The Express.
London, England, 1861-11-11 00:00:00

(Stamped, Id. Additional.)

DRAMA.

LYCEUM.

The production at this theatre on Saturday
evening of Pap-o'•Day; or, Sarourneen Deelish, adds
another to the "sensation" dramas which are now preva-
lent in the metropolis. The new drama, however, has
much to remove it from the average ruck of such prodne-
tioos, and may probably take rank next to the Colleen Salo;
two chief points of which, the tremendous " header" and
the introduction of the priestly seriocomic character, are
reproduced, of course with variations. With plenty of
opportunities for some of the principal actors, with some
scenes full of life and bustle, with two or three deaths,
several struggles, an Irish dance, and an Irish row, admira-
bly placed upon the stage, and with most charm ieg scenery,
Peep-o%Day ought to be a great success ; and it will be, but
not until it has been reduced by one-third its present length.
Four hours and forty minutes passed on Saturday night
between the rise and the fall of the curtain, and though of
course one or two of the elaborate scenes required some time
for "setting," yet most of the time was consumed by the
most prolix dialogue, in which the faded audience were in-
formed over and over again of things a knowledge of which
was not particularly necessary for the comprehension of the
plot, and which were set forth in the most did►ctic lan-
guage. Mr. Falconer's shipwreck invariably takes place on
this rock ; not even Sir Bulwer Lytton's favourite meta-
physical characters talk so lengthily as and omasimially
when a moral problem is to be stated or an ethical truth
evolved, the raptauthor finds the English language insufficient
for his purpose, and makes his exponent burst forth into
Hibernian John:anew. That Mr. Falconer can write wall,
very well, we know—be proves it even in the piece now
under notice. Several of the speeches given to the exiled
hero rise far above the average in the dignity of their pathos ;
some of the dry and caustic remarks of the priest are pregnant
with truthful wit ; and it is the more to be regretted, then,
that Mr. Falconer has not a stronger retarding power over
his pen, and that he does not foresee that the enormous
quantity of dialogue which he imports into his piece hall
the effect of wearying his audience and seriously interfering
with the development of his plot.
Upon "John Doe," one of Mr. Denim's admirable stories
published in the series "Tales of the O'Hare Family," Mr.
Falconer has founded his drama.

The acting generally is not merely very good, but at least
two of the artists engaged have undertaken characters far
inferior to their abilities to strengthen the general rest.
Mr. Walter Lacy shows how artistic capability and know-
ledge of stage business can erect a mere wsllcing gentleman
into a person of interest, while Mr. Addison's quaint talents
rendsr• priest, a person really wholly unconnected with the
plot, and sent on to fill up "carpenters' eoaw," a cha-
racter highly appreciated and talked for by the audience.
Mrs. Bowers is an azoellset representative of the heroine
of domestic drama—graceful, impassioned, sad pathetic
without exaggeration. Mr. Vain played the hero with
much quiet natural force, and Mr. Spencer carefully re-
frained from giving his villany such undue prominence
as certain of the situations might have lad him to indulge in.
Mr. Falconer's representation of the soft-hearted Irish
peasant was marked by a great deal of genuine humour, and
his occasional outbursts of rough pathos were natural and
well-placed. He does not give, perhaps', the thorough
rendering of Mr. Boncicault, but he is many degrees
beyond the conventional stage Irishman. A hearty burst
of applause welcomed Mr. Charles Selby to his new home.
So genuine an artist could be ill spared from the London
stage. Admirably and most pictureequesly made-up, and
reminding one strongly, at the first glance, of the late Mr-
0. Smith, Mr. Selby graduated in his new character of villain
successfully, and passed with all the honours. Min Weston
has a good appearance and lady-like manners, bat she has yet
much to learn—one thing in particular, that if on the stage
you would wish to be beard by the audience it is absolutely
necessary loops. your mouth.

To slithose, thee, delighting in " sensation " planes we
me (taking for granted that the necessary reductions will be
made) heartily recommend Pet", o' Day, promising them
that the were of the Old Quarry alone shall repay their in-
vestment. Or. Saturday sight an overbnmming audience
testified to its success by constant plaudits and re-mils, and
by much delaying the final catastrophe from the penist-
soca with which they covered the Meet with bouquets.