The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-11
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
Mrs. ID. p. Bowers as "Donna Diana

Mr. westIand Marston's adaptation of the old
classical Spanish comedy which was performed
last evening at the Walnut, under the title o.
Love's Masquerade calls TO mind Shakespeare's
Much Ado about Nothing, at least so far as the
leading characters are concerned. And IL is not
uLinteresting to note how two nearly contem-
porary dramatists have elaborated the same
Idea. In Shakespeare's comedy the plot turns
on the intrigue of Don John" and his false
accusation of "Hero;" but beatrice" and
"Benedick," who are merely secondary so far
as the plot is concerned, are made the principal
personages In the play, and Shakespeare, after
his usual manner, has subordinated his
plot to his characters. In the Spanish comedy,
however. the plot is an essential. and there
are no characters in the Shakespearian sense
of the word. Donna Diana and Don Caesar"
are con ventional types rather than individuals,
and the Spanish princess bears only so much
resemblance to Shakespeare's witty heroine
that she rails at marriage aud lives to repent OF
it. Shakespesre's poverty of invention is
shown by his employing the, same somewhat
transparent device to entrap both the hero and
heroine, but with the Spanish dramatist the
intrigue is all-important, and the interest ci
the play Is maintained by the plots and coun-
terplots by which the principal personages seek
TO circumvent each other.
donna DIANA" is not gay, ,laughterloving
and sharp tongued woman like Beatrice" but
q naughty
been deceived by suitors who aspired to possess
her wealth an her ipallty rather than her
self, disdains all mankind, es GEMS love cheat
and delusion, and determines TO keep her fate
and fortune in her own hands by living life
of single blessedness. "Don Cesar" ardent as
q lover is advised by Perrin" her confidential
secretary, to assume q disdaln supreme to her
owp, and thus conquer her pride and win her
love. The shifts and turns by which this resul
N,olyn fhn 1l,afo Of flNa
play; and the ladys struggles between pride
and love, and the gentleman's almost ineffeo-
tual.efforts to affect an air OF philosophical in
difference which he does not feel, give rise to
q number of exceedingly effective :sltua.
tions. A scene In the second act, where
''Diana" betrays "Don Cesar" into decara-
tion of love only to repudiate him, and then
almost sinks with rage and modification when
he remembers "Perin's" admonitions. and
estingly declares he is only acting the part of
lover at her own request; is admirable. We
consider Loves Masquerade as one of the best
and most entertaining comedies that has been
given TO the English.speakinR stEge of late
years, ana we only wonder that 1t is not oftener
represented, as we never yet saw an audience
that did not enjoy it heartily. The burden of
the acting rests upon the representatives OF the
three leading characters, and If these are rea-
sonably competent a satisfactory performance
is assured. The half dozen subordi nate charac-
ters serve merely to fill up the scene, and do
not make any great demands in the way of
acting, 80 that it does not materially damage
the play as a whole If they are not given In first
rate style.
Donna Diana" is one of Mrs. Bowers very
best personatious. The part is admirably
suited to her style of acting; 1t calls for the ex-
preston of very varied emotions, and it affords
ample opportunity for the display OF the high
est order of talent. Mrs. Bowers performance
last evening was exceedingly good, and the
many telling points of the comedy were given
in q style that excited the heartiest applause
and ensured a call before the curtain at the end
of the play. In this and other roles for which
she Is particularly adapted. Mrs. Bowers
appears TO much more advantage than in those
which she sometimes attempt such as "Eliza-
beth" ""Marie AntoInette," Jane Shore" and
some others, and in her own particular line
she is almost without q rival.
SO far as we are aware, Mrs. Bowers has never
played "Elsie Venner" in this city. We saw
her some four five years ago appear In a
dramatization OF DR.. Holmes curious story, in
another city, and although the play itself pos
sessed no remarkable merit we rememoer Mrs
Bowers conception and acting OF the character
as being singularly effective. Why she does not
perform the part oftener OF course she knows
better than we do.
Mr.. McColom made very fair representa-
tive OF "Don Cesar" This gentleman mas
improved considerably since We last saw MIN
but he did not equal Mr. Walcot. who gave
really superior personation OF Don Cesar
when we last saw this play two years ago
Mr.. McColom decaimed his way through the
piece, and made the obvious points in good
style, but he had no particular idea of the cnar.
acter, and gave none of the subtle by-play which
1s 80 expressive, and which would give an
artistic stamp To his performance. Mr.. Wal
cot, we remember, played the part of an
ardent lover, trembling at the lady's from.
hestatiDg 10 carry on the war against her,
despondent after each defeat, and only kept 10
his work by the encouragement of Perrin"
Last evening Mr.. Walcot took the part OF
'Perin," and acted 1t with spirit, but rather
earelessly, we thought. The conhdant, in this
instance the secretary of The heroine. is an i'm
portant parsonage in q Spanish drama OF in.
trigue, and resembles nothing in the ordinary
plays of the English stage The charac ter re-.
quires to be sklfully performed, for, as We
before remarked, the interest or the piece de.
pends upon MIN and the oLner Two leading
persOnases.
The play last night was, on the whole. given
in good style. and 10 the manifest enjoyment OF
the audience.
The CITY Amusements.
AT THE ACADEMY OF Music there will be a
To-. KT., aAV