The New York herald., 1873-10-28
MU EN- E is.
ssshe sto0ps TO Conquer 1T Waiiack's-
Reappearance Of Mr. Lester Waliack.

the boards where he attained his great reputation
as An actor, and he again not only Illustrated the
/ rare merit OF his art, but proved concluslvely
that he Ii the only living representative
OF that school OF comedy which we are accustomed
to call told" English manners OF the last GEN.
tury are tradition with the American people,
through the influence OF the American stage.
Wallacks Theatre especially has preserved to us
the old school OF art; indeed, may say 1t Ia the
only theatre, either in this country In England
where the old methods OF acting may be studied
enjoyed. When we lnd Mr.. John S. Clarke playing
''The Rivals" at Charing Cross for over
800 nights we think we may say that old
comedy, as old comedy In art, Is In decay In
England. Last nights representation at Wallack's
shows that, whatever may be its condition In the
country or its birth, the best specimens OF the
English art OF the last century are to be found in
America to-day. This. we know, is claiming
great DEAL but we think we are justified in going
further and saying that Mr.. Lester walack is the
only actor living who can faithfully portray the
young gentleman Of Goldsmith's day, and that
Mr. John Gilbert is not only the best ..oid Oid
successor of TN the od af' men" OF tho last last
generation. In the last two or three years we
comedies-that is, excellent In themselves and
considered nom modern standpoint; but they
failed in the highest requirement. Of art. it is
this requirement which Mr.. Walack fills exactly,
and In his success last night IS Young NARROW we
in the season-nainely, that his temperance
would be the dramatic event Of the year.
The three finest comedies In the language are
sosns o4 GSSi
named play mas always been an especial fsyorito
with New York audience. In the old and pros.
es as all q old theatre aeers Win
Der, the cast included Burton, Lester wal
.fs s.elass sass Ess s suse' sG esas s
Wailack, Blake, waicot, Reynolds, mrs Blake,
the leading parts. At wallack,s the present
theatre, Lester Walack, Blake, John Gilbert, Mrs.
Mary Cannon have ct Various times Contributed
their artistic powers to retain the popularity OF
s py win thus BE- for how
Mr.. Wa!lack has played the part In which he ap
peared last night. as we have already indicated
that OF Young NARROW in Godsmith's comedy,
Comedy in the olden time always less attrac-
tive than tragedy, first assumed real Importance
stoops to Conquer" ana that work was the fore.
runner OF the host OF successful plays which were
mans, Holcroft, O'Keefe, the Nortons and Others.
That play may be Legitimate" without being te-
dious, and that q wholesome tone OF sentiment may
run through 1t without ever becoming 'preachy," IL
fully proved by the constant succession OF fun and
interest which alternately sparkle and captivate
comedy is to the readers OF English literature, as
well as to the frequenters Of the theatre it was
duced for the first time, and we have rarely seen
more merriment In place OF amusement.
criticism of Mr. Waiack's acting as Young NARROW,
though we cannot fail to acknowledge the extreme
pleasure afforded @ BY the excellence Of his art
serious drama, melodrama, and new as well as old
comedy, we shall take occasion not only Of con-
Lutte perfection in the widely different roles he
has has been en-. constantly in the habit Of play
upon upon Mr. Mr. Joan sa eilbeSt's uns rendtion Of Nj.
Hardcastle:. 1t is the same old character-strong
as in Mr. GiIbert's younger days-wlth which our
played Miss Hardcaste intelligently, and some
times excelenty, but not evenly, and with much
the rather stia manners % Of sS" oiS Comedy Nine.
for any remark was MIR. Harry Beckett's Tony
a surprise to his audience, as it was to us. There
is more mellowness in his acting than his previous
Was o L was @ far rom
being as perfect an impersoDation IS has been seen
on the New York stage, but though the actor was
not as funny as he might have been. he exhibited
Tne play win have good run and Il is to be fol.
Mr.. Wa1lack appears as Hugh Chalcot. Thus, 1t
will he seen, the old and the new comedy. in which
follow each other FIN in rapid succession and the
season at Wallacks cannot fail to be as brilliant as
any that have preceded It,
Italian Opera-"Don Giovannp' IT the
Academy.
Mozart's great work, 'Don JUAN" was given for
the second time this season at the Academy OF
Music last evening. The cast was precisely the
same as on the first night Of production, but there
was considerable improvement in everything
except Leporelo and the mise en- scene The latter
suffered badly from an attempt to improve 1t. The
scene to which Leporelo. disguised as Don Juan.
a ~
Massetto are about to murder him in mistake for
district of the Yellowstone Park instead Of In an
inner court OF Spanish castle; It was painful to
about among the trees looking for door In
the last act the demons were introduced, an
day. day.. There were two. Of them. and they
came down from, from door ,,.tt. at the back as
MaureI rel again achieved fine success in his forcibe
and unstrained singing and acting OF the part OF
the libertne, and signor Campaninl received well
particularly fine. Nine. Nilsson shared in the tri-
than IT, Tns 2ena Of
Mile. Torriani is subdued performance. "Batti,
Snced an encore Her Vedrai carino was
good deal drowned under Q more vigorous accom-
a i te c ne ro
with success, but her organ Is thin and delicate.
There ls yet much room roo ior Improvement IN chorus
work before they can claim for it anything Ike
perfection.
Othello at the Lyceum Theatre.
Mr.. King came to us with q reputation fairly
earned in Europe by hard study, combined with
natural ability to interpret Shakespeare's works.
and though he nrst presented himself in q
deformity 1t was one that convinced all
who witnessed him as Quasimodo that the
talent he was credited with he really
possessed. Last night he appeared to
an apprecative and intelligent assemblage as
"Othello," and certainly the reception was one
that could not fail to be exceedingly gratifying to
him. Mr.. King possesses o presence and voice
that eminently 1T him for the character of the
knightly Moor, and 1t would be unjust criticism
to say that he disappointed in any
material point the expectations that had been
oxxaad OF In iuu,a ~