New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-16
YALLACK'S THEATER.
TIE OVERLAND ROUTE.

In the accompaniment OF MS llhiiidc dsntNeinehr,
Mr. Tom Taylor has on certain occasions heretofore,
associated with himself, as assistants, Mr.. Charles
Reade and perhaps other masculine laborers in the lit
crary field but the public were not prepared to ace an
nounced to the world, co-laborer with him in the
construction of " The Overland Route" the name OF
Miss Laura Kccne. The partnership unexpected but
the handiwork Of the firm comments itself to the
favorable attention the theatergoing world The play
was acted last night for the first time in Amerlca, at
Wallacks Theater. The audience was large, ana ,he
new drama was received with much hearty gratifca-
ton.
The plot so far departs from tacitly sanctioned con
yentional mannersms and is 80 independent OF trad
tional nonsense that it deserves more elaborate de-
scription than is ordinarily accorded TO new-iedged
dramas. The one thing about il to be much regretted
is that Mr.. Tom Taylor and his American assistant,
Miss Keene who by doing 70 well, have proved that
in this particular instance they could have done much
better did not choose besow on their work the ad-
ditiopal patient elaboration which would have made
the play more thoroughly acceptable in point OF lam
puage and situation than is. There are certain
loose ends of construction in the matters OF dialogue
and incident that might have been taken mp by the al-
tbors with credit to themselves and with advantage 10
| the play.
However, the story of the DRAMA now presented,
| is interesting, and will bear detailing at some length
The authors have in point OF position OF their charac
ters placed very limited bounds of crcumscrption
about them, the first two acts giving them no WIDER
range than the cabin and quarterback OF the smoom
| an English steamer, homeward bound from INDIA;
while the third and last act confines them to desoae
reef in the Red Sea, until the final scene sees them III
| oyous preparation for speedy return to homeward
shores by the favoring grace of one OF her Maestys
steamers which opportunely strays to their aid.
The leading character il a certain Mr.. Tom Dex-
ter" person of varied accomplishments and slender
nurse and whose social position is analogous to that OF
| +" Dazzle" in a comedy with which most of us are
familar-hat is to say, sort OF well-behayed adven
turer achieving, by means of good address, certain
ephemeral position in the world which he desires to
,nrn 10 the best account before the world gives him
an unmistakable cold shoulder. Upon the ready
courage and facIe manlness with which he adapts
himself 10 adverse circumstances, and yields noble aid
TO all his fellow sufferers, during the trying scenes oil
the wreck turns the whole interest OF the play Toms
soiourn in India though lengthy, has not been rename
rative and spite of his many accomplishments, he Is
only able to secure homeward passage IN the steeage
The occult mysteries of medicine being, however
among his requirements, the captain OF the Slmoom
induces him TO act az assistant the regular surgeon
If the shin which at once gives Mr. Tom social sta
rms ON level with the cabin passengers, of which po-
stion he does not fail make all fair He recog-
nizes among the passengers Mrs. Searbright, the
wife of an old friend of his who formerly OF the
Indian Army and who observes that she is managing
70 carry on double-headed Irritation at the same time
with two old gentlemen passengers on the ship named
respectivev Sir Solomon Fraser-who has occasion 10
resort to muttudnous cosmetic articles to simulate
tho voutbful bloom with which lac dosrs to oaPtiNatc
the dashing Mrs. Searbright-and Mr. ooiePePper'
lately q civil officer of some Indian note.
Ttese ANTIQUE lovers have somehow taken 1t Tor
Granted that the obec, of their aspirations il widow
in which fiction she INDUCES them without co"Ia
d;ct;r word and 20 the gifts of the two fascinated
ancients endow the supposed bereaYed one WIN C'n'
mere shawls and jewelry without stint. Tom, how
~ nterfercs TO gave the wife of his old friend from
seriously compromising herself with either sexagena'
ran. But Tom also recognizes the fair face OF Mss
Colepepper whose life he had saved, and though
he discovers 10 his discontinue that she is the aaneed
bride Of certain Captain Clayering he cannot but
regret that melancholy fact and wish that Tom bex-
ter had been the happy man insead; and as lie hap
pens to be c0gnzant OF divers swindlng practices Of
the gallant Captain, he takes occasion to put the lady
on her guard against him as a cheat and swlndler,
which efiectually finishes the Captain.
There is also oil board another woman Of the genus
airt species, grass widow, Mrs. Loyibond,' whose
husband had left her. years before being driven
TO that desperate step by the undesirable temper of his
spouse and which husband is supposed TO have died.
This lady is receiving Celtic consolation in the shape
of significant gallanries offered by clustering Irish
man, Major Hector McTurk.' BY strange fate, it
happens that the evanshed LovibOnd is not deceased
but has made fortune, and is returning home in the
identical ship the Simeon. His presence as Lovibond
is unknown, he having purchased the berth Of pas
senger named Downey, who had given il up for
premium and Lovbond not thinking it worth while
10 alter the ships register, had continued pass under
the name of Downey.
But another passenger chances to be detective
officer who has warrant for the real Downey for
certain forgeres and who, Loyibonds first appear
anee, sezes and handouts him as the criminal. LOW
bond in the agony Of his despair at being claimed
criminal resorts even to the horrible alternative Of
making himself known to his wife, and calling on her
to establish his identity but the overshrewd detective
will not admit the proof Loyibond is retained in irons
while the other passengers dispor themselves in the
festive dance. Ip the hight of the revel, the ship
strikes on reef and the is changed from mirh
TO despair. The whole of the ships company and
crew are safely landed the reef chiefly throug the
plucky heroism of Tom Dexter During the trying
scenes on the reef which develop cowardy qualities in
few, but true nobility in most, Tom Dexter is ever
foremost as man-of-a-work, undertaking and achiev
ing thousand acts Of quiet herosm, and his gallant
bearing finally wins from Mr.. Colepepper his consent
l.