The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-20
THE CHARITY MATINEE.
Triumphant Success of the WaIlack
DAILY Performance.

DAILY Performance,
distinguished and crow led audience assem-
bled yesterday at the Academy OF Music to witness
the performance OF Sherldan's brilliant comedy,
Never was 1t presented this Continent
under circumstances so favorable to worthy
representation. Every character was intrusted
to an experienced artist, and the chief roles
were filed by the greatest comedy actors OF
the American, stage. The knowledge, also,
that the two most experienced managers OF the
city would superntend the production of the play
added to the popular belief that In completeness
and effectiveness the performance would be
unique; ant in this they were not destined to dis
appointment. So far as lay in the power of the
management and the actors all that could have
been expected by the most eXacting was fulfilled;
but the propriety OF selecting the Academy
OF Music for dramatic representation is, at least,
questionable. Although the house is much larger
than the comedy theatres its seating capacity Is
by no means proportionate to its size. Those who
were not so fortunate to possess seats near the
stage lost much of the real pleasure of the per.
formance. 1t required painful degree OF attention
to follow the dialogue, and the delicate changes
of expression on the faces of the actors were
lost 10 large part OF the audience, owing to
the distance OF the stage. But, in spite OF these
drawbacks, the performance was in every way a
worthy and memorable one and will serve as
ayers how comedy ought to be acted. The cast
was as follows:-
SIR o Oliver Surface john So hpo Gilbert
joseph cha!s sSG Fisse9
,T Mr. w. Dayidge
Sir Benjamin Backbite. Mr. Louis James
Careless. Mr. E. Xrnett
Rowley. Observation-Disclosures. ...............Mr Whiting
snake:: W carroll roll
Lady snscrwsFs cha namsn
LADY Miss Madeline Il iie mi rsss
Maria Mis-: Dora G Ghs r9ns
Sheridan's comedy is too well known to need
comment. The actors wed with each other in
1 shaking stes sr ReaHe telling III Ma sss s
an admirably. studied piece of acting, and
the i, sketch Of the petuant but conhding
Mr.. Brougham's Sir Oliver Surface was marked by
the iun, naturalness, ease and spontanety which
Charles Surface looked such charming rake that
we o sHou With pI nm any sr 0r falling
brilliant Sir Benjamin Backb:e and is Mr Davd age
an effective Crabtree 1t would be too long to 20
through the llst Of characters and do justice to
selves with saying that the parts were filed
wit, with great apillly AMI ana that the Amer
iormance where such uniform excellence K nua,
IN all the parts prevailed. Miss Madeline Hen
interested in dramatic art regret her absence
from the stage. The scenes between her ladyship
and her dotlng old husband were exquisite
examples OF dramatic wit. Nine. Ponisi, too,
as Lady Sneerwei showed keen appreciation OF
the character, and rendered 1t with that careful
anu delicate attention to details which marks the
true artistic. Nine. Lucca sang In the interval OF
one OF the acts Mozarts ''voi che Sd.
pete" from Figaro" She was accom-
panied on the piano by Mr.. q. w. Colby.
The audience gave her a rapturous encore
and in response she sang Home Sweet iIome'
to The evident delight OF the public. The success
OF the performance yesterday was not confined to
its artistic merit. From the pecunary polnt or
view 1t was emnently successful. For some DAYS
before the performance 1t was Impossible to pur-
chase reserved seats. as all the places had been
taken up. Many ladies were unable TO obtain seats
and the passages were literally damned with peO.
pie who had lett the purchase OF their tickets TO the
last moment and found, TO their surprise that it
was absolutely impossible TO obtain other than
standing room. The receipts reached the hand.
some sum OF s6.274. Truiy generous Offering TO
the poor.