The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-11
A "a U S L. NJ L N rs.

FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE Captain Cook, the most
famous sea captain, was immortalizcd In his day
a circumnavgator OF the globe, but at this day, and
this town, there perhaps OF play actors
and actresses whose professional travels have en-
braced one. two three or four voyages around tho
world. Here, Tor instance, the veteran light and
high comedian, Charles Mathews, Of whom, not
very long ago, we We're reading the
speeches and wit and fun at certain social
the eve of his departure distant Australia Last
night, after absence from this city of thr-
teen years. this same veteran actor fresh and spark
ing a vigorous man OF forty, appeared for the
first time ut the Filth Avenue theatre, having
dropped in upon US from England by way OF Aus.
tr0lia. the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco and the
Pacific Railroad or the pretty Fifth Avenue
jeweiry box OF theatre was filled to Overlooking
with what may cali the aristocracy OF this great
centre OF cosmopolitan democracy, and very
hearty welcome given TO the venerable yet Juvc-
nile comedian. He Is q wonderful man IN his pre-
servaton. lie Is said 10 he older than Forrest and
yet he Is brsker than Wallack. We don't suppose
that Wallack ever will get beyond fifty but here
have Mathews. an odsh man before the Crimcaii
war, restored to us m 1871 gay as lark and fresh
aud braclng as spring morning with the wind from
the southwest.
He appeared in two pieces last night-frst In a
lively comedy IN three acts, Of which he is the.
aulnor, entitled married ior Money! the plot OF
which is suggested by the tide. and second, in
hat eccentric hit OF comlcaiity," a. annOuccd In
the BILL the amusing little farce, in one act, written
by Mr.. Mathews entitled "Pa,er vs.. Clatter Like
Bouclcaut he writes his own plays; but his field is
not the neld Of Boucicault. Mathews never goes
outside the social atmosphere and his little
tea party in London; Boucicault roams
the whole world for his materials and his charac-
terS. Mathews Is emInently lghtheartcd jOvial,
noe not WSc the conens
IN MS sphere Of I has acquire,
Tar w n " "a
fairly his, Mathews in acting his own PLAYS,
the mere creatures Of the passing no"r
his own Stories which will pass away
with the living generation. II there Il more In
there Is more In the acting Of Mathews than there
was in the reading OF Dickens; and then the social
decidedly more agreeable than those Of Dickens
Dickens, in his coubie vocation, was hon. ana so
In the play OF .sIarred for Money! ne appeared
as Mr.. Alfred Mopus, who married for money, and
who has pretty daughter, who, 1t has been ar
ranged by Mrs. Mopns, shall marry a gOutv old
fellow for money. In his own experience hen
pecSed paier Iamllias Mr. Mopus has had enough
OF this, and cODsplrcs with Bob ROyland and my
lady's maid to carry off the prize from the equity
old fellow. And 10 tell the truth II we had
known that Mr.. Mopus was the hero OF the even
ing. we should nave hit upon Davidge (thc old
Mellowboy as the leading character and the gentle
man from san Francisco. Davidge is more strongly
marked In his individuality than Mathews. and yer
Mathews IS very neat, so very quick, SO easy SO
Bic IN the most commonpiace remarks ana ''a &C.
ions that we cannot fan to recognize him
as the perfect artist OF good lifetime Of
study ana practice. Miss Linda Dletz Matilda,
the young lady who has no notion OF marrying for
money, Ills the rO'e very charmlngly. wnIie Miss
Kate Newton, rs That Slmkns, has hardly enough
TO do TO bring out her fine capabilities The same
may be SAID or Mr. parkes young Bob ROyland, the
fortunate lover His task is too TO excite much
attention from the actor or spectator. Without
but with Mathews 1t Is beautiful specimen
OF hign ART In light comedy. As the theat-
real lion OF the time. OF course, every
body must say they have seen him.
and so Mr.. DAILY Is sure or 4 good run with the
distinguished yOung veteran from Australia At
the end OF the first play, last night, Mr.. Mathews
was called out again and again. until he felt com,
PEELED TO say something, and yet what he did say
WAS only an apology for saving nothing, when he
might have carried the house by storm with little
touch OF MS experience far IN his journey round
the world. The bill OF last night viii be repeated