New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-19
Theasers, 90.

Theasers, 90.
| At wallacks Tboater, last Saturday evening,
vsnbrushs comedy. "The Provoked Husband" was
introduced to the present generation. /. had not
before been acted the bills assured u.s. within thirty
years. Why this simple fact should have attracted
an audience OF unprecedented namben we labor In
vain to understand. LIS omission from every New
York theatrical repertory for so long time could
hardly be taken 10 proof Of its value or attractive
ness; and yet, such is the virtue Of q traditional
reputation, the most expectant, excited and over
whelming assemblage Of this season was drawn to-
gethsr by tho announcement Of ito revival. - the
evening progressed, however, we are bound 10 say
that expectation died gradually and gracefully
away, excitement sank 70 tolerant calm, end,
stapgest Of all at this theste toward the close the
dimensions Of tho audience ceased TO overwbelm.
sfore the termination OF the third act the thirty
years misrepresentation was no longer . miracle
aud at tho mont OF the fifth the convction
was firm that lie further abandonment to obscuriy
for the thirty years to come would be equally judi
cious and consdsra.e.
To be preached to BY ones grandmother about the
foes Of ones infancy, when those follies have boon
forgotten, or are u best remembered with drowsy
indifference 10 task TO DO endured possibly With
respect, bu, certainly not without fatigue. To be lee
tursd in the year Of grace 1868. through FIVE sprawl
ing acts, about the fashionable Woes Of two centu-
riss ago puts modern good nature to very serious
strain. The errors Of Lady Townly, We are afraid,
do not now adays arouse that sentiment OF vrtuous
indignation to which they were no doubt entitled In
their own time; nor do the TRADES Of ny Lord, her
husband. excite any particular emotion except the
single one Of regre, that . gentleman who talk
English 20 pret,ily should not DO in the enjoyment
Of little more common sense whercwith 10 back IL
up When British pseu were actually suffering
under the rakish shAmes Of their wives and ruin
was ,ca,ered right and left BY female folly, might
have been pleasant relief 10 tho victims 70 listen
for an evening to these dreary dia,rbes Of remon-
STRANGE and Indignation; although we spprehsnd
tnat if any ked male Of the period had felt
stimulated by the fictitious example Of Lord
TowDly to 20 and do hkevse, he would certainly
have put bis foot in il. On the whole, the pay 10
virtually rather au apology for thsns condemnation
Of. the faults Of the lady. To say at home from
morning ill night, and be pumped into from such
moral reservoir as Lord Towuly, would upset any
woInan's ,,oos OF right and wrong. With other
pumps regularly co6pera,pg-like Lady Grace and
Mr. Manly-she must necessarily have been driven
either into blank idocy into open rebellion. And,
since Ler hnHl reform is due IN sense 10 the vgor
Of her husbands measures, but TO the rcawakenips
of her own better nature che stands out quite res
pcctably q. the end from among her dismal family
surroundings.
An to the subordinate story Of the comedy-for
there is Que entirely outside the main question--of
Il III and leh ia cDuuecfed with IL
by so fragile tie that lis intrusion seems sheer
;mpertinence-it il drawn with a superior boldness
that parts being in good hands it the priD.
cips interest. quite poselbe, indeed that amer
careful and scrupulous elimination of every eharac-
tor and every scene directly relating TO the Affairs OF
my Lord and Lady Townly, the play might offer a
very fair mark for public appreciation. The stupdi'
ties Of Sir Francis Wropgbead and his barn-yard
tribe are palpaby the eccenciucs ofanolher age as
are the s,atelier sbsurdties OF Lady Townly; but
there is that about them which appeals TO tue
modern sense OF the extrayagant and ridiculous, ~
well. Especially droll do they appear when pre-
,euted with such highly colored effects as those
which the artists al Wallsck's theater employ. The
psrsonatiobs Of Jenny and Richard Wronghead, by
Miss Cannon and Mr. Young wero masterpieces in
their way, and secured the heartisst applause that
Was vouchsafed last Saturday evening. Those Of
Sir Francis and Lady Wronghead, by MIR. Gilbert
and Miss Morsnt, were also successful, but up
pealed for obvious reason, less strongly to the au-
dence.
or the characters concerned In the domestic
,ouabble, the representation was all that
could be asked which, We may say without the
slightest disrespect, ID not much. It is impos'
sible TO witness unmoved by commisseration,
the struggles of clever actor in the
midst Of q quagmre Of rhetoric ike that which
threatens 10 eDguIf Mr. Charles Fisher in every
scene Of Lord Towply IL is saying agood deal to
declare that Dir. Fisher plunged through it without
detriment to his reputation The part OF Lady Town
y is developed more advantageously than that Of
her oratoria partner and Mrs. Hoeys spirit and NJ
mation gave life 10 Of it's proioundest pla-
tudes. That of Lady Grace contains ono or two
passages of comparative brightness, which were sot
: forth with emphasis aud with nice effect by Miss
Henriques Mr.. Reynolds as Manly, held together
the two dfjonted fabrics of the plot, OF which he Is
the sole connecting link with zeal equal to the ar
duous responsibility of his position. Dir. Floyd as
Count Basset, filled an awkward part with coura-
eeous fidelity; and Mr.. George Holland and Mrs.
! John Seton made much Of insignificant roles.
(" The Provoked Husband" it now occuro to us,
is both standard comedy ind legitimate comedy
We therefore iobear any further expression OF dis
respectful opinion, and merely announce that 1t wa
4 be repeated at WaIacks next "Wednesday aud F''
. day evenings.
. AnNblo'n Garden, the engagement OF Miss Bate
qsa begins this week. 'lsr drst performance |"