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Haverly's Brooklyn Theatre.

Last week, the patrons of Haverly's Theatre were treated to an excellent performance of a well written drama, descriptive of scenes and incidents peculiar to border life in the Far West. Last night the curtain rose on a representation of another phase of the history of the progress of civilization towards the extreme western section of the country; but this time the dramatic story was presented in a very different form, being told in mediocre language, while its characters were performed by a company no better than the play they appear in. The "Prairie Waif" is a drama written expressly for the Western hero, W. F. Cody; it is simply a gallery play, and of an inferior order at that and the "boys" who worship at the shrine of "Buffalo Bill" seemed to realize the fact intuitively, for they crowded the gallery to excess. But this was done at the cost of a meagre attendance in the parquet and dress circle - the lower part of the house not being half full. The play runs through four acts, during which three attractive set scenes are pressented - that in the second act being a very pretty picture. There are two redeeming features in the performance of the tragic comedy, and these are the presence of the Indian guide and army scout, Buffalo Bill whose manly and handsome physique is seen to advantage, and the appearance of the Cheyenne Indians - there are two of them and an interpreter. The former imparts interest to one act of the play by the exhibition of Buffalo Bill's skill with the rifle, and the war dance of the Indians in the last act are attractive novelties. Beyond this the play drags wearily, except to the gallery audience, who are gratified with the rather common variety business introduced, and with the stereotyped blood and thunder business which characterizes portions of the drama. The actors played only to the crowded part of the house, and one of them pitched his voice as if he desired to be heard in the street. Such a play and such a performance following in the wake of the "Danites" and other attractive dramas which have been presented at this theatre this season so far, naturally cause a reaction which must necessarily tell badly upon the receipts at the box office. Variety in the make up of a theatrical season's programme is an essential requisite; but due to regard should always be had to the nature of the presentation, so as to keep up the high standard of general excellence aimed at.

Haverly's Brooklyn Theatre.

Last week, the patrons of Haverly's Theatre were treated to an excellent performance of a well written drama, descriptive of scenes and incidents peculiar to border life in the Far West. Last night the curtain rose on a representation of another phase of the history of the progress of civilization towards the extreme western section of the country; but this time the dramatic story was presented in a very different form, being told in mediocre language, while its characters were performed by a company no better than the play they appear in. The "Prairie Waif" is a drama written expressly for the Western hero, W. F. Cody; it is simply a gallery play, and of an inferior order at that and the "boys" who worship at the shrine of "Buffalo Bill" seemed to realize the fact intuitively, for they crowded the gallery to excess. But this was done at the cost of a meagre attendance in the parquet and dress circle - the lower part of the house not being half full. The play runs through four acts, during which three attractive set scenes are pressented - that in the second act being a very pretty picture. There are two redeeming features in the performance of the tragic comedy, and these are the presence of the Indian guide and army scout, Buffalo Bill whose manly and handsome physique is seen to advantage, and the appearance of the Cheyenne Indians - there are two of them and an interpreter. The former imparts interest to one act of the play by the exhibition of Buffalo Bill's skill with the rifle, and the war dance of the Indians in the last act are attractive novelties. Beyond this the play drags wearily, except to the gallery audience, who are gratified with the rather common variety business introduced, and with the stereotyped blood and thunder business which characterizes portions of the drama. The actors played only to the crowded part of the house, and one of them pitched his voice as if he desired to be heard in the street. Such a play and such a performance following in the wake of the "Danites" and other attractive dramas which have been presented at this theatre this season so far, naturally cause a reaction which must necessarily tell badly upon the receipts at the box office. Variety in the make up of a theatrical season's programme is an essential requisite; but due to regard should always be had to the nature of the presentation, so as to keep up the high standard of general excellence aimed at.