The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-14

Wausek'v Thcstrs-A New Ce0eay.
"Ths Game Of Lifs." comedy in ave asts, ~ john
Brougham, was produced at waack's theatre On Non
day evening last The scene Of the comedy V laid IN
London and the action takes place In the house o. Nv
smilsr Dyott) merchant in pecpniary ddcultiss Ha
hopes to b released rich old UNCLE Adam GrssnlsAf
orr Rsks) which uncle has most provokinsE seen a.
to marry young wife (Mrs Conway) Ths Smilsrs In.
ducs the Grssnlsafs to visit thsm and while at thsia
mouse it appears Chow We cannot say) that Mrs. Grssn,
leaf Was in love with young man, named Rupert
Wolfe ester, who took to drinkingn vas Tilted by
her. and went away to Australia Hs returns At moss
unfortunate period, ascertans that she " married. de-
sres to be revengsd her. and offers to sell her let
tors and his revenge 1t the Time She refuses to buy
them, but at the same time ID greatly distressed
because she has told her husband about this or
msr attachment. By means OF sort Of Paul Fry, hrs
Chattsrton Drake Brougham) Smer hnds out AL these
cireumstancss and secures Of the letters ct whie
Grsenleaf only laughs any sensible man would Thia
makes three acts In the fourth act We kAvs "srone
scene" between Snlsr and Wolfe The latter is plsd
with wns and boasts that Mrs. Grsenleaf was criminal
with him previous to her marriage This is overheard
by Greeneaf ct the back Of the stage and he casts Oh
his wife. In the 9th sot have virtue rewarded and
vice punished. The returned Australian has become
SOBER and CONF aatvely vrtuous He visits the gentle
6mer, and INDUCES in vsric remarks In tho
course OF which he usss the fair fame Of Mrs Greenlsaf
This lady with her husband hidden behind scrser
and hear the entire conversation. Smsr Is decidedly
crushed and the GresAeafs again perfectly happy c
is the main plot and there is q small underplot that
to say there several other characters introduced
There Is Mrs Sner Miss +. Dean), and Mr. Wynd.
ham (rs. stephsns) two fashionable Juveniles who
led at tender age because Is the fashion. Then
there buxom widow, Mrs. Joybel (Ars Brougham),
vifh ooi ~hci
ally giving every lady advice OF which they take nos
tce and ways announcing that she is accustomed to
speak her mind irsely-as proof Of which she snubs
Mrs. siler Mrs Cramsr before Miss Smiler and endea~
to persuade that interesting creature to do5ey her
parents. Then We have Mr. Shadow (Walcot, gentle.
remarkable for nothing but extraordinary felicity
at mis- quotations and desire to retail okes the points
of which he has forgotten. In this he is imitation Of
Laird Small in "Ths King Of the Commonf" There 10
also melancholy partner of Smilers-a Mr.. Grim, who
has but little to say, and is only remarkable for
lugubriousness The piece plays three hours, and the
language, though rometimss well chosen, Ii never
powerful witty and hardly rises above
mon.place. As drama, it is faulty in construction.
Too much is made out Of the facts connessd with Mrs.
letters and any sensible person would laugh
at them the old gentleman did and yet there are two
three very long founded upon this and two
whole acts required to introduce 1t and prepare the
audience. They yawn over 1t Of course. Tho STRONG
tuauoD ~ the end Of the fourth act is imprebabe and
1t is difficult to how g. eerleaf and his wife get into
the through door which Smilsr has just locked.
This situation is really the only incident worth noting in
the whole pecs and the last scene, though effective,
is not natural Old Greenleaf would not be likely
to send to his wife, in tho first place; and
in the eecend place, he never would have sought
for her af or the impe, tinent answer dictated
by Mrs Smiler. A the comedy Is called the "Game Of
Ie" have right to point out Its departures from
nature At least tho prominent It generally
we'll acted. Mrs. Conway rather stiltided in her
reading, and deSamatcry where she should have
been colloquial. Miss Dean, who played her arst
speaking part tried to make too much Of It. She viii
learn that vocaton of actress Ia to make up
shit" them. Mrs. Stephens tmoked her Neerschaun1
with the gravity of German student but did not seem
easy In male attire and unfortunate in her tailor
She seemed sll hty uncertain in her lower limbs and
did not sfaEd still for moment. She had very good
idea OF the part however, and gave the lines their full
force. Mr. Brsugham initiated in dress q welLkncwu
surgeon whose eccentric hats have made him the talk
the portion Of the town in which he resides It il an
arachroniFm to Intro dncs this character local in New
York, in pay with the laid in London but IL
was very funny and highly reiished by portion of the
audience. Mr.. Blake played Adam Greenleaf very
hneyit was fitted to him and he Allied it up Lester a.
Rupert, Walcot IS Shadow, Rea as Grim, Dyott as
Smier, Mira Cramer Mrs Smiler and Mrs. Br ,ueha
as the Widow, clever usual and deserve credit
The piece was well mounte and generally well dressed.