The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-13

u
The principal, in fact only theatrical event of
the past week, has been the Representations for the
first time in Baltmore-of play by GEORGE II.
MILES, Esq, of this city-entited, 'Mary's Birth
day." 1t has been described in the play bills and
in the advertisements in the newspapers, as a ''sm
''ple touching and natural domestic drama, in three
"acts," and, perhaps, it is as good description of
the play as can be given. The outline of the plot
may be briefly sketched as follows. Between a
guardian, George LordIy (Mr. II. F. Daly) and his
charming ward, -N,,ry StiU,eorM Mrs Julia Dean
Hayne) mutual attachment springs up, the
existence OF which each party is prevented
from disclosing to the other, by the consciousness
that an impossible barrier exists to their union, in
the person of George Lordlys wife, from whom he
has been long separated, but who is still living
In profound ignorance, therefore, of the true state
of his wards feelings towards him, and with an en-
tire conviction of the utter hopelessness of his
passion for her. George Lordly seeks to marry Mary
to his own brother, Vernon Lordly. (Mr. J.
Harrison.) The two young people so far yield
to his wishes, as to become engaged, but when
he wishes them to agree upon day for the
performance of the marriage CEREMONY and
suggests Marys birthday as suitable oc-
casion; both seem reluctant to second his
proposal-the young lady, for the reason already
mentioned that her affections are centred in George
not Vernon LordLy, and the young gentleman in con-
sequence of his having fallen in love in the interim
with one Miss Alice Ho,cthorne, Miss j. Parker.D
the daughter of L neighbOring curate Geor1s
Lordty, however, insists and in consequence of the
natural reluctance of Mary to "tell her love-" and
of Vernon to confess his nidety, he at length PEE
walls The day is tiXed-the parson is sent for-and
mas arrlvedand several young persons on the eve
OF being made miserable for life, and nobody knows
how long afterwards, when just in the nick of time
news comes OF the death of George Lordiys wife,
Vernon Lordy, who is the first to receive the
tdings, sees in this fact loOphole for his escape
from the awkward scrape that he has got into
OF Delng compelled to marry one woman, when he
Is In love with another, and loses no time in ac-
quantns his brother with the fact, and also favors
him with an explanation of the true state not of
his own, but of Miss Mary's affectious-of which,
the young fellow, by the way, seems to have
throughout pretty clear inkling-qute as much
so, In fact as the spectator in the boxes -
Explanations folow-there are bushes and
tears-a fainting fit on the part of Miss
Nary, and horn-pipe by Master Vcrnon-and when
the wedding proceeds, it does or is supposed
to do, after the curtain descends-it is with slight
change In the dranaatis persona George Lordiy be-
coming the husband of Mary StWoortA-and Alice |
Hd'othorme, the wife Of Vernon Lordiy. Such are |
the simple materials of Mr.. MILES very clever and |
pleasing little pay-of which, apart from its per
feet purity of tone, the chief merit may be
said to be, that it abounds with beautiful. ele-
waited, and noble sentiments clothed in language at
once poetcal and expressive. It's chief defect and
candor compels us to say, that it is a serious one
is its utter paucity of invention, and dearth of
anything like incident. 1t simply presents us with
six or seven characters. who come on and go off the
stage in pairs-and in whose conversations the plot
and the story is told. Acton-there is
positively noneali the business of the play bein~
in the dialogue The fault is one, hap
ply, which is not past northumberland as the
art which Mr.. MILES lacks is merely that of the
playwright, and can be acquired by study and cx-
perlence With respect to the performances of the
play, we regret that cannot coincide with our
correspondent, whose highly complimentary notice
ot the style and manner Of its Representations we
published few days ago. We can hard
y admit that any Of the parts were
'weil-played," unless, perhaps, we make an
exception in favor of the minor ones
II Bed'e Mr.. W. Fiske), George Lordiys servant,
md of Jane Jones, Miss c. Jefferson), Miss Still
oort's maid. Certainly, none can be said to have
'een admirably sustained" Mrs Julia Dean
iayne, who assumed the character of the heroine
harJ SLlrrorth, is intensely and thoroughly artifi-
':a in her whole style of acting There is scarcely
me touch of nature abOuther and she utterly lacks
he art to conceal her art. Her most effective
genes In -Hary's Birtb-day, were the one between
perno" Lordiy and herself in which he asks her to
lame their wedding-day and she evades an answer
and the last scene in which she certainly exhibit
I'd considerable pathos and power