New-York tribune., 1866-12-26
THE DRAMA.
wALLACK's THEATER.


about it, Our previous notice indicated its character its
chief merits and its principal defect On witnessing its
representation second timo, 10 qualify
the verdict of appreciation which accepts 1t as valuable
and lasting addition to the realistic school Of comedy 1t
suggests indeed, than contains; but that IS an
indication of reserved power the part Of the author
If Mr. Robertson doee but develop the inventive faculty
so that the interest of his plots may be commensurate
with the effectiveness of his incidentshc cannot fail to
attain the highest rank among modern dramats,s ia the
matter of dialogue he leaves nothing to be desired His
dramatic persons talk in the most sprghtly and, at the
same time IN the most natural manner and each person
talk is appropriate 10 the speaker This is great aud
significant excellence Il denotes on the part Of tho
damatis distinct conceptions Of character. Furthermore
those conceptions found to be true 20 life Chdic0
and the old Colonel and Mary N,tey, and Se,gcdN
Jones' and Lddy SheHdryR, and even the RasdH Prince
and the young lovers, are manifest portraits nom
reality. Their precise counerpas could readily be found
This Is the proper province Of Comedy-tO hold Tie
mirror up to society II actually exists and we ike
Mr.. Robersons comedy because, within prescribed limit
IL fuls that province uccCs of this sort is not often
70 be- pointed oui. When does Occur! il s well worthy
of emphatic remark since It illustrates the supremacy OF
mind stage business The latter the staple Oi many
admired plays. "EGects is is designation To be sue,
these not absent from the comedy Of OUR The
thundershower scene, which closes the first act tc march
OF the troops by moonlight ~hch closes inc second ana
the illumination and martial concert whercwh tho piece
terminates belong in tho category OF stage effects. Bot
il is 20 be- observed that they collateral csmcnt,
aEd not the substance Of the comedy and that they
reached in natural sequence Of events aud not ugged n
by the head and shoulders. To effects OF ths kind thus
managed there can be reasonable objection There is
vast difference between play Of tins sort aud hye-act
meo-dama all words and duncss, save perchance, Tor
one case OF mgrder or arson by way OF cuhhallon' IL
Ours the effects part OF the story. There Is hue
feeling for the pathetic and the heroic too IA tie scenic
euminaions OF acts second and third In tho one case
the troops begin their march OomhaTkoT the tumca lie
old Colonel in the foreground bidding fare vel 10 bis wife
who doubts him, and 20 his friend who hoAoIs hlIn. MI
Gilbert plays this part, while Mr.. Walack ChaicoG
and cannot hesitate 10 say that their parting n toe
simple expression Of manly Affections and of the complex
emotions natural TO such nomeltas true bt Of act
ing The seTnes critic could wish 10 see 1he, VINE
this spell OF personal path9s Is t strong uloL on! he
the music brcathes s6dly forth changing soon 70 ioe r
exorablo melody Of farewell aud the soldiers meIeA
sSSy yo. dsa T. A8 Y S SS9 SsaeeSt cSa1te Of
VANITY Fair" which describes The departure Of tho
troops from Brussels TO the field Of Waterloo. The cam
nation OF third il loss stirring because IL involves
element Of sadness The war over peace has been de-
cared and the affairs Of all the characters In the drama
have bAcn happily auangcd-and al That seems now
needed IL burst OF JOY. This Is realized N the BON
fires and the music The stage presents at this point
most animated and graphic picture The scene is the in
terror Of sort Of barrack All the dcomioHs Of military
life are gathered here. But, at the climax, all trouble
and vCxaon swallowed 10 gadness. The persOnGgcs
Of the play sky assembled the soldiers pOuri the
band arrives, playing march, the light OF the bonrcs
CLEANS over a and the curtain falls oyerhs happy tumui
One other in this piece ought also 20 be noticed
remarkable peeo OF scenic art That Is the pastoral aud
scGpe with which the play opens. An English park ~
dscosed Hugo trees dToOp their branches over nc fore
ground. lofty winds away in the distance. To
the right vast stretch Of moadow-and IL seen, on
which sheep are feeding OF sleeping amid the grass.
