The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-30
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.



"wOmen RuIe'' at the ArohI
much interest has been excited among the
regular theatre goers by the announcement of
new hve-act comedy by distinguished member
OF the Philadelphia Bar at the Arch. and there
was general feeling among those who are in
terested in the drama that there was still some
nope for legitimate dramatic art when gentle'
man like Judge Brewster undertook to throw his
experiences of human lie and character into
such form as this. There are 90 many nice
points involved, however, in the construction OF
hrstrate acting comedy, that even such ltte-
long student of the foibles and follies OF hu-
manity as Colonel William B. Msnn might be
excused IL he did not achieve an entire success
on his first attempt Success at the bar OF the
Quarter Sessions and on the stage of the Arch
are two different thines. and one does not by
any means include the other, as the somewhat
unenthusiastc reception of Mr.. John 0Byrne's
comedy sufficiently demonstrated last evening.
If we were at all curious to know what that
naughty, naughty man, Charley Brooke, would
have TO say on such promising subject as
Women Rule, we were doomed to disappoint
ment, SO far as obtaining any new idea or
opinions is concerned. The opinions of VIII
liam Wheeler Hubbell, ESQ.,, with regard to the
superiority of the sex feminine are evidently
sufficiently pronounced; but he has not, in this
comedy, been able to express them with the
desired lucidity. The language of the play Is
always elegant and often forcibe-indeed, we
could expect nothing else than this from our
"silver-tongued" orator, Dan Dougherty, Esq.
The impression left on our mind by Women
Rule is that Mr.. Lucas Hirst to rest his weary
brain after the labors of the day, went one eve
ning to see John Brougham's Lottery of LITE
When "nature's sweet restorer, balmy Sleep
settled upon his eyelids, he dreamed OF all the
old comedies he had ever seen: these gradually
resolved themselves into a single five act piece,
in which, after the manner of dreams, was
mingled certain Quarter Sessions experiences
and dim recollectons OF John Brougham's way
ward fantasy. Up rose the sun, and up rose
Lucas, determined that the public should have
the benefit of this grand, and-under the cir
cumstsnces we are justified In saying-vislonary
idea. The result may be seen by visit to the
Arch this evening, when Women Rule will be
performed for the second time on any stage!
The comedy is detective In its plot which is
so much involved that it is scarcely possible to
tell what the story is, or whether there Is any
story at all. Judge CadwAlader evidently has
no idea of dramatic point or effect, and the
char acters often wander about in the most
Ii
clude in very inartistie style by the Characters
suddenly stopping In the middle Of their con-
versation. and placidly walking off the stage,
just when the audience is all eyes and ears to
know what is to be the result of all the talkee-
talkee. Mr.. Edward 1ngersoll, however, has
given one ecene, where a couple of bashful
lovers are left alone with each other, each
being afraid to speak FIRST, which is effective,
llu in tn q
The situation is not altogether a novel one, but
the excellent acting of Mr.. Everly and Mrs.
Creese made 1t amusing, and 1t excited the
loudest laughter and applause of the evening.
In Women Rule Judge Stroud has given US
representative of the women's rights movement
"a sort of compromise between Mrs. Jellyby
and Mrs. Cady Stanton-wbo Is the moving
spirit OF the piece. For the other characters, we
have the irascible old baronet, whose physiog
nomY has graceds the stage tor so many years:
q meek spirited nephew who wishes to marry
the milk-and-water ward against the baroDets
consent; the false heir to the estate, and the
real heir, who has hitherto figured In the
humble capacity of secretary, and who steps
in at the nick Of time to oust the pre-
tender and assert his rghts; q smart widow who
Is up TO all the tricks of wicked men In this
wicked world; the hen pecked husband Of the
strong minded lady; their BOBBY son, and finally
the indispensable valet aud the pert chamber
maid.
We regret that we cannot pronounce Mr.
Cassidy's comedy an entire success. The dia-
logue Is 80 well written, and go much genuine
ability is shown, that the dramatic weaknesses
of the piece are the more deplorable.
The Arch street company did their best with
the piece, and If success were possible they
would have achieved it. Previous to the per-
fOrmance Mrs. Drew delivered a prologue
which was rather more complimentary to the
females of Greece and Rome than to those of
our own day and country. 1t was pleasantly
written, however, and gracefully delivered
serving the principal end of prologue, to put
the audience in favorable mood for the recep-
tion of the comedy.
The cast of Mr.. Binney's comedy Of Women
Rule was as follows:-''Mrs. WinsloVe," Mrs.
Drew; Lord Winterby," ;" Mr.. Mackay; Henry
his nephew, Mr.. Everlyi valentine" his
secretary, Mr.. Barton Hill; "Philip Lsndof y
Mr.. Craig; "Old Payksan," Mr.. Wallis; "Young
Payksan,n Mr.. Meagher; "Margin," "Henry'sr
valet, Mr. Hemple; "Mr. Wright" solicitor,
Mr.. Snyder; MRS. Payksan," Mrs. Maeder;
emily Meadows" !" Mrs. Creese; "Queen, Mrs.
m aid MISS DaVan mort