New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-13
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
TWINS AT WALLACKIS.

re-. nirbt WAS made more than commonly
arostne Mt Wallacks Theaer by the production theIe
%, NOW play OF American origin ana characVer' ~ %
-, often that Mr. Waack deviates from his CHOSEN anu
established pocy-of presenting either ola colneues u
,eces yhlch have first been tested on the Lonuon
In this instance accordingly be ahordedt 70 'ne
novel excitement; and luredby the magnetism Oh
,enrse the public came forth in unusual force 10 e
,ovu Wallacks Theater was crowded; ana tne L"
- louncbe1 under the best auspices that Judgment
ts,e and uberaty could provide-foatcd out upon ''
a,ors ~ Dublicity I'm presence Of an asSehoias0 10
parlably fine alike in numbers aud intelligence ~
we NAV add with an attentive and courteous
The occasional facts may be suniiH'ii' - a.,
"Tvips - Is comprised in four acts haoh "o' -,
n set scene Fourteen persons are ln'iou" -
NJ wa1laek personatcs two. There are nNo iein"o'
s, 80, ~ the MAY concerns itself with local scenery
"a ,ho nresent time. The piece opens al country
ho,se in Connecticut, the shore OF inc quinn ;
ocoeds in n house III NewYork; and ends "heTe IL Do
e.o Tho first picture ia from the hama OF MI "a'I o
gan: the other three from the hand OF MI d.
Th av is fortunate in its title and in the nomenclature
NJ its characters-Or the title Is appoSte' anu INC n"0
~ the persops are graceful and pleasing
performance lasted till 1925. Mr. Waack and Mr
NJ uouand received the compliment OF special recalls
amidst q scene Mr. Waack. Mr.. Holland ana MlSs
were called out at the end of the fourth act ato
messages effective in elements OF farce anu
,oolodrama The dresses used III inc
niece were extraordinarily rich. The marine
view, by Mr. Morgan, was yoclferousy app"uuo.' "n"
chat artist was called out There were vehement out
, on,contipued for Mr. Wheeler, the author Dut ne
did NOT anpear and Mr. Walack came on aud spoke
few graceful and gracious words in behalf OF MI wheeler
and Mr. Mackaye who are joint workers IN the piece
The deeper facts are not TO be directly specified In
plot the play is ambitious without ATTAINING oilSnah9
ofsuhstance The germs may he traced to such sources
~, V1p lOyb O.
amounts to than another John Mttd"ay haVOfeu
with John Garth.
There is much more in the manner than the matter
and the manner is far literary than dramatic Un
very near the close of the second act there Is no move
ment in this piece-and it without saying that the
first necessity Of play Is movement Iheh' 100 INC
plot though really obscure is made TO seem intricate
by the excessive tangle Of talk into which, during the
opening scenes the thread and incidents are braided
These scenes exhibit the embarssments and sorrows oil
a family that is dominated by Matchmaking
scamp, and left unprotected by an amiable weak
minded genileman-whO husband father and guardian
The rest of the piece exhibits the delverance that
wrought for this family by resOlutc practical capable
man. tie twin brother of the mbecie whom he replaces
The scheme obviously adrot As obviously it dlSturbs
probability Much is allowable though, to the artist
who invents an ideal and makes it productive OF good
dramatic effects The difficulty is that, in this case the
ideal element has not been used Half the play is
duh picture which sreds and patches Of smart oooquy
with vague gbes at culture and society, do not serve
successfully to enlivcn.
The piece we'll written, but it is not well constructed
Theory may hold that the foreground should DO tame IN
order that subsequent VIVID doings may contrast
boldly against it. This is sound. But the fore
ground should be limited and compact. When
the action did begin, as carried b. Lester Waliaek
it with smoOtness and rattle. In the use OF the
farceefects Mr. Wallack spirited even beyond his
custom and ne ELECTED frequent pOtls Of laughter He
gave touching bit OF acting too in depicting the frenzy
OF the weak husband The mclodramatc portion Of the
piece was found lack dignity indeed, 10 be common
clumsy, and sometimes ridiculous
Mr. Floyd dealt zeaously tn bad part and Mr.. Her
bert made several unges the stomach Of Mr. Gilbert
which were well parted by that comedian. Reality, n
the shape OF horse and cab. came on in the last act
which seemed made up odds and ends from Night and
Morning" and other old INTERCHANGEABLE resemblance
though, beng probably quite accidental. Theatrical
surprises occurred here and Miss Dyas seemed oppressed
with sudden Of the absurdty Of the moment and
dropped the whole scene fat from its sis. Much con
densed, Twins may amble on in a satisfactory man
1t Is not however either strong or well-shaled
play and 1t is only brilliant in portions Of the text in
farce situation IN suspense, and in accessories IL had
success Of esteem.