The New York herald., 1876-01-13
ADJUSTMENTS.

''MARRIED IN HASTE" AT wALLAcK's THEATRE.
There standing room ouly left at wallack's last
night after the curtain upon the drst performance
OF H. j. Byron's new comedy Of married in Haste
II was 6rst produced at the Haymarket London last
October a month ago was brought out at
the Chestnut Street Theatre Philadelphia and
now comes as novelty to the New York
stage whore 1t will hold its place for weeks to come
It's reception last night was hearty and enthusiastic
The audience appeared to be deli GIFTED with the bril-.
liancy and sparkle Of the dialogue and tho play was
accompanied throughout with laughter and applause
The plot is as follows Augustus yere an amateur
artist, who has expectations from an eccentric old
bachelor uncle Pendragon, enters under the guise OF
poor artist the family Of Mr. Granger an nouveau
riche, retired from trade Ho falls in love with tho
daughter, Ethel and hrs affection is recprocated. He
ordered from the house by Mr Granger but lust as
he has bid his sweetheart farewell perhaps forever"
Gibson Greene, a good-heared man about town, ar.
rves and informs the Graingers who the poor artist,
really is. The tables arc turned and We're
is warmly welcomed as son-n-aw. The
second act shows the newly married couple
two months afterward enjoying their honeymoon
at a country hotel, the happy running short OF
money and not having dared to tell his rich old uncle
of his marriage. The uncle in search OF bric-a-brac
discovers his nephew and dscards him for his ngrat-
tude leaving him, with long hotel bill unpaid at the
mercy Of the landlord. Again Gibson Greene turns up
and pays the bill In the third act, year after, the
artist has been compelled make art his pro-
fesson, and we 6ud him and his young wife
doing their utmost to earn a living. little
domestic unhappness is caused by veres
thoughtess attentions TO brilliant society
belle, Lady Lister, and Gibson Greene the
again peacemaker telling well meant lbs to
calm the apprehensions Of the young wife, His praise
worthy endeavors however, rendered futile by the
entrance OF Mr. aud Mrs. Granger who their
son-in-aw and repeat the the real Of
his absence from his wife, The young wife Indignantly
leaves her husbands house with her mother. The
husband returns and INDUCES in vain regrets.
In the last act the Granger family, who
have lost their wealth, are discovered in blooms
bury Lodgings, relying mainly the pencil
of the young wife for money Gibson Greene is
hand IN the hour OF need. Through his strategy the
old uncle who has never met Ethel, is introduced to
her as the young artist whose he has been pur-
chasing and whom he wished TO meet Mutual dis
covery takes place; but he think ing that she is cog
nizant OF Gibsons plots to effect reconciliation with
hrs nephew, reproaches her bitterly Her honest
cepuon. She induces the old man to forgive his
nephew, who comes in at the right time, cOnfesses his
faults and is forgiven. With this happy the
In this story, which suggests william Blacks novel
Of "A Princess OF Thule there is OF course little that
new But, Mr. Byron himself says in the play,
when of the characters asks whether somebody's
reputation is not little shaky, "0f course II is; whose
isn't so il may be said all plots that originality is
in this day mpossibilty. plot is after all, merely
a beast OF burden by which the higher elements of
terest TO be carried If plot IS consistent pro-
gressive and rapid enough In its development not to
retard the action the spectator is always satisfied.
People do not care SO much for completely
character and dialogue Here Is where
the dramatic genius reveals itself Here Shakespeare
strong His plots are the simplest in the world,
and II IN hts masterly treatment Of The commonplace
incidents that the interest OF his plays found. SO
"Marred IN Haste" though its story may seem old
10 related In bare outlines, Is really fresh and full
OF pleasant surprises. There several strong stua.
tons The hrst act which Gibson Greene makes his
first attempt TO remove family trouble is capltaly
aged Tie second act brings about meeting
between the irate uncle and the Indifferent
pephew which is decidedly effective and in
the third act Gibson Greene is agsin brought into
strong contrast FIRST with the injured wife and next
with the repentant husband The fourth act is proba-
by tue weakest because the audience anticipates
the end but because Indictments Of interest have been
pretty well worked out and the effects to consider
able extent repeated But the dialogue that clothes this
framework as luxuriant vine, brilliant with nowersor
laden with fruit covers garden trels hardly be
praised highly. 1t is full OF gsyey and life and
none Of Mr. Byron's plays Is there more epgrammatc
Wit Mr. Byron's dialogue Is hardly equalled in its
way by that OF any other English dramatst,
for Mr. W. s Gilberts style different that
parison OF the two OF the question Its iauit
that sometimes irrelevant yet often Joke that
has real business the play becomes Us excuse
for the intrusion-ike a who is invited TO din
table
II is fortunate that Married in Hasten was pro
duccd during what might be called Mr. Walack's
engagement at his own theatre, for Gibson Greene
one OF the most del ghtful characters he has
appeared In this HIS gcnlat cynical
humor his coolness and readiness OF repartee,
the contrast OF his easy, man-oi-the- world 10
the excitement OF the other characters thoroughly
enjoyed by the audience Miss Ada Dyas acted with
great spirit both the comedy and the pathos OF the
charming young wife, Ethel Miss Rose Lise who
has a high reputation on the London stage,
made her first appearance in this city In a
character which afforded but little opportunity. bat
made excellent impression in spite Of n evident
nervousness. Mr. John Gilbert was Of course excel
lent Pendragon. the eccentric uncle with a
passion FOR bric-a-brac, aud We're, the artist,
was finely acted by hr. Stevenson. who is rapidly
and surely advancing and power. Messrs.
shannon. Herbert Carroll and G. r. Browne who made
his first appearance this season. quite good IN their
respective parts The scenery artistic and new, and
II IL did not "smell like uphosterers shop, as Mrs.
Gibson Greene remarked OF the drawing room, it GER
tsny looked like in its completeness and variety.