New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-15
TIE DRAMA.
LESTER WAIIACK

~
siveness. Mueh as M heavy drama demands, it IL
less exacting thah certafa forms OF cOnnsdv. Many
| actor can be q respectaIas Richard the Third
or Joseph S15Gce who would dwindle into vapid Ounce
MercuO as Dd=-le. Mirthfuness and volatility Of
temperament variety and fexiblity Of demeanor, hui
orous play OF feature aud voice. quick and unerrDg
sense OF the ludcrous the power 10 make comic situa
tell upon IS spectator sensbity TASTE elegance
tho sparkle and me fragrance OF champagne-these are
some OF the attributes that form the comedian. In
Lester walacs they are happily united, fused rs IN
ton by a fine sense of symmetry What the charm OF
his acting no spectator consider. while the
and complete possesses the ind This sort OF involnn
untary testimony is the best recognition that
has been entirely concealed and that only the
results have told Mr. Waack's received that sort
spirits and acted with delightful and freshness
Those who know " The Captain of the Watch "-and an
well knownare that It's tissue of coca incidents
viii more bear analysis than will the odor OF a
flower. 1t is an indescribaby comic tangle AS 70
the Captain himself--viscOtnt DE Ligrv--he is all
siriness roesome spirit Goodness humorous in9adenGe
shines through all his FRANKS thongh and TO TINS no less
thorough Justice In the Interpretation of that sort
of light comedy which favored with farce that does not
degenerate into bufioonery there is actor on the
American stage at all comparable with Mr.. WAL
lack. His Lori Ftpiey 1.-THE model wherein eO,nefh
based DVndrtdT1. his Charles County, his Don fdtr,
his Sir OSWin To Marry not to Marry" afford am
pie and various illustration OF this point HIS scene
was redolent Of this peculiar fragrance of comic huor.
and was naturally greeted with shouts OF happy laughter
Indeed that pleasant sound made Itself con-
tlnually heard throughout the performance The
cast Of Plancle's farce comprised, beside
%as s Rance anS as Mr se and Miss GsSnon as
KabBp In all these parts the acting was correct,
spirit OF mischief found, in particular, ample and ENJOY
able expression In the character OF the waitingmad
Mr. Ringgold excellent as Ado'ph. stu more ei
fectiye cast that possible made IN the pre-
sentaton OF "woOdcOcss Little Game" 1r Woodeoek
was personated by Mr. Walaek; NJ: .LaIsnigs
by Mr. P0lk-an unusually bright performance;
Mr.. S,on,sdoTn by Mr. !soddart with great humor;
Dapidby Mr. williamson Mrs; Colonel Carer by Miss
Morant AIRS LarkinOs by Mrs. Jennings; Mrs Wood
cock by Miss Mary Barrett; and Susan by Mss Mcneil
The piece upward OF three years DID, ana was nTss
played at the London ST. Jamess Theater, when Mr.
Charles Matthews enacted Boodcock II has NOT peen
often done IN NewYork Blake we believe play ca bood
eoek several seasons ago. az nr Kse6sS R
he too heavy for the character Jeer son mas played
the ALSO but have not Glanced to see his per
acter true every point and ehsringly quaint and
humorous Narniadake Woodeoek Is mldde-aged
married in order TO obtain quiet home
aud turn his back upon the worlds ,i les
dusty with experience. lie thinks the Eysan Field Is
wontll he becomes conscious OF mother-n,iaw inns
lie OF cal pleasure that lac deess He IL too weak TO
strike a blow for liberty; but he plays little game,
Of n secluded domestic life What that game Is, the
comedy dseose IN the course Of two acts that abound
with pleasing incident and are cOuched In neat ana
telling dialogue Both the game and the acting that gave
IL Illustration met with abundant syupathy
fhe nature OF Mr Voodcock which Mr. waaek delight
fully suggested. That sentiment may be Said 20 come
with the first gray hair The Mild Is not saddeneu; the
heart still leaps 20 the sound OF daughters memory
dwes with pleasure upon music that has died away and
lights that burn more. But KIND VI Autumnal tlhge
has oycIspread ne and the Jdrcew would prefer 70 eI
his cas chair aud let the world 60 by; Humor Is All
touching when 1t plays this latent gravity
