The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-25


new comedy entitled "The Man Of Many Friends"
was produced at this theatre last night crowded and
fashionable house. 1t is from the prolific pen Of Mr..
Sterling Coyne and has had successful at the Hay
market London The plot, though professedy cockney,
ia Trerch than English in its construction Its
travagance however relieved by its effective situations
Its ingenious bypay, and its smart and telling dialogue
It is just sucha piece calculated to display to the
fullest advantage the Of theatre like Wal
lacks where point is made of giving to all the parts
matter how subordinate, their proper value. The
story turns upon the troubles Of worthy London
tradesman, a dolimaker by trade, upon whom
Fortune has unexpectedly thrust her favors in
the shape Of large inheritance TO crafty the fashion
able tastes of his wfe-a Mrs Pophar in her way but
with correct principles in the man-Poppes takes
villa at Norwood where he Is Immediately inundated by
shoals Of hungry hangerson with arstocratc titles but
empty purses, who faten upon his dinners, swnde him
out of his money break in upon all his old habits, and
render his life miserable To console himself under his mis-
fortunes he shuts himself up in sacred from intru
sion and spends his time manufacturing speaking doll
which, to his indispensable delight he succeeds in making
utter the word Papa" An old friend, Lincolnshire
farmer suddenly makes his appearance the great hor
Of his lady wife, who enreats Of him not to bring him
in contact with her arstocratc vmters He is compelled
to yield to her suppcaons and manages to shut his
boor Of friend in the with his doll. The quality
folks, mysed with the frequent visits of their host
this apartment and bent brewing mischief between
him and his wife, insinuate that there is improper
inmate concealed in ita suggestion alarmingy confirm
BY paintive cries of papa, papa occasionally pro-
ceedng from it, Peoples Is in his turn, rendered
picious Of the fidelity of his WIFE, by finding miniature
OF her which ahe had had secretly painted, present
to him the anniversary # their marriage,
in the possession Of Of his fashionable
visitors, who had purloined it out of her work table
Then follows of angry recrmination between hus
band and wife, which is only prevented from coming to
total separation by the sincere Affection which they
eItan for each other Poppls unable to induce her to
sher plot by which he sets them all by the ears, and
exposes their unworthineas hs wife. The groundess
of the scandal by which his fair fame has been i'm
reaohed is then demonstrated by the accidental prodnc
ton of the speaking doll, and IL piece ends with
Cancellation between the spouses, and mutual deter
ponation to abandon the "pomps and vanities" which
have caused them much unha ppiness.
From this brief description Of the plot will he
that there il germ Of originality in It, although
the situations bear striking resemblance to those Of
usual elegant in which all light pieces Of this
are presented at this theatre played admirably by
tors, all excellent In their respective lines, and
couraged by audience who seemed prepared to be
pleased the comedy had an unequivocal success. Wal
Popples the perplexed domaker kept the house
in Of laughter tswhoe evening although It struck
that he had vunrized HIS subject little more IL
would have been strictly in character Br0ughams
make up and pcrsonaton of the Hon. Arlington Veneer
The elegant friend cntle the part to be considered
drawn and most effective performance In Mrs. Popples
Mrs. Hoey put forth all her energies, and gave the
part all the force OF light and shade which its alternate
gaety and pathos require She ably supported by
Miss Kate Saxon clever little actress who Is rising
into reputation, Mrs. Brougbam and Mrs. Vernon. At
the close Of the piece the verdict Of the was so
warmly given in its favor, that Mr.. Wacot forward
and announced its nightly repetition this week.