Purple hills close in the view. more beautiful picture,
Of its kind has not been hitherto upon the NcVYok
stage We hear indeed, that "Oun is far better done
Walacks than il in London. Its present setting
could not well be improycd-and this is proof,
Nessrs H. Fleetwood ana q. Evans and of Mr. Lester
Walacks skul and careful management. The peco IL,
likewise fortunate in being presented by good actors.
Mr. Wallacks temperament Is precisely suited II Chacot'
E.. t,I .I 1narf Ia al
sad experience and is drifting in easy aimess way,
through London life The type of character m not un-
Mr.. Waack finds scope IN IT, as well for his
iarcica mood Rs for his vein Of sentiment aud be PLAYS
it with admirable consistency, and with perfect
finish Of detail. The bluff, dgnifed manly,
and crusty SIR AeraHder fnds, too, a perfect
representative IN Mr. Gilbert. Arch and lively and p.-
quaint Mary Nety fel 70 ne lot OF Niles Cannon and -
neated with charming grace S inscbieyous spirt.
Nr Nortop p!yi srstah' !9ae ana Pieseqts faithful
photogrdon o. .ne humble British military oheer Ihe
CSs further includes Miss Henrenes as Blanche Hnys,
Mr. Rlnggold, az Aagas, Mr.. Fisher tDS h9sSisn
Prince Miss Morant, as Lazy SheHgryn, ana D. Leon
ard, Nj Pope, Mr.. Ward, and Miss Scott p subordinate
parts OF the popular OF the comedy our readers
have already been advised. Little DO said in way Of
faultfndlngi but VIC may remark that tho third act
would endure condensation and that Of the illusions
20 the twins, aud Sir Alexanders slips, might well
enough be spared. 1t but fair TO add that Mr. Lester
WalSck has puned tho dialogue of number Of some
what indelicate passages. "OuTs will be acted every
night and few people sec without being pleasantly
entertained.
Mr.. VALENTINE VOUSDBN.
Whoever does not wish to burst in ignorance TO
what constitutes "PolynatioDal Mimic should visit
Clinton Hall and see Ar. Valentine Vousden His
tortainment which is styled The Unity Of Nations
is given in the lectweroom of that building every
ing, and at Saturday Matin6es Mr.. Yousdcn is an
actor who evidently has had great deal Of professional
experience but who prefers, as the oil song sys to go
IL alone" He assumes In the course Of performance
which lasts hours six different Characters illustrative
Of six different naonalities. As sort Of prelude he
first appears in the garb Of Time TO utter few yeshed
remarks on human nature and social conditions. Then
in rapid succession he places before his audience Ger
man girl Yankee, q French dancingmaser, an English
sailor, an Irish pcasast ana Scottish soldier MS
The makeup in each instance, is excellent For tho
Characterization we cannot speak cordially Mr.. Vous
dens lrshman is his only admirable piece OF acting AS
Paddy BraAgan hs facial expression, his brogue, his
humor his sentiment his drolery and above all bis re-
pose betoken and talent In the other per
sonatons the Irish element always prepondeate and OF
course always out Of place. But there Is no lack OF n
in any Of the mimic Efforts Mr.. VOusden has cheerful
face aud pleasant voice, and bis a and his songs are
peryaded by warmth of humane feeling that is sure to
win kindly response. The purpose OF his entertainment
is while making his auditors laugh, 20 illustrate the time
honored truth that touch OF Nature makes the whole
world kim" We band Of brothers, Mr. Vousden seems
say, and laughter and tears naturally bring us into
bfotherly communion On the whole, tho "Polynationa
Mimic is likely afford good deal Of amusement to
good many peope-though We think that Mr. Vousden VIII
attract larger audiences in tho country towns than In
city full as New-YOFk is Of powerful attractions
In the way OF amusement
BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
Avery pleasant performance was giyen last evening
al this hatcr The plays presented sh Waters Run
Deep and Kiss in the Dark and notwithstanding many
homo attraetioas of Chrmas mig glt the performance vii
messed bT pbTeS aVasAss NJ GsoggQ Jordan vbO's en-