The New York herald., 1875-12-10
ADJUSTMENTS.
BOSOM rnrrNps'' At wALIAcK's TmEArnE.

'sBosoM FRIENDS" AT wALIAcKs THEATRE.
A really good comedy where the plot is interesting
and clear the situations striking and the dialogue
natural and witty probably gives more pleasure to
greater number OF persons than q great poem or
tragedy But such comedies are more rare in our
literature than people imagine We have many plays
which are great special elements, some in the in
terest Of their plot others in the truth OF their
characters or the briancy Of their language,
but there few that not deficient in some OF these
merits Among these perfectly balanced modern com
edes we should place "Bosom Friends" We CONSIDER
it in many respects superior Case, which II is
the fashion TO hold up the standard Of dramatic
writing. "Caste" is beyond question charm
ing play, and inculcales good moral,
though it is not very sharply defined in the
denouement but lacks the power Of construction, the
variety Of characters the unexpectedness Of incident
and, in short, the general brilliancy which marks
''Bosom Friends. " This is because Horace Wgan
better dramatst than Robertson but because the
Frenchman who wrote .'Nos Intmes" had probably
more experience, If not more genius The play
holds q deservedly high place the French
stage. II was originally produced in English
at the Royal St. James Theatre, in 1852, under
the title OF ''Frends or Foes ~ and we have
Gently had the pleasure OF seeing it French the
Lyceum Theatre. Quite great satisfaction given
the splendid house which attended first repre-
sentaton at wallacks Theatre last night
To say that "Bosom Friends" handsomely
mounted would be unnecessary compliment to Mr..
Wallack, who like a sklful artist always hangs his
pictures in the best light
The scenery in harmony with the story, and the
interiors furnished with that elegance which
stops short Of luxury and ends with the boundaries OF
good tastc This pleasing background to the perform
permitted to obtrudo upon the foot
lights divert the attention from the play itself.
The acting was throughout remarkably complete
for first performance There are at least dozen
parts require TO be well rendered. and Of these
we're admirably filled. The return OF Mr. John
Gilbert was enthusiastically applauded, and as
Mr.. Yielding he made the greatest hit of the
evening in pure comedy. His description OF
a night spent in a country house, lighting with gnats
and troubled by dogs and Cochin China cocks at early
dawn, a perfect bit Of acting and brought down
a tempest of applause Mr.. Montague played DR.. Bland
with his accustomed grace and ease, and partcu-
larly fortunate in the second and third acts When the
play has been longer the stage Mr.. Montague will
probably strengthen his acting in of the
passages for il is in strength that his per-
sonaton was deficient. Mr.. Arnott, who was also
warmly received played Mr.. Union with eccentric
humor and force, and Mr.. Beckett decidedly anus
ing the rate Captain Donohue. Mr. Steven
sons Fervid was very good, and he had
in the love To do this would
be to some of the painful instead of
ing beautiful portrait OF Mrs. Union drawn by
Miss Ada Dyas who contributed largely to the triumph
the play obtained Nine Ponsi, MISS Maye and Miss
Blaisdel also deserve especial mention Altogether
''Bosom Friends likely to be OF the great hits
Of the season.