim Is to hold, as it were, the
mirror up to Nature" The age only alters the
conditions. This present generation has natu-
raj inclination for all that is sensational and
attractive to the senses. We are not one whit
the less susceptible of the emotions OF the finer
chords OF nature in us. Even the most vulgar
audience is Just rs much moved now as ever it
was by the successful trial of virtue. ThediscOm-
ftue of vice, however triumphant and the senti


ments of cnnobling character which fall from
the players lips are readily applauded by the
galleries of every theater in every country.
But no one can read the novels Of the day, or
be conversant with literature, without being
aware OF the tendency Of the public for Startling
effects We are moved more by our sen,es. If,
therefore, as we believe to be the case, one
of the rcadiest means of moving the public
mind is through the Drama, those wh) truly
understand its true objects should actommo-
date IL 10 the prevailing fancy The mind is
easily haJituated TO the scenes it Witnesses.
The Spanish ladies look with pleasure OH


scenes in the bull-ring which excite only hor


ror in the breasts of Others and smie with
simple incredulty at the dcmoralizing tendency
of such exhibitions when urged on them by
strangers so the true interest of the Iurvey


ors of public amusement is to elevate the public
taste By exhibitions of true art, sustained by
tho best and newest specimens of muse and
painting, which should satisfy the seyeicst as
well as the simplest taste. Experience has
shown that the most popular is the highest
style of musical entertainment. Musad and
Julien made the most Of their palpable hits in
familiarizing Mozart and Mendelssohn to the
shilling audiences which crowded their concerts.
The public is always willing to pay well for a
good thing. But the good thing must be
dressed and served to suit the taste of the day,
which is, as we have before said, sensational.
And if the plays of Shakespeare are put on the
stage with all the adjuncts which characterize
the other popular exhibitions which draw
thousands to such spect0cles as the Forty
Thieves or the Genevieve de Brabant, minus
the indecency implied, as in the French The
ater, or broadly suggested, as in the figures
and postures of the fair dancers at Niblos and
elsewhere, the natural result is n popularity
such as Mr.. Booth and such artists as he most
deseryedly command. Mankind is never wholly
bad sThere are always strings which pull the
mind ariglh, if the hand that moves them
knows its cunning 1t is because proprietors
presupDOse a severity of taste which does not
exist, and are careless of effects, more often
are parsimOnious in the outlay necessary for
the suitable production of the best efforts of
dramatsts, that what is called the Legitimate
Drama has appeared to go down. With more
liberal and scientific rendering, it would again
take its proper place in popular favor.


We believe it is a very long time since we
have had the pleasure Of commanding ANYTHING