New-York tribune., 1867-03-06
TIE DRAMA.


Investment" 0sacted last evening at Wallack's,
for the first time The house was completely filled,
but not crowded. The piece was thoroughly sue
ces5ful. Il is a very serious drama, but not more
serious than its topic demands. 1t aims powerful
blow at that specious form of mercantile swndling
which is illustrated in the stocb-company mania.
In the petroleum times happily passed, it would
have caused great excitement. Even as things are,
its relevancy is distinctly appreciated ii portrays
for in four brief acts the experience OF gentle
man--a noble, simple-minded trusting man-who,
induced BY bad advice, becomes, i'll some
what tragic way, man OF BUSINESS III
vests his money In fictitious stocks, ana Is
an but ruined by his blind and foolish confidence.
In saving this we indicate the entire scope of the
plot A simple one. and simply enough elaborated.
Act first shows this gentleman, on the brink OF
the sDecuatiye abyss. and about to launch himself
for q flight on the paper wings that are 50 readily
supplied by his kind friends. Acts the second and
third reveal the consequence OF his plunge 1t Is the
fate of caruS over again But, IN the fourth act an
unexpected though not unnatural impulse OF human
itv on the part of one of the unfortunate gentemanS
allies leads cWi0usly and strilingy TO his rescue
Sentiment which usually proves 10 ne me
slave of money turns here upon its tyTant-and the
Iore is no need to describe the plot more in detail
OF course it's thread is thicy HING With minor in
cidents. Various types OF character such as is eli,
genderedNv the speculative mania, are put forward
with due prominence, and III several instances WIN
q mirthful well as serions effect Ihe writer OF
the play Mir Watts Phillips has not been bmd to-
the tacttlfat raScaiity has lts c9mcal sde HT IdG
Panfe iAlr HOlland), and u hUG esq; (Mr lQnhSl,
not strangers on the exchange, and are as likely
80 occasion smile a frOwn.
Another prcteXt for occasional mirtl is found IN
speculation in the servants ball. The scene, OF
course. is L6ndOu-which fact makes this portion 0t
the piece more natural. Attention however, Is not
long nor largely distracted from the serious side oil
the picture. So AitbW ilWinmo" lNlI. ). W. w al
acll) WINS of course, undivided sympathy. Ills is
the most interesting character IN the play ms me
most trying experience his the most telling portion
of the dialogue. The truth that he tells TO O|e Fc-
cirol Nr Rmggoldl, in act third contains the lesson
Of the play. We allude to the smile OF the
vrcrlerS Those who. last evening. heard
MI WallaCl pronounce those few speeches will not
soon forget either the matter or the Say ing OF H.
Mt Vallaclis actmg-though now and then niue
faithful fidelity the distraction both Qt noble lhd
and q true and tender heart Il Is Sir -l'HHfs rove
for his daughter that gives dignity 20 lhislaIeh
effort 20 attain wealth for her sake. ana true Shos
10 his condition, amid the wreck ana sorrow tha'
come upon him. Feeling tins the apprecauVc spec
tator OF his struggles, his Sttiienngs, ana his
redemption, cannot mss the valuable lesson OF
fathers SOlicude and tenderness with irresistible
warmth and natualness of feeling, and presented.
likewise admirably correct picture OF the 1uttci-
mg5 Of sensbity and ingenious trust when h4i- nEi
ra,Scd and pclplcXed by cruel circumstances Inc
gent t.eman in the hands of the PhiStneS could not
be moro completely delmeated Avery cXaCtmR char
acter that of Nlo. ChiclHe was presented with eA-
treme skill by Miss Fanny Morant. The conflict OF
humanity with sclfslmcs, Is herein cXcmphncd-
and that with good deal of force. II Is Mrs thc'h
INDEED the drama was in general greeted with en-
thusiasIn' The acting throughout was most caTeiul
and IN general was excellent. MI louhg' HH h''''
played with peculiar humor. Mrs. Jennings as
Blanche, and Mr., Ringpold as Oren IccirH, acted
with winning grace The respectable STOCK company
swindler. GGIT0iUGV delncatcd with rosy NlNas-
city by Bir Fisher Ii Is not necessary 10 ada that
thc scenic apDOutnents are all that can hc desired
We are compelled. writing hastily at late hour 10
eli e topic which, AZ another time, may better
serve 20 point moral
The managers Of the New-Y Theatcr have had
hard battle to fight. in the cudeayOr to commend
their house 10 popular favor they have in the first
place been Obliged to encounter and to overcome
that singular form Of prejudice which objects 20 the
theater because it was once q church Then they
had 70 give the theater distinctive character and
substantial attractiyeness Institutions in this re-
spect, are like man. They require time and pcIsis-
tent effort before they attain appreciation OF their
individuality There is no need TO say that tue mana
CeI, of the New-l York Iheatnr bpVC fought their
battle galaItly. Certain OF The allies that they have
called into the field, have not, indeed been of an
admrabln order Occasion Tor critical tgut-iinClng
has been often enough furnished. But we are batter
pleased az all times % dwell upon merits than ulcu-
i-hts. hr. Marx Smith and Nh lsewis Baker have, /
let rs say then, SUCCESSFULLY lud the iouud2uon qi
bulcsqUC theateT Their engagement ol Lady Don /
proves 20 have been both wise and timely That en- /
gagcMcnt Is now u NJ. thuo week. La-i evening /
two new picce--utw helc. tint l+-Wcrc prOduted. /
" Nluc Points Ot the Law served to present Lazy /
Don al, 3f. SmuIif gui M Mark SmItL. a, Hr. IOH- /
j. a. Tr,li,I,'. l,urls,oIir of prr,'u. agl An
dromeda" presented heg ladyslip aa Pc,scf. The /
usual defects OF fII, performance were pergeplDle;
but making those allowance Which unhIppily seem
alwavs 10 be requisite. IL may be said that the /
representation was interesting IN critical point oil
view and quite successful. Nh Smiths Hoasioc is .
well known He made q notable bit in the part seq
cral seasons since. at the Winter Garden. No actor
better understands OF iutcIpIet5 tlHt winning phase
of character which D. formed Dy tle union OF tender
heart simple mind. sweetness OF temperament, and /
unconventional manners. Lady Don played pr: /
S.,.fi, with euual taste and sweetness. kind Of /
arch childishness is prominent quality IN hcl act /
ING. II made this pcTsOuatlOn particularly cul'ja-
be- varied and relieved as 30 10y both wOm8uly /
dignity and the spirit q ~ .rTy mischief In the bur
le,le Lady Don fully satisfied the requirements
OF bufiesaue acting than she did a. Leicester n Ken
uworth The performance was Of the nature of COM
cdy This IS frCoT and far nirthfui II !, espe
cily pleasant 10 note that Lady Done builc-quc- /
acting ], ..tsutly refined. We have not time /
owing 70 the atcneSs OF the hOur-tO speak more at
length of the performance.