The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-04
A M u S z MI z N rs.
The New Play Mt Waiiaek's-.s The
Squire's Last shiiling.''

Squire's Last Shiiling."
The new play at wallack's produced last night
was witnessed by large and appreciative audi
ence. 1t met with unqualified success 1t is one
OF Mr.. II. ]. Byron's somewhat eccentric pieces,
possessing all the merits and faults of Mr..
Byron's writing. The first act introduces
none OF the leading characters in the piece
az most only one in which the audience
can take friendly interest. The second act
however. where the action really begins recon-
penses all the faults OF the others and gives
the piece a new and delicious atmosphere
The main interest centres In Mr.. S0thern
as Squire Chuckles. who, in this part gives
us the heartiest representation we have
yet had from him. In every respect the actor
attans his ideal-that OF a country gentleman
proud Of his estates, OF his tenantry and
OF himself The interview with Polly,
where he manages to quarrel with her
because his ancestral pride would not permit him
to marry farmers daughter, was very neatly
done, and his facial expression in the scene where
Lady Logwsod assumes he has proposed to her
daughter very fine, indeed But his strongest
scene is where Brandon produces the forged Will
and he believes himself not to be the righuu pos.
SCISSOR VI the property he had regarded as
his own. IN this Mr. Sothern realizes to the fullest
the character Of the true gentleman and
honorable man. There Is no higglng over techn-
caliticA no attempt to doubt the cunning work OF
Rachel Grindrods fingers, hut only manly YIELD
ing up OF the property willed to another. SO
effectively Is this done that hts manliness becomes
the light o. what would otherwise be o very dark
picture. In the third act, reduced to extreme
poverty, and without even the Squirrels last shilling,
he displays the same manliness, making his poverty
bright with the sunshine OF his art. And at last
when he Comes back to his own II 10 without osen-
tation thing daicut in art as in real life, but
equally commendabe and glorious. Besides all
this his Squire Chuckles Is rendered more COM
plete BY the qualities which shine especially In Mr.
S0therns Lord Dundreary and Brother Sam-the
verve he brings to the illustration and individuals
cation OF he part. Byron's epigrammatic SEN
tences--wl had almost SAID Sotherns witty
phases. or we strongly suspect that many Of
tbras gssAr ls-blend 80 thoroughly in harmony
vita nlx.v scc and his acting to make the crea-
ton a rect man, possessing the variad traits
ana even The strongly madked qnaiimes 81 mind
too, was excellent, and the acting throughout I'M
usually spirited and even. Mr.. J. u. Polk, as
Gresham, was very fair and especially at the end
of the second act his acting was strongly marked.
He took possession OF the fine estates OIL his cousin
who had given him an allowance, without allow
ing the other even q bed; doing 1t with
all the nonchalance OF man suddenly
rich. In the other scenes his acting was
lite. MISS Enie GermOn played Polly exceedingly
well, attaining very thoroughly the archness, sim
pllcity earnestness and highness OF spirit OF "a
farmers daughter, who could both resent and for
give the unfeeling words Of the man she loved
Nine. POnisi dropped her matches with great accu
Lady Lsgwood with force and skill Miss Rogers
was pretty as Rachel, and in the scene with
her father In the first act and with Chuckes
In the third, displayed the emotions of dis
gust with her work and Of her love for the Squire
with intelligence and feeling. Miss Vandyke, q
face at this theatre, did the little she was re-
CURED to do acceptaby, but she cutivates too per-
sistent frown and is too abrupt and mechanical
IN her haughtiness to be natural Mr. George
Browns Farmer Hodges was also worthy of men
tion. The other parts are fairly filed, and the
whole piece is rendered in way to give pleasant
ana satisfactory estimate of the strength of the