The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-17
STnc Rivals, Mt WaIlcck,s.

Mr. Walack had what is now called in New York
phrase "a Wallack audience" to witness the repro
ducti0n OF "The Rivals" and long before the cur
tain was raised there was not seat to be OBJ
tanned. The scenery and arrangements OF the
stage were appropriate, the last scene being par
ticulary fine as combination OF color and light
and perspective. There was one drawing room
scene tasteiully arranged; but the street scenes
might have been from Madrid or Turin. There was
little rawness, and here ana there q rough bit OF
acting; bat this, we presume, is inseparable. from
a first night. The arrangement OF the comedy
mi~ht be improved. There are many parts OF 1.-The
Rivals'' which are as much out of place in our
generation as the novels OF Richardson or
the poems Of Swift. Here and there is a
touch OF cOarseness more by suggestion than eX-
preston which has been toned down by the stage
manager, and might be omitted altogether. More
than this, have scenes OF overdrawn artificial
sentimentaity, winch clog the action OF the play.
We have no doubt such scenes have their uses as
pictures OF the manners and the times. But we
really have no sympathy with them, and, with all
due reverence Tor our great grandmothers, IL has
always seemed rather d reflection upon their men,
DRY that our great gIandlatners were compelled TO
talk SO much upon their knees and appeal to them
as the cruel Chloe and the divine GlOriana Some
how 1t seems Impossible that the young ladies OF
any time should begin evening conversation by
strengthen "ihe Rvals' as a work OF interest,
without weakening it as work of art, to strike
In fact, Mr. Carroll seemed to be OF the same i'm
preston Tor he was evidently lost in ms part and
did not know what to do with 1t, and lett the audi
ence i'll doubt most OF the time as TO whether he
was an undertaken or reformed pugilist about 10
take holy orders.
We can scarcely call ''The Rivals'' a comedy
although 1t Justly deserves the reputation of being
one OF Sheridan's masterpieces. The action and
characters are all iarcicai and the whole effect Is
m u W ic
need to humor ana the result is that we have
characters and scenes that have become a part OF
been an irish comedy within seventy years
mat does na not eons from him. Bob
while Mrs. Maaprop is as celebrated Fail
stan: Each Is an eXaggerauon-simply Il con-
cepton OF extreme humor, intended to amuse
the audience. Lydia Languish Is an impossible
gir-a sentiment, not character Sir Anthony
Absolute Is the true comedy part-the fine Old beer
drinking, lOx-hunting, land-owning, rascible Eng
lish squire, as complete IN ITS way as Squire West
ern; so that in criticslng The Rivals" we must
pose upon the actors the necessity OF making as
much fun as possible.
successful. The piece was over acted-evidenty
as Il necessity of the comedy. Mr.. Gilbert, wnen
an old friend, and his performance carried Off
the honOrs OF the evening. 1t was nney done
congratulated in one or two points rather
broad But this is among the tendencies OF MIR.
Giloerts acting, and we sometimes wish that
his fine old English gentleman ana not
caper ana skip so much. We suppose how
ever, that Mr.. Gilbert is. right and that
we are wrong, and tnat our dear old
great grandathers sometimes made speeches
which would not bear repeating. Mr.. Brousham,
as Sir Luclus OTrigger, played with reserve and
ease and gave as correct q type Of the irish gen.
temanly adventurer as we have the stage. Mr..
Beckett was a subdued Bob Acres at first, but IN
the end he came up 10 the spirit OF the part, and
rather Overacted 1t towards the end. Mr.. Beckett
should remember that Bob Acres was not much
clown as squire. captain Absolute, by Mr..
Arnott, was a somewhat tempestuous perform
ance, anu was so loud in some OF his love scenes
that 1t would not have surprised us to see the
police coming through the stage windows
as officers OF the peace. Mr.. Arnott can play
this part great deal better. Nine. PonisI
was an amusing Mrs. Maaprop and shared with
Mr.. Gilbert the honors OF tue evening, while MISS
Jenreys-Lcwis looked pert and pretty as Lydia
Languid Fay was well played by MIR, Edwin, while
M. Holland destroyed the humOr in the part OF
David by exaggeration.
As general thing the play was altogether over
acted. There Is FUN enough IN the ''The Rivas'' TO
make IL always most agreeable comedy, and the
erect is not improved when the chars cters insist
upon screaming. 1t Will be presented for SIX
nights.