Ike the sunshine OF golden afternoon upon the grass
'It - 1S,y ro,ns co Mirth at.er all lad sway
but 10 suggtsed-as In his OhdteOte-n ours anu
il deoted the Instinct and the skill OF the true artist. We
| oil III Ia ll Iifln "a
achieved. IL Is long time now since Mr. Wallack as
sumed, by right OF positive merit the foremost rahk
amoug the light comedians Of his time; nor has any rival
divide his emlDence OF the pleasure that nc mas
given 20 the admirers OF good acting OF te y nSns
To the dramatic art there no need 70 speak ihey are
known. and VIII not he forgotten IL Is known too that
he maintains for the bc, eater IN the United States
following the policy and holding In reverence the
high purpose OF his honUred and lamented father the
founder the theater. In the wecomehearty and cor
dialthat he received on Monday night abundant utter
are held
At tbs close OF the first piece Mr.. wallack was called
before the curtain, and, IA response TO vOcferOns APP
plause made brief and graceful speech OF thanks He
said that he had always endeaVOred 10 Oner SOUND ana
Wholesome entertainment ana that ne should never re-
lax In that endeayOr. notwithstanding all rivalry. 10
the public FOX its longeJInued Kindness TO himself, he
expressed profound selse OF gratitude lie retired
amid the hcartiest paulits Tho ss'no bi win be pre-
scented every evening until further notice Az aater pc
Rod " Ours Will be revived.
THE WHITE FAwN AT NIBLos.
The first performance of THE White Fawn"
at Nlblo's announced for tonight Mr.. wheay has
made every possible preparation for great success
lie may, indeed, be lkened to the Theban eagle OF the
poet sailing with supreme dominion through the azure
Palmer has likewise been brought into play, aud
has reorgaIlzed the celebrated Parsienne Ballet
Troupe" Of which not single member is Pari-
sian. The renowned dancers whose many-twnkling
toes have long bewitehed the susceptible youth OF this
metropolis are OF course TO appear as usual Bonfant
I0n u only Srec TO men0 T the %ag
he Pauiomime and Harleqninade The iiemmng
Brothers have come hither from London, to-
either YIN . Amy Bennett who Is Is to be 9d G0 ".
H Mr. Moenhauer has augmented and md raorganged
painted scenery. one is TO be shown that is
said to have cost s1OoOO-and that ougnt --.,-
most exaetn American taste. Laureys late OF Drury
i@as, sad NJ me- Costa have fprnissed the costumes
ship OF j. Foude, Leo aud others, while the properties
have been furnished by Benedict, Getz aud Halle OF
Paris To : ward and Murray apprtciahve and in
eigen pui lis will cherish tender sentiment OF graft
tade Tor cal 1m lights ana gas so many are the people
the White Pawn is the theme, hear good reports 1t
is an eclectic affair. The "sleepng Beauty"
the Forty Thieves" and other such classic
works have been laid under contribution in It's
manufacture. Tho authorship is attributed to a
Mr.. Mortimer, whom shrewdy suspect 10 he myth
The piece well cast Among those who participate IN
II are Messrs. Mark Smith, Vning Bowers. aud j.. b.
Holmes, Misses Fanny stockton. Mary Wells, and Lzzy
Wilmorc Miss Mcna Moutagu from the PTincess's Thea
ter London, and Miss Lucy Egcrton from Queens
Theater In the same renowned city will make their first
appearance here, IN the spectacle. Formany months
this pageant has been m preparation slowly taking shape
late the rehearsals OF have been nccssant Mr. Wheat
ley and Mr. Vincent respectively arrayed IN the helmet
OF Navarro" have wrought like heroic bcavers-their
white plumcs shining, by day and by night,
In every part OF the theater The final re-
hearsal OF the piece took place on Monday evening,
aud lasted ill nearly dawn All Is ready now, we be-
leye-uess ntoward accident displaces the mirth
and defers the good meeting. Even the very reverend
Mr. smyh is said to have his new sermon on the abom
nation OF the Ballet quite ready for delivery Meantime
young NewYOrk is IN arms and eager for the display:
which IL happy state Of things indeed, DJ OF
welcome 10 1.-The White Pawn"
RISToRI.
Ristori will appear as Elizabeth, at Matinee,