New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-22
" WILD OATS" At BUTTONS THEATEH.

" VIVID OATS" At BUTTONS THEATER.
or all the more than two score dramas written oy
the unfortunate John OKeefe, each one OF whoa
achieved in It's day a considerable measure OF success
two only have retained their popularity hl the process
fine The Poor Soldier" and wild Oats, are -
great fayortes with the public cow as they were my
wears ago. and the former is much esteemed fof 70
touching pahos the latter is admired for It's ors
hancy and dev may-care-ish- ness
In constructing his plays, and especially bis longer
comedies, O Keefe most audaciou-ly dehciens o.
all rules OF dramatic composition; the most unnaturaA
and artificial characters were invented and thrown 10
gcther by some impossible combination of incidents;
and individuals Of the most opposite and unccngenia
dispositions are made to work harmonously together
to cany out some absurdly inconsistent plot "Whd
Oats is example of this recklessness OF oonsiruc
ton With plot trarsparenty inconsistent that u
will not bear the slightest investigation into its probs-
bity; with series Of incidents which could not exist
in nature; and it'll most heterogeneous assortment
of characters il s nevertheless agreeable play and
seldom fails to amuse if it does not greatly instruct a
audience. The language. though sometimes stited
and bombastic is often r,plete with genial humor and
sparkling wit Absurd incidents succeed each other
with almost bewdering rapidly, and the persons Of
Ire drama are 80 COnstdnt. INV f>'fU
situations that the specuations Of the beholder ~
how they will get out Of their ridiculous positions,
quite destroys all anxiety to know how trey got int
them. While the piece is in progress the spectator
has no time to examine into its details, aud it must b
an aterthought that mprcsses him with the absurdisy
of the whole the present result satisfactory, though
the items will not bear aft,r-in,pecton.
The interest of the piece centers upon Rover, he
ci.. Ma tanA
Harry Thunder possesses little individuality Of his OWE.
and is on the whole rather faint shadow Of HIS moro
brilliant companion. Rover's dashing manner. his
ready generosity his of-hand bravery. and his punc-
tilious sense Of honor when the question of right and
wrong comes fairly before him. always secure tho
sympathies of his audience His right heart Is accepted
as an Offset TO his nconstant head and he is voted
capital fellow by accamation Volatile, mpulsive.
sudden 10 every mood and movement mercural to the
last degree Rover character which requires 1T the
actor not only quick and delicate perception Of whak
he wants to do, but a more than usual infusion q
yivacity electricity and quicksilver, to enable him -
do il well. He must be able to fill the whole stage
himself; to eclipse by his own brliancy, all the lessee
lights around him; to dispense in a manner, with al
The other characters who have to do with him. he
must seem so brimfull and Overlooking with animal
spirits that his very presence shal fill the whole sceso
and make it bright with joyous hilarty.
The actor who succeeds in Dazzle, or in Don Caesar,
may fail in Rover; but he who il good Rover could
scarcely mss winning golden opinions in either OF the
other two. There is little in either Of the other char
acters demanding special ability in its representative.
Sir George Thunder IL fair specimen of those cross-
grained, vocferous, disagceable impossible old men.
of the Sir Anthony Absolute stamp, so popular a
the English stage and happily so rare everywhere
else in the world His office is 10 be bindly fooled by
every one else in the play and to 60 obstnaely In tho
right direction, while he Hatters himself that he Is per-
yersely persistng in the wrong. John Dory, Farmer
Cannon, Ephraim Smooth, and Lamp, are all hits u
character half developed.
The ladies' Of the piece have very little TO do with
Amelia being absolutely nobody, and Jane and Lady
Amaranth making slight demands upon the powers d
the actors.
Last evening this favorite comedy was produced se
Buttons Theater, with Mr.. l.. L.. Davenport ~ Rover
for the first time. This latter circumstance must enter
into the account when estimate is made OF the suo-
Gers of that genteman's attempt.
Mr.. Davenport began with great deal Of joyous
vigor and played the first act with spirit that prom
ised exceedingly well. As the plsy progressed how
ever bis sparkling gayety was gradually superceded
by the more dignied manner and measured utterance
OF seflOus Urhndi tnc eVhPrdecos
and the vivacious buoyant bght-hearted Rover sub
sided into almost inspid half-hero. All the drs-
matte quotations, with which the play IL studded,
were given by him in beautifully effective manner.
and almost induced the conclusion that the general
spirit Of the character sometimes sacrificed that
the elaborate Evolutionary ornaments might be the
more fully displayed.
The effort wac, however, most careful and prom
i,,,o he m
down the marks of study which now too evident
That he will thus improve, we cannot doubt; and,
when bis pesonation Of Rover shall have attained It's
ultimate perfection, will, we apprehend, be highly
credhable and scholarly if not transcendsnuy
brilliant As it at present stands, it will require an
other infusion Of the efervescng ingredients To bring
i I'D to his own STANDARD. A little more champagne.
Mr.. Davenport.
Mr. Burton, az Lord George Thunder, was very
good. but when be becomes more perfect IN has lines
he will be much better and not, render the last act
oui.e 20 obscure Mr.. Fisher the John Dory, was
forcbIe. though badly made up; and Mr. Max Smith
was met prominently sanc.imopious EphIaim
Smooth Mr. T. Placde did Sim, the farmers boy, in
a very acceptable manner. The others are very wei.
The piece was successful, and is to be repeated to-
mcnow night.
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