New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-12
BIRTONS THEATER.

won DISTINCTION on the INndOn opturs W.
~hchplsy was written in America especially for hm.
VII probably be amser OF some surprise 10 not a tcw
OF his London admirers. many OF whom, We usje<-
stand lock upon Newly orksts a sort 81 ,emiciva
lied sayages, who subris upon the meat q the besv
and buiaoes they -lay In the immediate suburbs Of The
citv and who barter the skins Of these valuable aas
nal. for admission tickets to the thea,er. whs,eva
stones Mr. Mathew ON his return may have TO tel a
the sboricnes he has 30 foaressy encountered he wH
AT least BE- able To inform his friends that certain
of eve salvages have acquired considerable fsciky
in yay.vr,ng and thai in America has been w-ttea
comedy in which il il no condescenson for me bra
light comedian in England to 90 through hs profess
sional PAGES.
The production concerning which these remarks Ars
penned is demon mated comedy and further styled.
BY way Of NATURALIZATION. "A Bachelors WIFE,"
which title if any dspleased Herewith, may BE-
rejected for ts alternative. The Voice OF Reaeon,
the two names being on the BILL linked by the accom-
mcdatng particle or in order, We suppose that ths
liberal patron Of the DRAMA who generously pays
his money" may ungrudgingly " have his choice
The author of the comedy il Mr.. Frederic wstson,
gentleman of the press who has to do with tn
Sunday Cou,jcr. The play processes to be an
original one. which profession Is borne out ~
the facts of the case, there being really moth.
ing translated adapted, borrowed, stolen, 90
otherwise convened from the Fpnch in plot, dialogue,
incident situation or treatment II hath not The h-
erary odor of Paris nor Is the smell Of Gaul upon ady
of lis garments With the single exception OF one @
Charles Rigbys scenes in the ri act, which oonSd-
erabv Murphy Magtsreish, il does not remind the
spectator Of the performances of former authors II
is purey domestic in its story and seems specially o-
cuatea to gladden. the hearts of Jolly bachelors thal
they are such, and to give to henpecked Husbands
lively hope that, perhaps, their stronger halves W"
eventually REIGN the reins and sub'de. Thus runs
the plot;
Felix Mavwood is a henpeckcd husband. whose co.,
dition is much commserated by bis bachelor freed
Mr. Charles Rigby. which latter gentleman Nouhte're
a a.a., a..i IS good advice about the Management o.
the sex in general and expatiates at much length %
the course he would pursue had he wliul Wife by
a combined stratagem on the part OF Mr.. and Mrs.
haywood, Mrs. Honeydew. widow Of mature fAsci-
nations and Mr.. Charles Rgby brought into
pany, and eventually cn,roppcd INTO agreement 10
marry. After they are finally bound by pride and
promises to wedock they discover that they actually
love each other, and the match comes joyfuly od.
Then Mrs Rigby, late Mr Honeydew enters upon
the agreeable task Of humblDg her husbands spirt.
taking the conceit ont of him. making him listen 10 tho
voice cf reasOS in short OF Mrs Csudlng hun To the
last extremity after the most approved methods.
Rgby, for the sake of pence, submits and ut
the end Of Fix months is a. dlsc0nsOlsts
a specimen Of a submissive husband "a the most ex.
acting and nhexibc strong minded woman could desire
to see His wife has not only wheedled all his mcsey
fcm him to CRAFTY her extrayagant tastes, but has IN
every respect completely got him under her feminine
thumb. Then, at last finding that he has thoroughly
earned and inwardy dgested his "lfelesson, as abe
phrases it, she Acknowledges she has been only actinga
part that she has not spent hs money at all but has 4
safev deposited in bank together with small balance
of 1920 900 Of her own and also that she no longer
desires to wear the breeches, which elegant phrase
is illustrated By actual presence Of those saorai pro-
auctions which aye duly transferred with all desirable
ceremony and solemnty. The moral Of the whols
being that "A Bachelors Wife is easily governed.
but that the most detemined woman-tarner OF them
all may be himself subdued when once married, and
fairly within range Of those potent curainecture tao
tics the full force of which be only comprehended
by the bymenially initiated
This comedy is two acts, and i, in every respect
credtable production, being particularly excellent IN
the matter Of dialogue which ia witty and full OF bill
Liant points There is an episode Of rampant servant
gal.ism in the course Of which Mrs. Rugby inconh-
neny discharges all her help" resolves to do her
work with her own bands and then INDUCES In some
approprate remarks on the subject which were loudly
applauded by the sympathzing sufferers in the su-
dtOrium.
Mr.. Charles Mathews Is aperfect master OF what
NAV be termed parlor pantomime his mercuriai man
ner. and quick nervous gestures, expressing not IN
frequently far more than the words he speaks. hs'
pecally in scenes q domestic unquet, where wordy
woman monopohzes all the audible Conversation. "
this peculiar power noticeable and effective. In tho
quarrel scenes with Mr.. Rgby he isinimable, and hs
pays all the gayer bits in his usual o-hand ssptssh
style.
Nr. Broughnm has part very similar to that Of Mr..
Mathews which be acts with his customary dashing
success, especially some Irritation soenes IN which hs
seems particularly at home.
Tie two ladies OF the piece Of nearly equal i'm
portance in the plot, and well represented by Mrs..
/. w. Davenport and Mr.. A. Parker.
Tie aud ence was not large, owing probably in some
degree to the inclemency Of the weather but the sp-
plause was very enthusiastic. The actors were all
recalled and On a call for the author, Mr Mathews
appeared and said:
LADIES AND GENTIENEs: am requested by ths
manager to announce 10 you that the author OF this
play il Mr. Frederic Watson Of this city, and also -
ray that it will be repeated every night this week.
There was evident the part Of several OF The per-
formers careessness Of the text which someimes
considerably maned the general effect, and whicn iao"
should be corrected on future representations
The practice Of selling oct paupers to the lowest