New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-05
THE DRAMA.
SELF AT WALLACK'S.
nose-turner!

SELF AT wALLACKS.
Wallack's stage is at last occupied by play
that Is worthy OF the place. Mrs. Baemans comedy OF
"self" was brought there Monday evening and
has been evening since to large and sat
isfed audiences IL IL in many respects an admirable
work 1t pursues distinct and good purpose with hrm
and real enthusiasm. IL copies real life truly and, for the
most part successfully IL embodies an interesting
story Its action moves TO capital climax us text 10
upeommonly well written. It's lesson Is sound. An old
song tells us that ut good TO be merry aud wse aud
also good 10 be honest and true" This the moral Of
Self" Those who see 1t played, therefore, are amused
at the moment and carry away from tho representation
useful hint for the conduct Of life The solid value on
the comedy In this result, and may wen make us
enent toward the defects Of the composition Those de-
fects are occasional orudeness In methods occa-
sioual prosiness IN talk and decidedly In
felicitous nomenclature. Crudeness in method IL
shown-as in act nrst-In tendency TO photograph
tedious details OF everyday lfe instead OF seechg ana
composing them in spirited sgnlhcanL ahd moving
picture Dramatic art should deal with salient features
and postye results aud with petty incident and
tedious processes Charts and maps are useful but they
are not works OF art Freshness In talk makes itself et
as IN act second when everybody chatters' and the
audience becomes impatient for something to happen.
Dialogue ought grow out OF action In drama adorh-
ing it and giving symmetrical FORM IL Is tho foliage OF
the tree IBfelicty Of nomenclature Is seen ia shoh
names Cynosure, Promptcash' lI"lde ltadiu APeN'
saie Shipper Ida Indolent and Fanny fortune in.,o
4
d,doctic They make one think OF the people who go
about with traets to tell us-it may be In raft
way carrage-that Death is at Hand Hen la"hs'
and Decentralization Is the Thief OF Time" IT'S Dad
art that makes sense burden aud virtue BORE Sel-
huess could be lust as well rebuked under the name et
Thompson as under the name Of APEX However put
ting all bemshes asde selhshness is well illustrated ana
well satrzed in tins comedy. ami the piece .horoughV
well entitled its place upon the stage IL has been
very neatly produced at Wallacks Theater-Nhere ths
stage is directed by DIR. schonberg' who has OFTEN
evinced the same good tastecorrcet yet hOera-lua'
guides him now. The sets for Mays room and Mrs
ApeXs parlor particularly worthy ~ appreciation
deity contrasting domestic simplicity WITH 0stenlatlo"s
parade. Excellence In these matters u emeuy uoucou
when Il Il absent We glad 30 praise II here a. one o
the bright features Of the performance. "sef' h~
mas likewise bcen IN general well acted There are %
wards OF a dozen characters in IT, each vpiiyins
"A certain kind OF selhshnesS John pHS soif
opinionated, Is played by Mr. ovens NJ.
ADer selfimpoTtant, by MT oHVer Doudl
Charles Sanford scfindulcent, by Mr. Rnggold; Cyao
SURE selrconcelted, by Mr.. Floyd Hrs. Aper, self
aggrandiEng by Miss Annie Deland; Mrs. Radius. self
concentrating by Miss Florence stanley; Mrs. COdtrer
Substituting and druggng, by Miss Amelia Harris THIS
latter character, by the way faint and weak copy of
Mrs MaIaprop-nor Is this the solitary suggestion that
" self" affords of unconscious remembrance OF "Ths
School for Scandal" Nary Apr, the sweet aud gentle
girl Of the comedy, Is prcity represented by Miss Edo
Germon. All these PEI gee. Il seems needless to say
subseryen 20 John UHi who Is q sort Of eccentric
Nemesis, bringing salutary punishment upon eNtraya.
gance aud greed satirtzug yauglorous eonceit. and
ultimately gaining beneficial knowledge OF his own
marmity. We forbear rehearsal Of the plot Guide
! books are dun companions. "selt" has long been
! known, though not acted before In New.York for
n dozen years. Mr.. owens, who purchased the piece
from Ia author and succeeded Burton IN the characteI
Of John INIT has a double sense made that part his
own. His pcTsouaton OF II is wOgR OF art 10 does not
excite critical enthusiasm indeed but conqucrs admi
ration The character Of John CHH Is made up OF dog.
matte sofeonndence blunt honesty, excessive shrcwd.
H6ss worldly wisdom passion for method. goodness Of
heart aud rough humor lie selfish, bat not In grey.
Gus or incurable way THIS character Is shown under
various lights OF clrcumstancetho aspertes Of being
brought by contact with the sordd natures Of most
Of It's oraries and the sweetness ~ being deycl.
opcd by the influence OF Mary a the unsclsh heroips
The asperitos are comca and che sweetness is touch
ing. Mr.. owens Stimulates age with extraordinary accu.
racy, az all times but he uumndful that age IA.
many phases, and ia John C he presents perfect typo
Of strong headed, close Asted marry ah-'--A l,i.,.
"full OF dealings with the world, YET eo"s''c"
tlous Ia mind aud tender IN ho"''
study tlJs PRESERVATION Is TO DC po.h 49,
and improved We realize the dogmatic hardness OF 'he
man. as strongly II be or daily conpah'oh au'
when his rugged nature melts no the hndest conduct
we are as much astonished as wa are aelghtea' N.'
owe u.s. IL is well known, gifted In high degree win
the mirh provoking faculty HIS voice Is the VsIJ '""
OF nerriment His humorous play Of feature 10 ncessahs
and delightful These potent agencies Of pleasure hnd
ample scope In his performance Of John UH aud very
strongly commend t 90 popular regard. The observer
acting will mud much admire, also IN MY floyg 49,
fectly natural ana highly amusing dehucatoh "i 'by
sure the Top Mrs r. Mordaun chloe, the hegtse apu
Miss Harris a. Mrs. COiiiucr the gluttnn, VIII hAtN
attr,ct esnecnl approbatnn Mr. Moss has made wise
movrment la bringing out this comedy, aud IA present.
in, AIR Owens ana one that ought Ia result M cqii
nroperty TO tho aud pleasure aud boLeht to the
public. -
DRAMATIC NOTES,
'I.ucrezia BOrgan will be acted at the Grand
Opera House on Saturday evening. with "haudy Andy
ms an afterpece Green Bushes Is ia preparation, 10
be speedily followed by 'The Sea Of lee"
Mr. Parkes has commenced his management
of the business affairs at Woods Museum IA sp 80
and efficient manner. The curosites eoco'..,,
Museum are In good condition aud present :" -, -.
appearance. afternoon perfoTlnan,Ss prnji,n,''
sisnv of "rhe Peep show Man" aud "lne fou",'ne,
and In the evening the WOrrcll sisters petlO'h ."
lesquo Of "Ialla RoOkh'