The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-17
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''Ihe Provoked Husband
As was to have been expected, the production
OF this rare and sparkling old comedy by the
Arch Street company attracted very large,
fashionable, and attentive audience. The Pro-
Voked Husband was written in the main by Sir
John Vanbrugh, in the 6rst decade of the eigh-
teeplh century, but was finished, and perhaps,
prepared for the stage by Mr.. Coley Cibber, in
1727. II was produced first at the Theatre Royal
london, during that season. and was one of the
few comedies contemporary that had, at the time
what we now call an "extended rum Mr.
Cibber in dedicating the comedy TO the Queen,
Bays Of it THE designs of this play are chiefly
10 expose and reform the lcentious irregularities
that, too often, break in upon the happiness of
the married state"
With the characters represented most persons
may even now readily claim acquaintance. Here
sthe airy levity of rank. with It's composed, re-
fecting dignity-the steady and sincere "MlDy'
the polished and unerrng LADY Grace" The
reform alton of "Lady Townley" is worked up
with SO mastery hand that, perhaps, few trage-
dies have greater power in the excitement OF the
tender emotions.
The cast at the Theatre Royal, London, in l727
was as follows
Lord Townly ,..s................... Mr.. Wilkes.
Mr.. Manly y.'..'...,.,,,'...''.'.. ..Mr. Mils.
Lady Grace. ce...................,...M Mrs Oldheu.
or Mrs. 0ldheld Mr.. CiDber says :-"TherC is
no doing right TO Mrs. O!Jfed without putting
people in mind Of what others, of great merit,
hsye wanted TO come near her. 'ris not enough
TO say she here Outdid her usual excellence. May
Ii, therefore, give emulation to our successors of
the stage, TO know that, to the ending of the year
1727 coemporary comedian relates that Mrs.
Oldheld was then in her highest excellence of
action, happy in all of the rarely found requisites
that meet In one person to complete them for the
stage
HShe was in stature just rising to that height
where the graceful can only begin to show itself;
of lively aspect, and command in her mien
that like the principal figure in the finest painting
first sezes and longest delights the eyes of the
spectators. Her voice was sweet, strong, piercing
and melodoui her pronunciation vOlnble, dis
tinct, and musical and her emphasis always
placed where the spirit of the sense in her periods
My demanded il The spectator was always
Informed by her eyes as much as by her elocu-
tion, for the look is the only proof that an actor
rightly conceves what he utters, there being
scarce an instance where the eyes do their part
that the elOcution is known to be faulty"
The following shows the casts in London in
1850 and at the Arch in 1864 and last night
Dr1ry lane, arch Street arch Street,
1osa To-aly. MI ke%Slo @ Mr. w6csicy heat cerdsa isa'
MANLY NJ NJ Bsnslsy ar ar PShnan ., Donaldson donaldson
g. RicbsId:: :: Mt sasi! M Z Drew Robson
CENT nsset M MT Rdv nSSd Me- NJ shsTs ,T.a Yam,
II oy TOwniy Miss arren Mrs brew Mrs j brew
MTs nopEns MRS RooR M rSaye
Miss Jenny Miss Collins Miss klHosh Miss Mis- Jefferson
s2s'S NJ T,sty Mss ss enpa Mrs MTs SseH' snyeS
The Provoked Husband is one of the most diff
colt plays 10 study OF any that retains a hold
upon our stage II we except those Of Shake
sPeare. We were not surprised 10 find some Of
the actors not up in their parts last night. Mr..
Garden played with taste aud effect and with
much more spirit than heretofore in comedy. In
the fifth act with Mrs. Drew in the deaOUencHt OF
the play, both artists were excellent, and held
the audience IS il in trance, bringing all the
effect Of the admirable moral described by the
author In the comedy.
The reduction Of 50 naughty a spirit, spoiled by
indu gence, 10 complete COntridOn and subiectiOn,
was really sublime, and the audience gave vent -
their iteliI gs in enthusiastic applause. Mr.
Donaldson was stiff and cold a. the polished aud
elet an yet temperate and honest MANLY" Mr..
Or nj bs as "Sr Francis was pleasing, but
hardly spir.ted enough. He made out ltt.s OF
the scene, ~ which Mr. Wilson made a great hiJ
"l uou'f knON baw Z was; b1t | doubt / cried
'Ry, ahen should ha-' cried nor
D. Robson r. ade as much as possible out Of
VI Is left OF esquire Richard" u very different
cha cter from " nat appears In the original
Mss Graham was tolerable in her part. She
was neat and pretty, but lacked spirit and genius
ia her role.
Mr.. Wallis was not the "John Moody" we ez-
pected. Miss Jefferson, Mr.. Craig, Mrs. Thayer,
and Mrs. Grifllths were generally correct and
well up to the standard IN the parts assigned,
All were dressed and trimmed In rather modern
style. The comedy was put upon the stage in
good style, but we doubt the pr0priety Of putting
the "ehandelier' of gas jets into a room supposed
10 have been furnished more than one hundred
and fifty years ago. As an excuse for this, how
ever, we had handsome candlestick, with half
dozen real spcrmacetis in it, lighted on the
ta1e OF Lord TOwnly s reception room.
We shall long TO see this admirable old comedy
announced again upon the bills.
WV Fletcher, Of Wilkesbarre, has been
N minated ior Congress by the Union purity OF
he I"enih District, Pa, Mr.. Grow having de-
clined.
T-Ihe nre-aiarp and police telegraph has just
been introduced in Chicago.
"A fatal afiray took place on tsne 9th inston, o,
Allegheny, n. Y, In which man named Arnold
was killed by his brother-in-la law named Williams
Williams was arrested.
Miss Jane f. Westcott hanged herself las
Friday, in a barn near Matte, Mass, in the sam,
place whfre her grandfather had hung himself
She vas about iorty-four years old, and slight,
d, neLted.