The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-13
A M U s E M E N T s i.
WaIlnck,s.

The "veteranp proved even q greater success
than was predicted In the HERALD OF yesterday. In
spite OF the many new attractions onered to the
public the house was packed full, and with an au-
dlence such as wallack's alone to have power
to draw-the very elne OF playgoers. From the out
set the piece was stamped win the certainty OF sue
cess. The lively and sparkling dialogue with
which the first scene opens put the house
IN good humor, and as soon as the strangely
marked characters OF Leon Delmar. his father,
Eugene and Blanche McIvor had once fairly caught
the Imagination their adventures and words were
watched with ever qulckening interest. We have
already given detailed account OF the plot which
proved even more dramatic, II It's effect may DC
taken as test, tnan had been anticipated. Mr. Les.
ter Wallack's Delmar was finished and unaffected
TO make striking hits, 1t very difficult to give
tine character strength and force; but Mr.. Walack,
lie, succeeded iu ma Sing the part felt not over
prominently noticed, BY the audience. Oh Mr.; Gii,
SPEAK SPEAK too highly There IS maniiSess and
impulsyeness ABOUT the Old soldier which
character, even with constant frequenters OF Wal.
lacks. MIR. John Brougham, too mas again found
sa,le powers as an actor The scene IN the jIdg.
ment hall recalls the pow:wow IN "pocahonias" by
its broad, roicking fun, and though IT may
i Is very pleasant feature Of the play. Miss
Bnie GermOn plays Blanche with spirit and
grace and Mrs. jennings, Aminen. in spite OF the
many embarrassing peculiarltle5 OF the character,
ing. me minor parts were ali well filled. or the
mounting We have already spoken, and can oniy
repeat that r IS in the best ana most effective style
even OF WallacK's. There can be no doubt that The
piece Will have very prosperous run, which 1t GER
tainly deserves.
NiblO's
The long promised Grand Goat Alexis made his
DEBUT in the "Black Crook" last evening and was
hailed with thunders OF applause. He Is beyond
all question the most wonderful goat that ever
lived; indeed he rivals In intelligence and accom-
plishments the tabled companion OF Esmeralda IN
"Notre Dame" AS an equestrian he is most pro-
nOunced success. having leaped upon the back OF
his "good gray steed." he firmly holds MS place,
while the horse gallops round the mpr0vised ring.
He jumps over banners and through h0Ops-three
or them ut leap at last aud then the scene winds
up with o grand comic tabeau monkey Is
thrown upon the back OF the mounted
Capricorn and the horse thus bears
couple OF stories or animals round and
round the ring amid the widest shouts OF laughter.
The "CrO0K" has also received several other new
features The most important IS the Introduction OF
Sassi's celebrated serpent dance TO American
eyes this scene Is slnguarly novel and perhaps at
times also little revolving. There Is ballet dance
to the weird stratus OF some enthusiastically ORR
entail music, and then Sassl plucks the anaconda
from It's nest IN the basket and charms it. me SER
peut is Enthusiastically alive though with the dull.
heavy life peculiar TO its kind, and lazly stretches
Itself now and then, pushing out It's tongue about
the form OF the moving danseuse. Inc audience
looked on with wondering terror; but the friendship
so unnatural and repulsive that though the
former Is beautiful. she lost at once
spired. No doubt However, this curiOusy new ex.
hiDitlon Will OF Itself draw full houses. couple OF
new music Is very good, and has been arranged
with his usual skill by Sign0r Opert. The foll0w-
Ing Is list OF the principal changes:-
Arabian Cantiene (from "Tho Desert.D
Serpent Music Oriental melody
The main thread OF the piece remains, OF course,
much the same as ever. MISS Kate Santey MISS
Appearing for the first time after two weeks, Ill.
ness among the actresses, and Mr. Morton and Mr..
Arthur Mattheson among the actors still accept
ably play the old, Old parts, and cOntrlve TO give
them as much life and meaning AS the wildly absurd
story Will permit The piece. however. necessarily
effects and Its merits as variety show" and in
these regards il decidedly deserves the success It
has met with. Ii should De mentioned that IL WILL
positively be Withdrawn IN fortnight.
"NIarriageo at st. James Theatre.
The plot OF the new play which Mr. steele Mac
kaye presented last night to the public Is taken
| from "Jule," by Octave Feuillet, which Obtained
| such remarkable success at the Theatre Francois
In Paris some years ago. Marriage" though 1t
offers novel views on the relations OF man and wife,
has no claim to be considered sensational. 1t IS o
| quiet and effective drama, with many touch.
| ing situations and bold lessons conveyed 10
society, II only society could be prevailed upon to
profit by them. But we fear very much that
naughty men Will 20 TO the theatre and admire the
sentiments, but come away Just as naughty as
before However, the ann ana drift OF the play is
most commendabe, and, what Affects US specially,
the performance well seconds the intention. In
adapting the piece for the American stage the orig
nal dialogue has been freely departed from; but
nor has m n a
crispness, combined with refinement, which Is
generally absent from our modern society plays
The only objection which can be urged
from the point OF strict morality against
Marriage Is that In the authors eagerness
to denounce the hypocrisy of society and the too
lax notions OF duty held by the generality OF mar
RED men he has been tempted into something like
justification OF the unfalthIuIness OF wives, Seem
ing imply that the ialsepess OF the man TO his
marriage VOW sets the woman Tree. IL Is no DOUBT
| indulge in little distractions and ndscretons
which they would regard as infamous crimes II
committed BY their wives; but we do nos think
en- repdnche undertake TO assert their right to SINH
| lar indulgence.
rushing from one end OF the continent TO the other.
Adnering closely to the ordinary course or things
inmates and what It loses in sensation by this
mode OF development IL gains IN unity and natural
Brooks Miss Grswoldl, the heroine, married while
yet girl, has long struggled against the ndifer-
ence and GOODNESS OF her husband, who Is not by
| any means bad fellow, as the world goes,
| but thinks men discharge all their duties
| II their wives can satisfy all their little
| whims, have boxes at the OPERA &c. The wife, too
proud TO complain, feels deeply her loneliness and
her husbands neglect, and wishes Tor The compan-
ionship or her only child, girl just budding into
| womanhood; but the husband desires the young
lady TO continue AT school to complete her eiuca-
| ton. struggle ensues, OF winch the husband
does not recognize the Importance his decision
| breaks the last bond Of sympathy between him and
mis- long suffering wife. The play opens at this crit-
| cal moment. Colonel Carroll Grey MR. Mackayel,
| an old friend OF the family. reproaches Walter
Brooks with MS want OF consideration Tor his wife
and neglect OF her happiness, anu treated, like
people who undertake TO tell other people of their
| follies, as q well-intenuoned bore. Colonel GREY,
| vhn haq IonU n Ior Mar0afat