The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-13
WALLACK'S THEATRE-FIRST NIGHT OF
WJOHN GARTH.D

sJohn Garth,n produced for the first time last
evening, was u triumphant and enthusiastic sue
cess. This was all the more creditaDle, since the
fame OF Brougham playwright and OF Lester
Waack as an actor attracted an audience such as
lew other names have Of late had power
10 draw together in New York. Indeed,
the house was nlled with as brilliant,
fashionable and cultured On assemblage as that
when rallied TO the support OF the opera on the
memorable nights OF "Faust" and the Duke. We
have already sketched the plot Of the piece and can
only add that 1t "acted" even better than 1t
promised The opening scene was, perhaps, q little
tame, but with the return OF John Garth TO his old
home, the audience settled down into an earnest
and interested attention which steadily increased as
the characters OF the principal actors gradually
developed. 1t had been feared that the
plot was too intricate and that the shades
OF character were too delcatey drawn 10 be ade.
quately understood by people who had not read the
novel. But this misgivlng was altogether I'M
founded. Even the finer and hidden eflects-the
strong contrasts between the paternal love OF Garth
for his daughter and OF Paoo Baret for his son. be.
tween the reckless vlany OF Pa0o and the remOrse-
full crlminality OF Gregory Deerham, between the
loves OF Garth and Hester and OF Antonioand MIN.
nie-were fully appreciated. The piece VIII certainly
ENJOY good run; and i stands more than a fair
repertoire OF modern drama.
II would De hard 70 exaggerate the merits OF Mr..
waac1s John r GARTH So. Th rs Is roe Of very ar
N the past. Iron strength OF WILL rude
honesty depth and weight, and innate grandeur
and nobleness OF nature-tnese are It's principal
features. What contrast to the polished, grace
full, well.dressed, line gentlemen who have been
Mr. Wallack's fav0rite parts In former days He
brings out with Impressive enect, and, though
quietly and easily, still with constant art the
passionate though latent energy that MARKS
the hero OF the drama; for hero John
Garth undoubtedly is. The scene In which he casts
of his daughter Is terrible In It's suggested earnest
ness; while the gradual melting OF the rough and
sorrow-worn adrenturer INTO the tenderness OF
dove aereeaby relieves the sternness Of the previous
acts, and the curtain falls upon him as he Is
displaying the more pleasant ana natural
aspects OF his character. Gregory Deernam
ana Mr.. Polk Is a passabe Antonio. Antonio, how.
ever does not seem 10 be very e1ectlve part Mr..
Fishers Pa0lo BARRETT IS rather TOO broadly asa
coarsely drawn 70 the earlier scenes, but gradually
improves In finish and naturalness; and the lodg-
Ing house scene, where he appears as an escaped
JO1Cdt TO again annoy his son, the part Is per-
fecty enacted. Miss Plessy Mordaunt deserves
is singulary well adapted to her. Mrs. Cara Jen.
nngs as Minnie Garth Is as usual, easy graceful
and pleasing
The 'sensarons' OF the piece spring SO naturally
In ae reS Gnsrac,ers ,ro OF Its actors that
travagance, anu seem fairly TO belong to the
real world IN which we live. The situation IN the
iourth act where Iaolo raises his hand TO STAY his
SON. under the belief that IL Is his deadly foe and Is
interrupted by tine interference OF Garth himself is
que " me most novel, exciting and powerful ever
moo1ceu on the stage. The horror or tile father
M xnra uemhhaerment OF the awakened son, the
u wonderful lmpresslveness.
>. ~ " scarcely necessary to add that the setting or
tne piece y IN admirable taste. That Is Que OF The
lses 10 he one OF the most successful pieces that
have ever been Dut on the boards even az rhs 40
servedy favorite theatre