The New York herald., 1874-08-18
A NJ u s E M E N rs.
j. l.. Toole in ssWig and Gown

a III v 5 II NJ + N rs.
J' L. Toole I'm ''Wig and Gown"
Mr.. ]. L. Toole, the distinguished English come
dian, began his engagement last night at Walack,,
under the most favorable circumstances The
English colony sent forth large and enthusiastic
audience to greet the man who, above all other
actors, brings with him Wherever he goes some.
thing Of the atmosphere Of "Qld England. u
Looking !; at Toole and listening 10 him
it is well nigh impossible to ria our.
serves of the impression that we have been
transferred by some magic power back TO the
smoke and din OF the great English metropolis
and that We breathe the air Of cockneydom. Those
who have no acquaintance with the different types
Of English lie are very apt to miss the excellences
Of Mr. Tooe's performance; ror, though his repe,.
tose is extensive, the characters he best succeeds
IN portraying are 80 thoroughly English
that no similar types exist In the out
siuss world. II was no doubt owing to the CON.
sciousness OF this dniculty that "Wig and Goyshu
was selected 10 introduce Mr.. To0le to an Ameri.
can audience, as it deals with phase OF life not
altogether foreign to oGr society. At least we
suppose that some reason OF Che kind induced
the selection O! q tedious and unin teresting
play which depends wnoily Tor IT'S
interest on The acting OF Mr. Toos.
The plot OF the play may be shortly stated. Mr.
Hammond Coote is q timtd man who by some
miracle has become lawyer. He is as stupid as
he Is tiDid but insists on keeping up the pretence
OF practising at the Bar. Some villains plotting
to set up false heir to the title and estate OF
Lord Kenruetie conspire to have the stupid lawyer
engaged to plead for the defendant, sister
OF the dead lord, who opposes the false
heir. BY his laundering in court Hammond
COOfn Qctahltchip1 fha for thotf ord
Kenruetie was married, and the ro9ues seem
about to win the case, when the lawyer suddenly
produces conclusive evidence that he Is himself
the missing herr This scene is the only really
with admirable Skill Indeed, his acting at this
point more than compensates for the dulness
nated mis- work here Mr. Toole's talent might carry
1t through. Unfortunately ior the actor and the
OF makewelght' and number OF dull and ua-
interesting people are paraded on the stage for
earthly reason. An that the act tells us would
have been better left TO the Imagination OF the au-
dlence, but playwr,ghts seem to think that
unless tney lead up to the threadbare happy end
ing their work Is not complete. The audience
last night was IN good humor. People who had en-
joyed many hearty laugh at Toole IN other days
thronged TO meet and welcome him. 1t was an
willing to bear good deal OF dulness for the sake
OF the many pleasant hours they knew to be in
store for them when their tavorite should
cast aside his wig and gown" ana appear in
some more familiar costume. Not one who
changed a thousand hours Of "Wig and Gown for
one OF "Artiui DOdger." The weakness OF the
ny Mr. S to the
OF Nine. POnsl (Hon. Miss Kenruete) anu MIR.
Herbert tsorbyson Siep, the cast was very poor.
went to the trouble OF bringing q portion
OF the company from England. 10 these. have
been added some oil the least efficient Of Wal
lacks company. Under these difficulties 1t Will
be truly marvellous II Mr. Toole acnleves the
success that his talents justify him In hoping
ress OF "wig and Gown" elicited warm
and instantaneous recognition, and had the
eject produced would have made Mr.. Toole's
success in this city certain. But an American
formers but one figure are dummies, and this is
pantully the case In wig and Gown" There is
lover who stalks about the stage like melancholy
Jacques, and performs awkward 'pantomime
which, like the 'nodding OF Lord Bnrelgh's head"
may mean something or nothing. as the
we nave young lady. Miss A. Mitchell
playing the part o: young man, though why the
Understand, except on the theory that the race Of
actors is happily becoming extinct The cast WAS
distributed as iollows:-Hammond Coote, a bar
rster, Mr.. J. H. Toole; Sorbyson siei, Mr.. w. Her.
tice Jones, Mr. i: A. Weaver; Eawara Albert wei.
ward Nelson Coote, Miss Saidee vivian; James
Strickett, Mr.. Eben Plympton; Fred Fairloot MI
NJ mSana IaEsa MN W g.
c. E. Edwin; Crler Of Court, Mr. G. Atkins: Laun-
dress' Boy, Master George Mills; Servant, Mr.. j.
Curran; Mrs. Coote, MISS Eliza Johnstone; Hon.
MISS Kenruete, Nine. Ponls: Victoria Alice
Maude Mary Coote MISS Minnie Bell susan, Miss
Bialsden; Mrs. Wingram, Miss Hattie Naylor.
After the second act Mr. f0oie received the
honor OF double recall. Mr.. Herbert and
Nine. Ponisi also were called before the eur
tam. AT the conclusion OF "wig and Gown O
beautiful hora GIT was offered to MIR. Tooe by
some admirlng friend, and when he appeared the
audience insisted on speech. In few quiet,
modest sentences MIR. Toole returned thanks for
the magnificent welcome tnat had been extended
to HIM by an American audience on the occasion
OF his first appearance, and expressed hope
that time would strengthen the bond OF union be.
tween him and his new American frends. The
evenings performance was brought to q close by
''Tne Weavers," +" q comic drama IN one act In which
Mr.. ToOle first made q MS In the role OF
Simmons Mr.. Tooie ia seen TO advantage, and
as the piece has much merit people can enjoy the
eccentricities OF the actor with unaoyed pleasure.
II we may Judge from the disposition shown by the
audience at W8liack's last night we should Oe in
clned to predict for Mr.. Tooie large success but
he certainly will not serve either his own or his
clients interest by Keeping on his "Wlg aud
Gown.n
Musical and Ora IN attic Notes.
Mr.. and Mrs. Florence will open In Pittsburg
September 7.
Mr.. Montague, manager OF the London Globe
Theatre, has been engaged FOR short season at