New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-19
TIE DRAMA.
wALLACK's THEATER.


TO 60 away from the playhouse. 1t possesses every ee
ment that a comedy ought to possess an interesting
Mot clearly drawn and wildly cOnrasted characters
brilliant dialogue; coplOus and entertaining lnclueht
distinct purpose, distinctly accomplished to satrize
folly; and spirit OF earnest and winning sympathy WIN
manness Of nature and honest cordially Of conduct IL
was first acted ninetytwO years at Covent Garden
Tbeaer In London Not well received at first it never
theess speedily made way front rank in the liter
Azure OF the stage and time has only operated on H. as
on good wine, by giving 1t more delicate hayor' vi
course IL has been good deal pruned and trimmed IN ac-
cordance with the exactng demands OF modern taste
Indelcacy which fused to be considered rquant Is not
now deemed a merit. 1.-THE Rivals" was acted ut Wal
lacks last evening first time this and was
greeted with the apprecatye frequent and earnest APP
plause OF full house To the man OF TASTE both play
and acting must necessarily have been delightful
for both AZ once illustrated and satisfied tho instinct OF
symmetry Committed TO the care OF competent arlSts'
the several important characters were Interpreted Win
uerrng accuracytho proof OF combined study and
experenceand spirit Of subtle sympathy with their
fine traits and their manycolorcd texture OF sentiment
humor and Old World manners. So interpreted com
pete picture of the past became real ana eke on the
stage OF the present Sir AHhOng lived again, IN JOhh
Gilbert We have seen the character OF theJoNh'
bpb.tempered violent sefwilcd old gentleman better
depicted than It last night The scene with jack IN
act second made a wonderfully vivid impression 20
heartily did Mr. Gilbert enter into the spirit OF the scene
so strongly and sharply did he make every point. so
thoroughly did he depict the mpcrous old mans struggle
between passion and love, fully did be express the re-
vulson consequent upon the old habit OF authority
suddenly denod that the audience caught fire with
enthusiasm applaudcd with a heartlness seldom seen
in any theator, and recalled the actor upon the
scene after his exit or Mrs. vcrnon's Mrs haiawop
IL Is unnecessary speak at ength-or every theater
goer knows who knows anything that II IS perfect ana
admirable It's humorous points last night were made
with precision that nothing less than delightful
The actress has entirely Identified herself With the part
She IS always natural She never knows now cohhchl
she is You cannot help thinking Of the long background
Of experience that has rpened superficial nature into
this delicious old dolt Of Mrs. Malaprop Mrs Jennings
enacted Julia and it suices to cay that che never APP
pears TO much advantage in characters which, Ike
this one blend elittering comedy with delicate scntl-
ment Miss Cannon was the same sparkling lydia
/ Lang,Gsh whom we have laughed az in times past.
and whom we shall equalod. Mr.. Ringgold
filed the ungrateiu character Of Falkland IN very dig
nned manner with earnestncs and with taste Several
| entirely new features were noticeable In the cast
which the best that has ever been arranged Tor
"The Rivals" In this thoaer and better one We be-
ucyc, than could be arranged az any thcator In this
country. Mr. J. W. Wallhok appeared Captain Also
Iue; Dir. T. L. Davenport enacted Sir LBcHs OITt09o
and after his brief absence In the West wns Incidental
" welcomed by the audience In truly cordial way
Mr. A. W. Young porsonatcd Boo Acres The blum humor
and offhand elegance Of Mr. Nallaok' tho ihschaiins
drolery OF Mr.. Davenport the quaint Characterization
and inspritnc morrment Of Mr. HouHg-hil readers Ia
miar with their respective styles, may imagine how de-
ughtfuly these elements blended. Mr.. George Holland
lent 10 the piece the light OF his pleasant face and the
rpeness OF his art, in the little part Of Dard Miss ward
neatly filed the character OF LUCY Mr. Williamson was
uncOmmony spirited IdC. IL is seldom indeed that
20 good play is well cast and so well interpreted
We were particularly impressed with sense OF the posi-
| hat
/ during the fourth act Mr. Young augmented
| the mirth by his droll portRiture OF
cowardcc in the duel An extremely pretty rural
landscape painted by sherwood for this scene
which opens fifth and here Il should be noted that
Mr. Lester Wallacks customary Thoughtful and tasteful
care was manifest throughout the setting Of the
scenery, and the hOrOughnoss OF the appointments. IL
appeared us also that MI Bakers orchestra did itscf
even than usual credit by It's performance Of seec
tons from Aubcr Donzctt, aud MeYerboer, Jullions
"sleghde polka, and graceful waltz, by Mr. Lester
Wallack called "The Royal Rose" on Thursday and
Saturday "The Rivals" will be repeated Tonight Town
and Country"
FRENCH THEATER.
The aptitude of the French people for
writing and representing comedy OF the most pleasing
instructive description, fully illustrated Mt this thea
ter on last Tuesday evening La Eame BeoitoH," by
NJ Yctoren sardou, Is Of those brilliant and palpa-
bic hits at the salient foes and evils OF the day which
render the arts Of the dramats like Ithures spearor
the mirror tnat kills the basliskthe most efficient
OF the morbid Ills which places al In the strongest
ana most fatal light OF ridcue Tho American public
has been made familiar with the plot porsOnages, and
points OF Ia FdBHe Benoon" by It's excellent repre-
sentatOn at Waacks Theater, under the title Of "rho
FasJ fany ana u Is only necessary now to say that
as no piece is seen TO 80 great advantage In the
original we find II TO be In the French one Of the most
| sparkling ana enectlve OF modern comedies. 10 was
played last night with thorough appreciation OF It's pc
cHiiar e1eelence.distnet delneaon Of characterand
Win an elastic ana uhTemted yiyacity which made the
play and performance delightful Intellectually treat All
but among those especially worthy OF mention was
NJ La Roche, as Dder, whose sincere fidelity 10 nature
ana seaines OF style impaired TO his mpcrsOnaton the
most artistic trutliuness OF effect. Equally faithful
were NJ Iarmet as Chdmpr0s6 and NJ. Edgard rs Ben0f
tuous hunor, and NJ Jugnets Prieni- being as dry as
midsummer aud cool December afforded a striking
stll more pleasurable, were Mile Deborah ms MdriIs
Mime Hamilton as Cotde and Mile, RELIEF as TheolUe
and kndlnf scntlatOns Of merfiment they and those
who supported them IN minor parts sustained the con
cep OF the author and the interest OF piece To It's
pointed ana happy conclusion.
DRAMATIC NOTES.
MI Nasts "Calcaturama is shortly TO be
transported 10 other cities 10 may be seen al saturday
Matinee as well as every evening
Mr. Days Under the Gaslightp tbriyes. at
lhe Thoater where IL may be every night
ana On saturday afternoon The railway stage effect Is
NOciefousy applauded.
Madame RistOri will reappear at the French
Ileae, IN tins city, on the a6th Of December Mayic
Antoneae and win play brief engagement in that char
| actef pilor 10 her departure for Havana
Miss Janauschck is to reappear at the Acad-
| envy OF Music next week. On Monday night she will
| play DedoTdh, ana on Wednesday Mary Stuart Tho
public should be glad OF another opportunity OF seeing
great actress.
1t is announced that dramatic version of
charles Dekenss Our Mutual Friend" Will be produced
NJ Banyords Opera House-which will thus reopened
ON Saturday eyenncoi this week. Mss Mary Mitchell Mr.
! j. w Abaugh aud other players will take part in tho
The dramatic performance at the French
| falt Peur' aud Les Amours Des Cleopatra" Mile.
teilel who not long since made capital hit In the lat