New-York tribune., 1876-03-14
THE DRAMA.
Tps WONDER AT wALLACK's.

A.. Cartlivre's ingenious and sprightly com
adv Of /" The Wonder Woman Keeps a oocIe,' S"o
,ev-ad last night 1T WaiiacRs Ihea're-"neie " "'N
.or,ouhat uneven but 10 most respects prlih' 'eF
reseDt.tion and such welcome rs kindness hhoru7 "
n,s.gra This comedy is one of the rare plays WihoH
49, arna,natsa By splendid animal spirits. bewitchugiy
oic and exciting situations and glitterlng vitah! OF
ionepsre-nors remarkable, however, as apt 'uSn ~
.,centionally trenchsnt The women I'D ths Iie'e
ar, warm bright, and res-Vey IuH vi Po"''
and very tantalzing TO the senses Inc noH
arc stroDR in human and wcdraHh III chi
Tba story is interesting and, through all its conNo
,,on. the plot is traced clearly II must have been
spre 10 the author to write this pecefor the reader
:, !, pevar tires tho actors in It find themselves pro
osadng along natural channels and only hghening 10y
art the col0rs OF reality and the spectators OH repre-
ptton vie without fatigue and Temembert without
I,bsr effort or apathy 1t had great, and rather
'aTn0cted s.coess one hundred ond siIty-twO years
ago in d ury Lane Theator London, where. as most
nr.ons know started, and has kept the stage
go, .nco When Wilks and Mrs. 0idfeld played in IT,
the author ssdIth reference TO tho final quarrel scene
that II Nature herself we're TO paint oveQuaIrel she
sculd only copy them. Many Of the brightest names IN
the history OF the stage associated with this piece
and especially with this passage which makes
:. hrnt, upon tho entire reserves Of humOr
tenderness aud spirit and asks extreme elegance in
variety Of manner. Last nights performance was some
vhst tame and Indefinite at the first aud so 1t did not
,nadately move the spectators but borrow line
from Goldsmith we may say that still they gazed and
stiu the wonder Rrew"-since the last three
sct, went Of with extraordinary spirit and
amid general del ght and frequent laughter
Better casts Of this old comedy have been seen
op Wallaca stage than that with which II is revived
cow and It would be mistaken kindness to the present
no less than treason to the past write content" with
All the acting which upon s occasion illustrated "The
Wonder" Mr.. Wallack, however, remains, and is the
bes, II not tbs only Don FelT Of his time He has the
saan bearing the fervoT tho capacity Of half playful
half dangerous SARCASM and the professional skill IN
wearing the manner not less than the attire OF
the cavalier OF another nation and an earlier time
lie was very dron and effective, in the sudden transi-
tops, and. except that he looked pratcal in his first
dres, and was heavier than usual he entirely and ably
filed the requirements Of the character The milo Sc
nility Of Don Pedro was perfectly expressed by Mr.
Gilbert; and in the part OF LiSSardo Mr. Beck
etrs mischieyous humor played with Era-
oious light. The feminine characters were
no, presented very vlvdly. Miss Dyas
wa. Efficient but seemed to lack happiness In animal
condition and glitter in the moments Of raery. She was
best though In the mood OF dignity and the moment OF
reconciliation Misc Geraldine MGye altogether
trivial Isabelle and is obviously too narrow In
Intelligence thin IN emotion, and too schooSirsh
in manner for comedy part important and eXactng
These are the days Of experiments, however
and ringlets and bread-and-butter are rife where
actresses used once to The public shO Id
seemed We pleased with all. Mr. Wallack, who acted
with epeca point in the drunken scene called back
after that scene and Mr. NaaCk and Miss D. as had the
compliment OF recall together Nj. tioyd acted C0!
BrttOH aud with not with gtnesS. More OF his
old spirit and less Of his bOOs, though had made
the impression more brilliant Tho Wonder" will be
light upon the past 1t IL pleasure IN the present. IL
e iraught with stor led associations