Theatrical condemnations are now of so rare occurrence, that the
younger order of playgoers most have contemplated with something like a feeling of awe, the summary justice inflicted on The Love-look, a luck- less dramatic legend, which was produced last Monday at the Olympic. So decided was the opinion of the audience, that the first night was also the only one of performance. On the principle of finding" sermons in stones and good in everything," we would deduce from this unusual ca- lamity, the necessity of avoiding the drearily obscure in expounding a moral notion to a theatrical audience. We have not the slightest doubt that the plot would have looked exceedingly well as a story in one of the old Christmas Annuals, and that the supernatural warning against a mor- bid love of wealth would have been found wholesome and edifying if couched in a narrative form. But on the stage it is dangerous to be slight and dark at the same time ; and on this occasion, the audience, finding that little was done for their amusement, while their powers of comprehension were severely taxed, maliciously recreated themselves by drowning all the pathos of the concluding situations in floods of tumult- uous laughter. This same Love-lock was a great mistake, though the language in many instances bore marks of literary genius.
Previous page
