The New York herald., 1872-12-22
ANU s E NJ E N rs.
"Brother SAM at WaIlacks.


"Brother Sam, at Wallacks.
The first production OF "Brother SAM at Wal
lacks Theatre was made last night. with Mr.
S0thern In the leading part and Mr.. John Gilbert
as Jonathan Rumbelow, the uncle OF the dear, de-
lightfnl Slingsby. Mr.. j. B. Polk personated Trim
bush and Miss Efne Germon Mrs. Trimbush. The
interest OF the piece, as matter OF course, GEN.
tired in the other member OF the Slingsby family,
the brother OF Lord Dundreary. Mr.. Sothern's per-
sonation OF the f0p ia in every way as ndividuaized
the part he has played often and with which his
fame is more distinctly identified. Brother Sam"
Is not Lord Dundreary In any sense. the concep.
ton Of the character being as distinct as the make
up and both being as far as possible from the
Dundreary pattern. Yet while the difference in
the two parts is so unmistakable they are not so
diverse as to leave the actor open to the charge
that these fops have no family resemblance; they
differ only as brothers usually differ, and the
traces of character which seem similar In each are
only such as to justify Uncle Rumbeow's very big
word, uttered with SO much ditilculty-'concan-
guinity." Sam differs from Lord Dundreary in
all outward things He is blonde OF the
purest type His utterance is rapid and distinct,
and his pronunciation that Of all Englishspeaking
u Cockney than Yankee, which is the same thing
as saying that he Is not like either. In dress, IN
manner IN speech ana IN s acOn ras ne rs man 81
is fOp, but no mere imitation OF other fops. He
is without reverence for anybody or anything, and
yet he is never absolutely III bred. He lives by mis-
WITS, and his nonchaiance is wonderful. The
conception OF the character, which Is Mr. Sothern's
and not the dramatists-whlch, indeed, is beyond
any dramatlst-ls study SO complete and
thorough as to be vitaized in every word, every
look and every gesture. 1t is not Mr..
is it the Brother Sam which one would
get from reading the play, but . strongly
conceived bit OF characterization made nom obser
vaton and a study Of living men. To look at 1t 1t
is mosaic OF hundred fops melted into one, and
unlike yet like them oil. We have dwelt thus long
upon this deineation OF Dundreary's brother be-
cause, even with the excellent support which Mr..
Wallack has provided, he is the central figure Of
the piece and the only bit Of real NATURALIZATION.
Mr.. John Gilbert's Uncle Rumbelow Is one OF those
exquisite old men which this great actor knows so
wen how to clothe with the glow OF genuine
bush is a slngularly effective picture Of the
wife who rules her husband and hates the
fumes Of tobacco. OF Miss Rose Coghlan's lice we
cannot speak with SO much warmth, her person
alton lacking somewhat the individuality which
shone out In the other parts; but 1t was perform
ance which Will improve rapidly and become, after
few representations, as strong almost as the
Others One word seems necessary as to the general
largest and BEST in every sense, which has been
gathered together this season, and not
Of the kind easily moved to enthusiasm.
GILBERT on his temperance showed it to be one of
the audiences which knew and appreciated the
old favorites OF this theatre. But 1t was enthusi
astic. From the beginning to the end OF the play
1t was in q roar. Every well made point went over
ne In intensity as smile cs
performance 'such fun, }" and "Brother sam" could
only say 1t was 'JOuy."
Musical and Theatrical Notes.
Miss Kellogg seems to have gained the favor OF
the Philadelphia public by her artistic impersona-
ton Of the role OF Leonora in "Trovatore.n
One Of the most welcome Christmas presents that
the musical citizens Of the metropolis can receive
is the concert OF Thomas orchestra announced to
take place on Saturday evening.
Mr.. Lester Wallack plays Faint Heart Never
Won Fair Lady, and "Woodcock's Little Game" at
the Brooklyn Academy on Christmas night. Mr..
Wallack's recent seasons in Baltimore and Wash
ington were great successes
The next week is the old comedy week at the
Union Square Theatre. The company is strong
enough to play standard comedy well, but the
ground is one upon which it Ia so dangerous to
tread that prediction is futile.
The "Lily or France" with Miss Helen Temple as
joan OF Arc, closed ut Booths last night. Though
not success in the larger and better sense it
well put upon the stage, and neither Mr. Brougham
nor Miss Temple can complain OF want of opportu-
nifty. Next week Mr.. James w. Wallack appears
In "Henry Dunbar.n
The new opera bouTe, 'Les Cent vierges I" will be
produced at the Olympic Theatre on Monday even
ing The libretto shows 1t to be indelicate its
predecessors, fact which is probably a recon-
mendation to such lovers OF French music as are
content to have 1t badly rendered for the sake of
Its ministratons to depraved and morbid taste.
Miss Ethel closed her engagement as the heroine
in agnes" last night and took her benefit on tie
evening previous. On her benent night the theatre
was crowded by q very fashionable audience and
the stage was almost covered with flowers At
the close of the performance Miss Ethel made
neat little speech, full Of kindness and thanks for
everybody. 1t Is expected that she will return to
the Union Square Theatre in the Spring.
Ground the Clock" at the Grand Opera House.
has been the most successful piece yet produced at
that theatre. The house is the largest place of
amusement in the city, but 1t has generally been
well dled. There Is no reason why house on the
west side should not succeed, for from Broadway
and Twenty.thrd street, the heart OF the city, 1t
Is not more distant than any other theatre with
two exceptions All OF our theatres are sufficiently
accessible. and 1t is extreme narrowness which
urges the objection Of locality against any OF them
'Leo and Lotos" at Niblos is having a very pros
porous run. The spectacle and the ballet continue
to attract large houses, and the absolute want OF
genuine humor in the piece is forgotten because
of the glowing pictures which follow one another
in rapid succession. Two scenes especially, the
palace OF jewels and the boudoir OF Venus, are as
magnificent as anything yet produced In the way OF
spectacle Without being in any sense dra-
matte entertainment, for 1t is In fact, only hint
Of what dramatic representations may be made,
the piece succeeds because IL Is pleasant to the
eye and generally inoflensive to good taste.
False Shamc,n the new piece at the Fifth Ave-
nue. Theatre, Is quiet English comedy alter the
Robertson pattern with q fair amount OF ''gou In
it. The play opens with picnic at Rowan Ghyll
Falls, where Arthur, Lord Clinton, saves Magda.en
Atherly nom drowning, but contents himself with
removing ring from her finger and allows the
n QUn nd
turer and his rival. The unmasking OF Bragleiuh
and the development OF strong feeling under q
mask OF Incidence and want OF spirit In the young
nobeman are the staple OF the piece. Miss Rose
Massey played the heroine at the Globe Theatre.
London, and yet IL was success. People who
know her capabilities and the strength OF the Fifth
Avenue company could choose four or five actresses
likely TO give the piece better Magdalen ana
greater prosperity.