New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-20
THE DRAMA.

BoOTlI'S TnEATER- OPENING NIGHT-nR. j: W.
wALLACK AS MATTHIAS IN " THE BELLS
In one of Blair's poems there is fellcltous
mention of the impotence of man who after long
absence is "new come home" and who hastens
from room to room of his familiar abode, "in pain to
see the whole" Something Of that gleefu eager, ear
most excitement seemed to animate the assemOage tht
filed Booths Theater, last night and witnessed inc
opening performance Of the season. This house. as At
was easy to see has attached itself 10 te anecons VI
the nubie Its votaries feel home in il, and cherish
Il with sort Of domestic fidelity Reopened, last even
ing after vacation of six weeks, il revived for them
MANY pleasant recoecons and 1t offered for their en-
ioyment fresh fields Of pleasure The throng IN attend
ance was quite large especially for hot summer night
many an eye was cheered to see again. through SOFT
light and perfumed air. the painted gardens OF the Dc
cameron; and IN the comfort of old associations ana
bright surroundings cordial welcome accorded to
good pay 10 one Of the best of contemporary aeoTe to
tried favorites and engaging newcomers, ana TO the
privilege Of frequenting the chosen haunt OF
| the MUSES. and home of tragic art.
period OF less than three hours was consumed in the
| fret performance Of "The Bells" We have already
printed with explanatory remarks account Of the
Mot Of this DRAMA end have given the cast OF parts
with which the piece here represented The English
version made by Mr. Leopold Lewis, has not been used
preference being given to an adapted translation by
Mr. George Fawcett Rowe and Mr. G. W. Barry. Mr..
Rowe It will be remembered is the English comedian
who has Greatly distinguished himself OF late in the
character of Mcdcb6r, and who made more than re-
spectacle success the Olympic Theater in this city,
seven years ago, Sir charles Co'dsTeam and as the
buresdue Meded. Mr. Barry the stage manager OF
Woods Museum, not very long ago, and is known as
talented conscientious experienced and sefrespectng
actor These gentlemen have adapted lie Juif Pol.
onas" with ripe and efficient skill, nodded by taste
and informed by perfect understanding of the require
ments and capabilities OF the stage Their piece hts into
the scenes and works with admirable smoothness Its
ao1 in al,raa
it introduces fourteen PERSONS 1t does not require
the display Of much scenery, but such pictures as
it does involve represent simple interiors AID
Winter scenes, the French and German frontier,
and these given at Booths Theaer are particularly
pleasing in composition and color 1t calls for
less Incidental illustrative music, and tisas Is usually
the case-was too loud. Let here remark hint to
band leaders in general that the public does not attend
theaers for the purpose OF hearing concert but for the
purpose seeing and hearing play. With respect TO
the character and merit of The Bells" anticipation
was exactly fulfilled It's tOpic-the analysis OF
haunted murderer's emotons-is painfully dark; but
the artistic management of the topic so iudcious and
adrot that the pain and the gloom, relieved by setting
Of gay circumstances and festive Incidents do not seem
excessive, do not Cypress the spirits, but keep their
relative place in the picture and serve only TO enforce
profoundly impressive moral lesson. This is the chief
felicity of construction in the dramathat sensitive,
human embodiment of guilt, terror, and suffering is
framed in the cheerful "rOundings Of Wholesome
domestic life, and 1t were, literally swathed
in the sunshine. This arrangement, following
the order Of nature, gives vivid and electrical
effect to the central tgure-what would other
wise be monotonous becoming picturesque and
animated One thinks of Eugene Aram, bood-stainedin
conscience quietly sitting among his sehoolb0ys OF
Webster OPPRESSED with the sense Of yet unbured hOr
ror calmly participating in the festivities OF social
card.party, We find in this felicity OF treatment one
secret Of the success of the drama. "Caleb Williams"
has always found readers, and The Iron Chest" Wer
ner" and Harry Dunbar" have not lacked spectators
because Of their allegiance 10 the same iartisc law
There is quality The Bells" however which these
works do not possess and which do not recall char
acterstic Of any the pieces which treat the
theme or hover about 1t. That quality is certain chill
and crisp luster like the simmer OF icces in the
light. 1t comes, no doubt, In part from the romantic
physical surroundings of the story and in part from the
use that is made in its action Of the sound of sleigh
bells. But howsoever occasoned, it makes the piece
deeply impressive upon Imagination and sympathy.
Another ground OF its success Island must continue to
be- whenever 1t succeeds at althe humanity which the
actor supplies to his embodiment OF the chief character
Matthias. as Swallowed forth in text and incident is q
murderer who fears detection suffers terrible anguish in
anticipation Of exposure and punishment, and dies at
last of abect fear and prostraton. Ills expe
rence may for the convenience Of Illustration, be de-
scribed the expansion Of single passage IN the we'll
known play OF Deborah" showing the selftorturng
apprehensions Of the ap0state and criminal Jew The
play presupposes his capacity for suffering and gives
him motive and situation; but it leaves the actor to de-
termine what manner Of shall obey the motive,
struggle with the circumstances and suecumb TO the
torture. Proving equal to that opportunity the artist
will always triumph. Mr. Wallack proved abundanty
tequa IT, night His nature is rich in heart and In
imagination He made Ndthidsno repusive assassin,
whom every body would summarily commit TO his DOOM
but man Of winning temperament and picturesque Pc
culiarties the vctSm indeed, Of momentsry criminal
impulse and temptation, yet engaging and picturesque,
and neither a Thug Parlah Built upon this basis,
the delicate structure OF his art ervent sympathy
as well as intellectual admiration He may perhaps
have erred the design Of the authors OF LIE Juif
Polonaiso in making the element of remOrse conspcu
Gus part of the emotion Of Matthias; but IL IL
error in the right direction for 10 his persona
ton the great advantage Of sympathetic allurement,
making it a suffering and not n grisly monster In
expressing the tenderness OF paterna feeling MI Wal
lack was always proheient-as all must he aware who
recall his Mdnh<so D,ore. That tenderness suffused
portions OF his performance last night aud helped TO
make II magical. The thrilling quality OF IL,
doubt less the actors imaginative scnSfiveness 10
bodng sounds Of the bells OF warning and OF
His face blazed, his figure pctrined. with all
sense of that dire, blood eurdng summons.
Nothing short Of genius is equal 10 such moments
scene make them real 10 other minds hearts
Mr.. Wdllaeks acting Was hailed with such paudts as
arc seldom heard in any heate The general support