New-York tribune., 1871-03-28
TIE DRAMA.
BIRTH At WALLACK'S.

For almost every person the circumstances
of life sometimes combine into picturesque aud ro-
mantle shape Experience in general may seem med
eythe relations of facts being remote, and the meaning
and drift OF the whole fabric of life being obscure But
now and then episodes arrive-combinaons OF incident
that amount TO complete narratives told in action To
invent and reproduce ouch states these is the province
of the dramatic artist and in doing this work well he
creates dramatic literature. Robertson had rare natu-
raj ability-whch he developed and cultivated with
taste and conscence-for accomplishing this work; and,
last night Walacks Theater his delicate, suggestive
and romantic play Of "Brth" gave new proof OF that
ability. and new cause Of sorrow for its decadence
and its loss "Birth" has the grave defect OF
| being somewhat too feeble in action to i'm
press ITSELF at once and deeply the public mind
such action IL does illustrate is natural and inter
esting and the atmosphere which envelOps 1t Is poetic
The scene laid in and English manufacturing
town The acts are three in number, and the story
the fortunes of six persons The pur
pose Of the piece is the same that anmates "CaSte ."
and Progress that OF showing in romantic contrast
the Old and the phases Of civilization In modern
times Two families OF noble birth and the other OF
the middle cassn English society-are presented, con-
trasted and ultimately blended by matrimonial alliance
The expel dent itself will not impress any one as novel
The means by which Ii is wrought out are, however
devised with skill and handled with delicate taste
Each of the families should say consists OF brother
and sister. The old one is poor; the new one is rch
In act first the pairs at the factory owned
by the Herets in act second at the ancient castle OF
the EagleeiiDe. Tri1es make up the first act; but
in the second the interest deepens, through the
springing up of the tender passion between these
hitherto adverse personswhose preudices against one
another will readily be devised and need only be glanced
At decaratior-from iron blue bood-is one OF the
chief incidents Of act second Zest is herein gwen 10
the course OF events by the witty diplomacy OF bril-
liant Hghtheared, frocsome friend OF both families
all hy uamp WlO
Roberson's plays, who is capitaly personated by Mr.
Lester Wallack and whose province in the comedy Is
artfully TO promote the growth OF good feeling, which
rpcns into tendcror sentiment between the rival fam
lilies An attempted assassination Of Heuet terminates
the act This occurs we should say in ruined, but Of
course picturesque hall Of Eagleclies retreat and Is
the insane work Of kind of Caleb Balderstone, called
the Duke and attached the person and the decayed
fortunes Of the Earl Act third passes in and around an
old tower of the castle; and use is herein made
f suprstitious legend like that OF the White Lady OF
Avenel Eogecligc beng suspected OF the attempt 10
murder Hereit-whO has bought his ancestral estates
aud with whom he is known 10 have quarreled-is pur
sued but as may be OWNED, is opportunely rescued
pghting vows, looking toward orange blossoms and
the parsop terminates the story. Ii will be perceived
that we speak of very slender materials for play IL
was Robertsons felicity Of genius though, that he could
make use OF such materials to touching effect He has
used tbem in Birth" after characteristic manner
Not nearly well in certain previous comedes-and
vet in such way disarms our censure. The piece
was undoubtedly, the production OF mind very sorely
wearied and a Temperament severely Overtaxed. But
the quality OF that mind was so bright and
that temperament was so gentle that an at
mosphere OF thought and sweetness could not
fail to proceed from them-and these with poetic fancy
and dramatic skill, have given value TO "Birth" Tie
comedy was not well acted last night as we could
wish might he. Mrs Barry did not make Sarah HeieeH
interestine The personality should be fascnatingthat
OF the wild owor OF beauty sprung from the rough soil
OF common life Mr.. williamson wholly out OF
place as The Duke" and this greatly marred the effect
of the play Wallack did everything that could be
done with Jack Randall His three presentations Of i'm
agnary characters in act second, were especially recog
nized as adroit and cOmca The sets Of scenery
fine. The following is the cast: