New-York tribune., 1875-08-20
THE DRAMA-MUSIC
THE DRAMA.
WALLACKS TREATER-MISs JULIA MATHEWS
AND COMPANY.

AND COMPANY.
The rigor of the season being somewhat
mgated last night by keen moonlight and cool breezes
great crowd Of spectators thronged to waacks,-and
completely filed the placetO the first appearance Of
Mas Julia Mathews and the English Comic Opera Com
pany OF Messrs Henderson and Coville II cheer
fl occasion, and may say that Miss Mathews
was welcomed with ervor and that she showed herself
worthy Of the welcome. She Is handsome English
blonde bright and giccfu in fine health and Therefore in
the joyous animal spirits that health alone
supply. and she personated merry, capricious tanta
lizing ronp-with Of levity and physi-
cal reckessness, indeed, which sometimes
broad-but with spontaneous vim and rosy good
nature that were entirely delightful. The part
that she played was Boaiotte. in new English
adaptation of the opera-bolGc Of "Barbe Bleue"
Memories OF Mile. Aimee in this character foated
into the general current of thought as observed
her; and we may say. descriptively that while Miss
Mathews lacks the dangerous, subtle, somewhat
wanton piquancy, a. well the finely finished arts
tic style OF the French actress, she ia
rogiish, more wholesome. and of quality much
more in consonance with Kindness The act
ing and the singing Of Mile. Aimee gttered
with strange kind of perous beauty-as when the
leopard gently undulstes her form and lets her white
teeth gean in the light The acting and singing OF Miss
Mathews are genial joyous, human, and companonabe.
We do not compare them artists but note these points
OF contrast by way of briefly recording impression.
her rich and brilliant voice surprisingly
suggestive OF the relish for nirth and the taste
and capacity for innocent mischief. That tone
which might be called in her texture of
personality and OF action impressed the hoydenish
affectaton of frank simplcity-vaing refinement and
a crisp talent for satire-which in accomplished
actress of such part Miss Hardcase every person of
taste and Judgment would pronounce admirable As
vocalist Miss Mathews is correct, symphathetic and
very spirited II 10 Judge by the frequent out
bursts of applause by which the lady rewarded and
by the recalls that given to her. should say that
she made brilliant impression the fact is that her
artistic little than that Of
esteem-and the reason is that she appeared
in a dull piece. The story Of Blue Beard is
a sad story Roses that grow grave-stone
roses. to be but there is always scent of sorrow
mingled in their fragrance. The piece dragged And
another that the of her coadutors seemed
unhappy, with the exception Of Mr. G. Fl. Macdermott,
who acted King Bobeche-and who reminds us OF John
Owens when that rOsiy humorous comedian was IN his
thin and ballad daysthese performers appeared as orn
a family OF Cummings. Mr.. Macdcrmott was as
emphatcally the hit OF act second as Miss
Mathews of act first His dron comic
songs, his relish of his fun. his proficiency
at all points and the finish of his acting worthy Of
emphatic recognition. " Bouotte " contains few
bright speechos-the humor OF which Ia ridiculous unex
pectedness-ard many taking melodies q few OF the
latter having been culcd from STRAUSS opera Of
queen Indigo" Mr.. Matt Morgan has painted three
new for the pece-the frat or which il
charming landscape, and all of which are
mar ed by taste in the Of color The ap-
pearaDce OF the stage last night. was made
particularly brilliant, should say by the deft employ
of contrased eOors in the costumes Toward the
close of the exhibition a couple Of dancngg girls and
dancing man somewhat abruptly siunted npon the
soene and quickly became apparent. from the tumu
OF public Joy which th'n arose, that the object
which the populace had chiefly come forth 10
the Female Leg. Two varieties OF this
product fourished. and the curtain then fell
amidst general acclsmation. Miss Mathews ia soon
to appear in " The Grand Duchess" and she will TN
doubtedly make, in that piece. brilliant hit Upon the
hreshhod of her American she begins by winning
goodwill that will readily ripen into admiration. Frank
hearty and cheerful mischief embodied in her and
being trained and competent actress in line of art
that pcrennly popular, she will not fail to make
these merits felt.
DRAMATIC NOTES
Mr. Edwin Booths engagement at the Fifth
Avenue Tneater appointed 10 begin OF Oct l. and
= confidently expected that he will nc able TO
fulfill II.
The last performances, this season, of the
Family, the Firth Avenue Theater bespeak the
public attention, the week closes. Tonight these
merry and nimble players VIII appear in The Wrong
Man In The Right Place and Miss ROsna Voses will act
Nan, in The Good For Nothing