The New York herald., 1876-02-08
ADJUSTMENTS.
"JonN, GARTH" AT wALLAcK's.


When Mr.. John Brougham has a good subject he
always makes good play, and We remember no ex-
ception to the rule In "John Garth" which Mr..
Waack reproduced last night for the FIRST time since Il
was originally acted at his theatre four years ago,
Mr.. Brougham chose capital subject ior
a romantic and somewhat melodramatic play.
The reconciliation of father and daughter,
the sonening Of proud hearts, and the
development Of the nobler elements Of charac-
ter through suffering and wrong form moral theme
which is embodied in an Interesting and effective story
In plays OF this kind meodramatc color is gwen
by the manner in which the characters are brought
together just at the right times and places to make
brilliant situations. But 1t is proper TO remember
that in real life as well the stage, people
who know each other generally meet and If there
is anything dramatic in their lives It is likely to find
EXPRESSION What is more natural than that John
Garth he escapes from his political imprs-
onment in south America, should return TO Aberg-
avenny his home Wales, to see his only daughter
What is probable than that the mercenary Pauo
Barrett should follow his son TO Abergavenny
he discovered him to be courting an heiress
The melodramatic element consists only the
condolences that the two should be enemies that
the son OF one should love the daughter OF the other
and they should all happen to meet about the
time IN Wales There are also melodramatc coinci-
nences IN some OF the minor incidents, when Garth
enters his room just in time to prevent Barretti
from killing his sleeping son in mistake
But the dramatist must always be con
reded these unusual events. for, indeed,
If his story not exceptional is the OF drama
hzing II at all Mr Brougham has very skliully
managed his subject In the first act all the principal
characters are presented clearly and without delay
fhey commence at once and no one the audience has
occasion TO say with Hamlet 'Leave thy damnablo
iaces and begin" The action rapid rich in effects
and comes TO a natural climax in the fourth act
AS a rule fifth are like nth wheels super1uous
We wish there could be last acts and that all plays
might end with the penutmate; but Mr.. Brougham's
'settlng OF accounts witty and cheerful TO
be as welcome the tangled web explains Besides,
The last introduces new situation hardly antc
pated by the audience
The acting was worthy Of the play Mr. Wallack
presented John Garth with force and humor and in
height OF which his light
comedy parts seldom permit The cry OF "Did she be-
tfn IN the first act when Garth is told by Deer
ham that his child had been told he was a scoundre,
was fun OF intensity and the pathos with which
he parted in anger from the girl different from the
pathos with which he embraced her in love. The
IN library OF the best, admirably rendered
by Mr. Wallack and Mr. John Gilbert, and the
only fault TO be complained of the
thor is that he has killed the character Mr.
Gilbert performs too early in the play. Mr.
A. Fitzgerald who made his first appearance this
in which Charles Fisher Is still remembered by the
New York public. Mr. Stevenson little hard
and undemonsrativc, but gave manly tone TO the
role Of Antonio. Hester Deerham finely
always difficult task of prosecuting the hero of the
play, and yet keeping her own part from losing
The sympathes OF the spectators Minnie Garth was
acted by MISS Nina Varian, who made her debut at
enough for the part II requires more paihos
and power than she displayed laat
night Mrs John Seton excellenty resumed hcr
original personation OF French woman and Miss Ethel
Thornton did all that needed by the small part OF
Maria The scenery was of course, and attractive
and the applause which the performance received in.
dicates that "John Garth" will be successful a
almost any Of the plays that preceded It,