New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-23
THE DRdMI.
MIR. wALLAcK's DRAMATIC COMPANY.

In reviewing the organization of Walacks
Theaer and the work that has been accomplished thus
far during the season. two points especially attract the
attention of the critical observer One inrepdtyo Of
the manager the other the excellence Of his dramatic
compauy AT a time when, in almost every department
OF business the favorte policy is retrenchment Mr..
Wallack has adopted the holder and better policy Of lib
eraty; and for the sake OF having the best dramatic
company in the United States, has nearly doubled his
ordinary expenses The result Is seen In The list OF his
dramatic corps and in the uniform superiority that marks
the presentation OF the plays offered at his theater.
Tbrtynine names appear on that list-some OF which
are not only distinguished but are destined to bc
remembered with honor, In the future history OF tho
stage As we nger upon this brief but eloquent docu
ment t requires considerable effort OF fancy 10 see
in the hands Of veteran theaergoer Of the next
generation and hear in his reminiscent opinions tho
nreude notes of the voice of posterty Many, who arc
now active and honored in dramatic life, will be at rest
then-ther work concluded, their achievements already
transmitted into traditions But they will not he forgot
ten. The same talismanc charm OF memory that mas
preserved to time the names and the deeds OF inc
actors of old will preserve TO future times the names ana
the deeds that are distinguished now in the mimic world
of the stage Legend speaking in the voice OF the Yee.
ran devOtee Of the drama will say for example tha VI
all the actors Of this present period there was no hR
comedian even comparable with Lester Nalack: that Do
could thoroughly identify himself with character; tna'
his acting was so imaginative and earnest as to make
reality OF the most gOssamer felton, and that his VVac
ity-the essential element and the crown OF comedy
acng-was like the foam that bubbles and sparkes upon
| the richest champagne, or like the dew that gems
| the opening roses in the sunnest morning OF
Spring And therewthal the veteran quaf his glass
IN fine memory Of another member Of the Walack family.
and speak OF James Waacks CGssius, and Fdgin, and
| Observation-Disclosures and Ktng Of me C0mmo"Si ana
saw with perfect truth that winning embodment
OF bluff manlness and hum0r was never known 10 our
| stage than the versatile and genuine actor who has
| On fhnGQ
impossible to remember him. though, without recalling
his intimate professional associate Edwin L. Davenport
He was the only Brus Of his time, our Old uleha VIII
say and the best Macbeth the American STAGE ana 10
could play almost any part In the drama from inc ioest
tragedy to the merest trash and he was an admirable
artist in all that he did There will be plenty OF evidence
10 tory this statement and, IL the veteran shall also
saw that Waacks company contained at the same tme
the three best old psp in the profession no dssentent
voice, surely, will challenge the names OF "eorse ho'
land, John Gilbert and Mark Smith ClDDer co94a pay
lord FoppingtOn at seventythree but George Holland
played TOM Luaptn at seYeDty-seyen. young part.
that but the old man was joyous boy, and filled IL
up with boisterous mischevous humor at once delight
full and Undesirable. You saw him to best adVahta9e'
though in Humphrey DObbinS aud in kindred charae-
ters wherein the 1neness OF his temperament was vaeo
under a grabbed exterior and some scope was allowed
for his superb skill in painting character 80 the dls
course will rum and when it touches upon John Gilbert
what else than this will its burden lhat he was ydcue
tyceps as the old fop that his LORD Ogteoy had no
peer that he was oldest conceivable compound OF
dry humor quaint manners rolicsome love OF mschie
honest hearty mlrth manly dignity and tender pathos
To Mark Smith 1t will render kindred tribute HIS
So,irs Broqdlqnds his Old Rapid, his Sir Oirer Surface
they cannot be forgotten Extraordinary rfulnesso
nature extraordinary precision OF method largeesreo
humanity strong intellect and refined and delicate hui
NOR that always charmed and never ofended-hose were
the qualities that enrolled him among the best actors
In 1 nnT
Old Mortality passes then into the warmest mood OF eu
ocum as he strives depict to future students OF tie
| stage the admirable, the Incompatible "od "omah'
Mrs Vernon. She worthy mate OF those oiu "or-
thies he will exclam She could be the sweet ana loving
mother gentle as south wind and full OF the most beau
full affection; stately lady, representative oil rank ana
proud of r. aud true TO it, and the most eccentric OF lu
dicrous old fools she the very ideal OF Mrs Ao'd
foD and she surpassed all competitors IN the character
OF Mrs HardcdSte Mary Cannon was her stagecOmpah
ion and her foil he will add-the merriest most mis-
cheyous most bewtchng actress Of her time in her pc
cuar line of art AS Hester, in To Marry or Not 10
Marry" and as Sophia. in 1.-THE Road 10 RUM she was
the perfect incarnation Of grlsh grace and delicious H.
genuOusness and, witha, of crisp woUhaVOred miIlh
No faint OF marred her acting IN these ku'u
characters and air Of effort made it artificial Nor
was Fanny orant less sgnaly remarkable for the glitter
OF comedy and for an almost matchless precision OF
method in all that she did. IL was rare and delightful
combination So as fancy, will our friend OF the future
rose an in n vein that will be tedious enough 70 the
matteroffact people who think with Theseas, that
the best IN this but shadows" and that shadows
are dull companions; but not tedious TO those gentle
sprts who love the sta ge and sympathize with its vota
res and keep alive its Notwithstanding that this
mimic world is Just as real and earnest the great STRIFE
that roars and srges around that here everywhere
else humanity plays its drama, whereof the moral
always the same-that whether the stage or IN tho
mart on the monarchs throne or in the peasants cot
| 1--WE are such stuff
| As dreams are made Of, aud our little lie
! Is rounded with sleep
| To curb our fancy though-for Of to-day, and
must write the day that passeset us be glad that so
much merit yet remains among U.S. that our time Is thus
rich in dramatic ability; and that such rare opportunities
Of intellectual enjoyment continually afforded to our
generation. Mr.. Wallack has taken very honorable
stand in this natter preferred brains to spectacular
effects has herein the traditions of his the
ate and has gathered within his grasp greater aud bet
ter facilities than are possessed by any contemporary man'
ager for doing absolute Justice Shakesperean tera-
ure to the old comedies of England to the comedies or
the new age and to modern melodrama All these ele-
ments il his design blend, in weaving the dramatic
web OF the present Several OF them we nave AZ
ready seen. At the moment we are In the midst Oh
| the old comedies. &" Maud's Peril will anord us "a
taste of Anglo-French melodrama. How WELL IN sl"-
ca particulars various plays have OF late been done al
this theater our readers have been duly informed Vh
time to time How well the good work will be wrought
I'm the future may conecured both from the energy
and ntrepdy of the manager and from the iact 'nas
his dramatic corps contains the following players
| Ar " Wallack Mr. T.. L. Davenport,
| Mr.. John Gilbert, MT MArh s Sml,h,
Mr. George Holland, Mr.. J. H. Stoddart,
Mr.. A. ". Young, nir j. " n.neS'
| Mr. b. I. Ringgold Mr. j. b. Polk;
Mr. J. 3. Wright, Mr. C. H. Rockweii,
Mr.. j. c. williamson, Mr. g. r. Browne,
w. J. Leonard, Mr. w. H. rope,
| Mr l. Coshin Mr. 4. ward,