"THE DRAMA."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 142, 22 June 1871, Page 2

"THE DRAM A."

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir, — Will you kindly nod space ia your columns for the following observations on the present degraded stale of what is now unfitly termed the "Drama." It is extracted from a lecture ou the " Infiueuce of the A^e upon Music and the Drama." Some recent exhibitions in the sg-called dramatic line in Nelson may give value to the observations of the lecturer — Mr. Henry O'Neil, A.R.A. :— "The drama gives ihe clearest insight into the moral aud intellectual state of a people, and depends upon its degree of unison with the temper of the moment, and therefore change and novelty are less pernicious to its advance than they are to \otber arte. Though Shakspeare finds in these days no appreciative audience, yet he will live for ever ; but attempts at revivalism like thoso of Charles Kean, who clothed him in gorgeous army by the help of scenery und costume, aro very questionable on the score of taste ; and what kind of pleasure can he derived from our retrospection of viewing correct interiors of prisons, real pumps and water, or a real hansornvcab, or locomotive ? It is fitter for the stage to die, if it can only live by such miserable expedients. Theie is no help for the absence of original genius, or even for the want of appreciation of high and earnest work. The temper of the age is not of a character to call forth the one, and so it ignores the other. Tragedy and comedy we have not , but we have in their place a mongrel production termed a " Drama " — a compound of sensation and buffoonery; and vulgarity does not produce disgust, nor indecency arouse indignation iv either the highest or lowest resorts for amusemeut. The public press, indeed, asserts its great power, but fashion or " public opinion " is vastly its superior ia influence on all matters relating to art." Should you think the extract worthy of insertion, I will send the lecturer's remarks on music, which may do something to correct the public " taste " for " Niggermiustrels, music-hall vocalists, and the crude novelties and spasmodic effects on the so-called music of the future." I am, &c, E. T.