New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-12
The DRAMA.
wALLAcK's THEATER.

WALLACE ; THEAIER,
To one whose custom it IS to attend the
theater professionally thCre Is kind Of luxury in sitting
before the familiar footiights on a rainy night. The
usual business atmosphere somehow far less predom
nant than on dry bright and enerprisng evenings The
audience that encounters less prm and consequent
ta Persons who brave the tempest IN order to see the
play care very little, ID is certain for the vain Injury OF
being On wet nights, therefore, the spirit OF the
playhouse is sure to be iOvia The actors feel IT'S nnu
ence too and develop unwonted ease. Everybody
n fact conscious of victory achieved the prudent
stay-at-hOme bodies. inclnes 10 be comfortable AMI
Jolly. As the critical mind it yields to
that spell of busy idleneSs which insures
the most charming state of mental activity.
This joval charm lof raindeveoped cheeriulness was
felt night at Walaes Theater where, In spite OF
the severe storm and the rival attractions Of the
Dramatic Carnival Ball the attendance consdera-
bic she stoops to Conquer was acted, for the first
time this season II OF the pet plays Of this thea
ter and all old theatergOers know how well has been
done here in times past. Last nights representation
repeated the excellence Of former performances. The
cast was much the same usual: Young unioWe MI
Wallack Old HdFdcdSae, Mr. Gilbert; Mrs. HddcdsHe
Mrs. Vernon; Mss Hdrdcdsle. Miss Eynge Mss AecHe,
Mrs. Jennings; Tony Lrm,pkiR, Mr.. Holland; DiggorB
MI Young; Hastings Mr.. RinggOld Ii is particularly
competent cast, and the acting last night was
full Of talent and experience. Mr.. Wallack depicting
LdYlotres fluctuations between mock assurance and i'm
beetle tmdity Miss Hardcastles presence created
especially humorous eHccI FROM hel 10 idSl huHtu,
the character was portrayed with mastery handling Of
lights and shades, and with mcrring Attention
chiefly conferred, however, upon Mr. Hollands per-
formauce Of Tony LUnpkia, which, an incarnation
OF boorish deyitTy and therefore admirable dis
finet and truthful work OF ant IS literally wonder
ms wrought by old But Mr.. Hollands gray
head wears its hoDors lightly. and nothing be-
comes him his mirth. ~ shows like the red
berries the oak leaves at Christmas. and It
gladdens all the showing that tho heart
of beat gayy a boys in the kindly breast
of good old man. The veteran sung his tme-hOnored
soDg in imitation the farmyard ere aures so painye
IN spite OF its broad fun and for this for all that be
did, be very heartily applauded Mr. Gilbert and
Mrs amused everybody by their perfect pictures
OF antquated fashions aud the blended lumoI and
feeling Of their fine character painting II will he long
indeed before see these parts so wei interpreted
Mr. YouDg's DiagoB is an hnedualed comic rustic The
Suggesting Of the comedy appropriate tho ex-
eeeat custom Of this house. and the perigTmance was
thoroughly enjoyed She Stops 10 ConfGcl Mi he
repeated On Thursday. Tonight Money
= THE PHENOMENON OF THEArERs.
Whenever Mrs. Nickleby beheld a vegetable
ascend into the AR and descend into her garden she
that the amaory unatc, next door, at il again.
and she naturally moved TO speculate on the sngu
arity OF his demonstrations. Wherever change OF bill
calls our especial attention to the NewYork Theater we
realize that curious experiment is still in progress. and
are Dpelled TO marvel at its singular vitality. There
queerer place than the New-YOrk Theater.
IL may be tho highest building EARTH hut it is ugly
psst redemption. Externally it looks iself-a church
that has backsd lie ashamed Of the fralty and is try
ing hide the disgrace. Internally 1t nimbly, but by
sweetly, blends the architectural
and ornamental peeuliartes OF tabernacle and
barbers shop Ghosts Of ornate ecclesiastical rhetoric
from the moldy Of all the sophomorca sermons
that young Parson Osgood fetched with him from college
seem TO haunt the place in the shape OF tawdry gilt.
gingerbread decorations People must have suffered hor-
ribly in this building some time another or Nemesis
would not have overtaken It in such drefu shape De-
formed in itself it to have been apart as the
at and natural abode for everything that deformed in
the drama Of the day. Started by fat female Ounce
from England lone Of those large-limbed, tOwheaded
lazy nanities whereof merry island Is very ferte)
II signed with brass and predestined TO the vagaries
Of presumptuous medOcrity. Since that time 1t has
passed through every known phase Of theatrical grief
People with experiments TO try have marked 1t for
their own. Agricultural geniuses have scented it
kfar off Observation-Disclosures, hungry for provincial
dollars have here thrust In the entering wedge Of
prsse deluged few benighed citizens with their urd
rubbish, and then rushed away TO swoop down upon the
lucrative rural districts Leg has pOstured here, and
bust has assisted while the surrounding atmosphere has
reeked with the foul applause Of rowdes. How many
great NewYork successes" have here been manufac-
red vain 10 say-for this is the very cradle of
greatness. One by one, however the expefimenters
have dropped of mot In general gorged" like the cap.
ftaHst in MAUD" but mostly haccd and drained" like
his vctinsand last Of ALL the Worre Sisters remain in
possession These conquerinR nymphs three young
ladies Of the ballet, who here from Australia,
eral years ago, and whose names have since been
many times printed In the latest Of letters the
broadest OF posters, so that their wearers
have naturally risen 10 exalted rank In
the dramatic profession and have at last
70 manage the rsy Pbenoncnop Of theateTs After them