The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-16
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
"Duty', at the Walnut.

The Walnut Street Theatre opened on Saturday
evening to a very good audience, considering the
season. The galleries were crowded, while the
lower part of the house indicated to some extent
the absence from the city Of those playgoers who
pay the highest prices else their indispOsitOn to
indulge their dramatic tastes during the dog days.
During the recess the theatre has been thoroughly
renovated and redeCorated, until it presents quite a
novel and attractive appearance The pale blue
and wanutcolored paper that for several years past
has given rather dingy look to the house has been
superseded by crimson, blue, and gold in the auditO
rum and lObbes the boxes have been hung
with lace curtains, and the heavy inside doors of
the yestibule, which were source of frequent an
nOyanCe, have been removed and lighter put in
their places. The result of these improvements is
that the theatre has a bright cheerful appearance,
that it is to be hoped will have an inspiring effect
both the actors and the audiences. The seats have
also been newly upholstered the vestibue laid with
oil-Coth, and the obbies and passage-ways with
clean mating. The management have omitted but
one thing tOrmake the Improvements complete, and
that is to have curtains painted. The present
ones have done good duty for many year, ana in
contrast with the rest of the house they look de-
cidedly shabby If the green curtain was supplaned
by neat green baize one, and the act-drop by
handsome combination OF architecture and landscape
from the brush of Russell Smith, the habtues of the
Walnut would scarcely know the place.
The season inaugurated on Saturday evening
by the production Of new play by Henry Leslie,
the sauthor Of The Orange Gui, and entitled Duty.
Whatever the deficiencies Of this piece may be, it
has the decided merit of not being trash 1t intro
duces number of sensational scenic effects, but it
does not depend upon these alone. The story is in
teresting and calculated to appeal to the popular
sympathes and tastes, while the moral tone of the
play is pure and healthy. These are all merits of no
little moment when so much dramatic work is put
before the public that has nothing to recommend it
except the opportunities it affords for the scene
painter, machinist and carpenter. The author has
evidently taken some of the leading ideas of the
play from Tennyson's poem of "Enoch Arden but
the real interest of of the best depends
upon other circumstances than the one which affords
the poet an opportunity for his strongest effect
The events of the drama circle about the love of
two men for the same woman. "Silas Engleheart,'
a coast guardsman, befrends and rears two chill
dren 'Ruby Dayrell" and ''Ietty Arnold The girl
and boy love each other, but "Silas' himself falls in
love with "Hetty' and from a sense of duty she re-
nounces her preference and marrles him. ''Ruby'
also submits, from OF duty and out OF graft
tude to his beneactor, and Silas remains in happy
Ignorance of the dsquetude he has caused. His
jealousy indeed is aroused, and in the first scene OF
the play ''Ruby is washed ashore from wreck at his
feet and struggle takes place between his duty and
his desire to get rid of supposed rival His nObler
IMPULSES however prevail, he rescues "Ruby," and
his jealousy quieted by "Hetys assurance that she
loves him alone. Rubyn goes to to hide his dis
tress and during his absence misfortune falls upon.
"Sas" The mill belonging to his father is seized for
debt, and the furniture is taken away to be
sold At OppOrtune moment "Rubyr
arrives from a long voyage, with a pocket
full OF priZe-money. With the assistance OF
his shipmates he rescues the furniture pays their
debts and makes "Silas and "Hetty" happy. "Sllas"
| however, had already shipped for voyage to the
Arctic regions and he therefore takes his departure
leaving his wife and child in charge OF "Rusy."
| After an absence of several years intelligence
Il nnA kD,,l,
| much waiting and importantly succeeds in
getting "Hetty" to consent to marry him. While
| the wedding is going on Silas" makes his appear
anCe, and breaks out into mprecations on his wife
and friend, and refuses to listen to their eXplana-
| tions. He therefore DEPARTS taking his little girl
| with him, and "Hetty," overcome with grief jumps
| into the mill-race "Ruby' attempts to rescue her.
but is drawn under the wheel and killed. while
| 'IIetty" is saved.
There are one or two points in the play that seem
to want few explanatory lines to make the cOnnec-
on perfectly clear, and several semi-cOmic scenes
| which have no particular merit or meaning are
interpoated apparently for the purpose of allowing
| time for changing the scenes. With these eXcep-
tOns the play is well constructed. There is no par
tcular preenson TO literary STYLE but the dialogue
| is direct ana forcibe, and it has the merit of not
| being unnecessarily wordy. Seyera. Of the scenes
| are highly dramatic ana afford opportunities for
| effective acting.
Mr. Walcot played the part of "Silas Engleheart'
credltaby, and Mr.. Lewis Morrison, the new
''heayy' man, made favorable impression as "ltuby
| Dayre.n The character is not one that will enable
a new actor to display all his talents to the best adj
vantage; but in spite Of this, and OF want Of force
at times, we are inclined to think that Mr.. Morrison
| will be valuable acquisition. He appears to be in
| telligent and in earnest two very important quah.
!, | cations for a stock actor. Mr. w. Ii. Bailey acted
the part of "TTafalgar joe the father of "Silas
better than any we have seen him undertake for
long time Mrs. Walcot personated "Hetty Arnold
i'm an entirely acceptable manner, playing, as she
. always does with care and expression
The drama was preceded on Saturday evening b!
the pretty wll-wornout farce OF Sketches I" I"dia
> = the performance of which was chiefly remarkable