The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-20

Fiuh Avenue Thentre-London Assurance.
While Manager DAILY can give go acccp-
table n performance OF comedy az that fur
nlshed last night at tho Fifth Avenue Theatre.
in tho revival of London Assurance" there
can be no possible excuse for the debascment
Of his excellent company to such inano con-
duct as is required by Blue Glass" and its
kindred makeshifts. 1t is true that London
Assurance is oftener well played than any
other comedy with the same diversity Of charac-
ters but 1t may be doubted that n moro acccp-
table presentation Of the work could be made by
of tho stock companies in this city. Three at
least of the parts were portrayed with the en-
cacy and completeness which experience allied
to talent can alone give. and these were clcverly
embodied with the charm that comes Of special
fitness and the buoyant originality Of youth.
Whether Dazzle boing Mr.. Brougham's original,
is also his best role in the play. may he an open
question. for he had not hcsitated In an cmer-
gency TO play Sir Harco'Tt Certain II is
there are low roles In which the spontan-
eous and enervescent gayety OF the man
finds so mauy convenient outlets The Sir
HdrcOWt OF Mr.. Fisher IL unique
portraiture. symetrlcal in its simplicity, and
mellow in its manifold tints. The Mac Hank
o,cay of Mr.. Davidge. whatever else may be said
Of II. preserves the best trad itiOns and discov-
ers TO US tho best abilities Of a veteran actor
As for Miss Davenport she Is apparently ono
Of the few actresses intended by nHture, no less
il always AT her best when she il ELUSIVE and
rOmpsh. As u hoyden ish, impetuous. Illogical
beauty Of this. or any other period. she has
no equal in the adjacent ranks Of hor profess
sion. Give her room enough in role b. swing
her personality, her tongue and her skirts and
mere animal spirits lsnp with organi, authority
into superb lines. Her sovereignty les In the
region Of sensuous activity When she travels
into the domain of tho emotional she leaves her
sceptrc and her train behind her. Hers. hap
ply, is not tho GqioUe iiathesis II,r Fr0u
Frou is like a healthy child playing ut sickness.
with protesting hugh in her soul.
had directed 1t her way The hi arious volu-
bility Of the fox-hunt scene could not well be
omitted with awarmcr enthusiasm than IS hers.
The mere eAubcrance Of the part gets frosh
color from mn eNuhorant manner. One secs in
the glow II this role that 1t Is less as u passion
Hover that we must regard Miss Davenport
bouquet
Along with tho excellence Of her performance
may be mentioned the quaint Wahle of Mr..
LOWS. liner grOt slurric than his showing
~ what Carlyle calls the 3" attorney intellect
has not been seen. Farcic;ll AZ the role must be
in any treatment. il cat hes from the sharpness
and half querulous humor Of Lewis sugges-
ton OF the laws delays and the morbid alert
ness OF the small mind fashioned by legal train
ing. We ENJOY his familiar mannerisms us II
they grew out OF the i9rt and were not the in
eviahlc angles " the player.
If Miss Cowell was similarly happy rs Pert II
was not SO easy to forge that she always plays
this role let the comedy be what il may. Mr..
ly wide range of charm 'trrs to determine his
giits-movlng from grave 10 KAY. from lively to
impression already made. His CLGyies Court
len passes for the effort Of IA conscientious and
AMBITIOUS young actor VINO II more anxious
and able 70 be correct than to be brilliant or
momentarily effective.
Taken all together. the performance may be
said TO have exhibited the capacity OF the Fifth
Avenue Theatre to do good work In so favor
ahle "A light that all who were present will won
der that it does notdo more OF II.