The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-30
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
ssTbe Liary aud "No Escape" at the
Walnut.


oThe Liar" aud "No Escape" at the
Walnut.
Foote's comedy of The Liar, which, sharing
the fate of a great number of capital pieces, had
lain on the shelf for good number of years
until it was brought into notice recently
by being produced in handsome style
at Wallacks Theatre, New York. was per-
formed last evening, with much applause, at the
Walnut, Mr.. Walcot being the representative
of the romancing hero. The piece is slight
in texture, there being scarcely any plot worth
speaking about and the interest depends upon
the bright, vivacious dialogue, and upon the
complications in which the lively Imagination
and exaggerated language of young Wilding"
involve him. AS in all the best of the old come
dies there is a central idea which is strictly ad-
hered 10, and there is no wasting of words on
side issues which have but an imperfect bearing
upon the main business in hand. The charac-
ters adhere to established comedy types, but
have sufficient individuality to be interesting in
themselves, and to contrast well with each
other; and the play Itself is a clever but
somewhat highly-colored picture of London
life of a couple of centuries ago.
Mr.. Walcot who is born comedian, was
completely in his element the imaginative
''Wilding," and he dashed through the part in
lively rafting style that was very effective. Mr..
Walcot's high animal spirits aud easy, graceful
manner always make his comedy performances
entertaining but pleasing was his effort last
evening, it was deficient in fine finish, and there
was little in it likely to make permanent i'm
preston upon those who witnessed it.. There is
probably no Young actor upon the stage at pre-
sent who has so many qualifications necessary
for the achievement of brilliant reputation in
elegant comedy as Mr.. Walcot, but if be wishes
10 fa;n tba t,Ia 10 oil
rently entitle him as the legitimate successor
of Murdoch, Davenport, and Mathews in this
line of his art, he will be obliged
to do more head work and to give his acting
more polish. Animal spirits, graceful manners
and good looks are important qualifications
but they are not the only ones necessary for
such success as an artist of Mr.. Walcot's fine
abilities ought to aspire to- and there are enough
examples on the stage at present to prove, If
any proof were necessary, that highly finished
acting pays both in cash and reputation. We
do not make these remarks in a censorion
spirit, but for the sake of pointing out to an
artist of real talent what were the deficiencies,
rather than the faults, of very pleasing per-
formance for such Mr.. Wacots personation of
''Youpg Wilding" last evening undoubtedly was.
Mrs. Walcot as ''Miss Grantham"-a "girl of
the period" of two centuries ago-acted charm
ingly, and Mr.. Chapman gave humorous
sketch of the French-Irish tutor-valet "Papil-
lon." Mr.. Bailey is also entitled to a word of
commendation for a creditable personation of
the heavy father of the piece, "Old Wilding."
No Escape by Watts Phillips, which was the
piece de resistance of the evening, enabled the
audience to make comparison between the
old and the new styles of play-writing.
The Liar is favorable specimen of the old
English comedy, but it is not the best piece of
the kind that has ever been produced by any
means, while No Escape is above the average of
the sensational dramas of the present day. 1t
9 scarcely necessary to say that the balance of
merit is very largely in favor of the older play,
and that The Liar was, last evening, vastly more
enjoyable than No Escape Mr.. Watts Phillips
in this drama has packed his incidents closer
than usual, but there is nevertheless much
useless and uninteresting verbiage and many
trivial details, which are, to say the least of
them, tedious. The author appears to have
concentrated all his efforts upon producing
thrilling situations for the curtain to fall upon
at the end of each act, and in this he has sue
ceeded. The plot, which is somewhat intricate,
shows hardened villain confronted at every
step by the evidences of his former crimes
until at length he is involved in the ruin which
he intended for others. Despite its defects, the
play is an excellent one of its kind, and is de-
cidedly more effective than some of the more
elaborate works of the same author. The
principal characters were last evening creditably
sustained by Mr.. and Mrs. Walcot, Miss Annie
Graham, and Mr.. Chapman.
The City Amusements.