New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-28
THE DRAMA.
Mr.. wALLAtRs RETURN.

sentative Of the best intelligence and refinement OF the
city Mr.. wallack appeared as Young 1GrOwe, In Gold
smiths honest hOmey sterling comedy OF She St0ops
TO Conquer" The occasion was thus one OF double IN
terest 1t witnessed the return Of Of the ablest and
most versatile actors on the stage, and the only light
comedian America who Ia wholly competent to act In
the old comedies. 1t witnessed, likewise, thor
oughly legitimate effort in dramatic art-the
presentation, namely, Of good play, properly set and
exceenty cast To say that the evening was one OF tho
merriest OF the is TO record its delightful bril-
lance in very mild language. This performance was,
In fact as nearly perfect anything Of the kind can
ever be, and 1t was enjoyed without reserve.
Fresh comment upon play familiar She Stops
to Conquer" is not easily made and extended remark
upon 1t might we'll be deemed superauous AS often as
rocurs, however all persons who know the gentle
genius OF Goldsmith conscious Of certain glad
in the perpetuty of his triumph Great individuals
frequently turned the cold shoulder upon him when he
living, and small wits easily triumphed
over him, through efrontery Of bearing and
readiness OF tongue Tho ponderous johnson swamped
him with his learning and bis patronage. and
the complacent Garrick and Colman arily rejected
both his plays. He was simple man ia character
that only the best menof his generation seem to have
known how beautiful his nature was how fine the play
OF his mental faculties how quaint his imagination how
delicate the literary atmosphere Of all his works He was
OF the sterling men,-few in any period-who are
content to do work Of high kind. and TO make no
poher about and the ultimate conquest and abiding
OF such a Is fact refreshing TO the
Of justice. "she Stops Conquer" which has
kept the stage for century aud will doubtless keep It
for than century 20 come Marked In its day,
protest OF British feeling against French frippery. Its
characters are those OF nature first, and Of manners
afterward Its humor Is genuine. It's comca incidents
become out OF the play Of character upon circum
stances invented without violence to probability.
- Mo mad IN last
And though It's humOr ia sometimes broad and certain
Of its expressions and incidents coarse and though
its comedy sometimes apses into farce 1t mpresses the
mind that IL competent understand it a wholesome
exposition at Of permanent phases OF human ma
ture actual aspects Of English life The cOntinu-
Of such work the modern stage 49, accord
ingy, gratifying ts own account as well as on that
OF It's ilustrlous and beloved author.
Mr. walach. think, is at his best in those
types of character which blend a sweet, dro kindly
humOr with subtOne OF gravity The Of these
is sentiment rather than sadnesshe remembrance of
Joy rather than JOY itself No one however reflect
upon him, TO his disparagement, that he is Onepart
actor-and the fact that he Young Marjorie, when
he might have acted Sir Osrin Morand, should not
without its significance. His embodiment last night OF
the twOsided hero of She StOops the bashfu gallant
aud the rufing acknowledgements marvel OF sim
certify and OF symmetry. To consider how stiHy FOug
AarlOge is drawn flor the character IS not upon
which Goldsmith expended his afectiOD and
TO note how formal Ia Of tbs Ian
euage assigned for his utterauce, aud then to con-
with the dry ideal disclosed the graceful
ductile, buoyant, and animated parsonage whom ME-
Wallack enbOdes is to be less surprised than de-
lighted at the resources OF the actors art and the
mastery skin and emphatic force with which he
them. Many parts in modern comedy play themselves.
Il IL the wise aim OF acute dramatss OF the time 10 Ill
their PLAYS with part Of this Sort and trust nothing to
ntrft ,a, Nt.la
meant 10 be interpreted by dramatic and they
yield mp their deeper meaning and their sweeter
perfume only to the wOOing OF heart
and intellect Mr. Wallack's Young NUloWe
is very conspicuous and delightful
illustration This truth and it is not only fine IL itself
but very valuable for what it denotes No actor could
light up this what frigd identity, and make it
round complete charming type OF character, with
out possessing back OF the mimeto skill that is brought
directly into play rich OF sensiOility taste,
mrthfu temperament, nmbeness OF fancy, perception
Of the ludicrous, trained fexbiiity Of demoanOr,
and knowledge and mastery Of his own powers.
These are the invahable attributes Of Lester
Wallack's acting-and they are attributes Of high
order 1t is perhaps the misfortune OF this actor that
his has been long identified, in the public mind,
with achievements that the public mind has seldom or
rated at their proper value The cnetar OF saa-
din that could shear feather cushion, gets far
less credit with the multitude than the batte-ax Of
Richard, which could smash pillar OF marble
Mr.. wallack welcomed, at his first entrance with
three four rounds OF evidently honest and kindly
applause at the the third actthe with
the supposed barmaid which he treated with engaging
spirit and delicacyhe called before the curtain,
also Mr. Gilbert and Miss Katharine Rogers, acting
Mr. Hardease aud his daughter. The hospitable iras-
seble old country gentleman is famously good in the
person Of John Gilbert all the world Of play goers
has long been aware. The noble old comedian
in ample force, last night. and every sentence
that he uttered was made to tell, with uneTing
Intelligence and with the emphasis OF odd character and
rich humor. To hear John Gberts HardeGsHe declare
OF Harloce that his impudence makes me laugh" was
to enjoy commingling OF confused emotions that liz
nothing less than decious and when in his subsequent
enumeration OF articles that might tempt his guests
ina OF Notwithstanding laughter The notable
merits OF the cast aside from this one were the Tony
Lutnpktn OF Mr. Harry Beckett and the Miss HdrdcdsA
OF Miss Katharine Rogers-the lady being borrowed
from Mr.. Days company Of which she is
member. Mr.. Beckett as Tony Lumpkia supplies a want
that our stage has long suffered He has the youth.
the animal spirits the misehieYOus play fulness,
the OF pumpkin character the comic face and
voice and all the relish OF animal life and OF fun that
are needfu for the part. The performance even
but II any point at all became conspicuous above tho
rest it the puzzled effectiveness Of mood In the let
ter seene followed by explosion OF noisy gee Mr.
Beckett was warmly applanded. Miss Katha-
offered was well worthy OF the public tribute vision
OF such piguaut loneliness has seldom been Per-
excessive but the sparkle and the sentiment we're
truthful to the authors dea aud to fe and these
capricious temperament aud all the skill of expere need
theatrical art Mr. L. A. Holland notably good as
S not yet su waau real in ShsTaSter
the curtain when he responded the public demon
straton In brief and happy speech OF thanks and
reciprocal Kindness.