The New York herald., 1877-12-11
AMUSEM ENTS.
wALLAcK's rHEATRE-.'woN At LAST"

wALLAcKs rHEATRE-.swoN At LAST"
A new piece by Mr.. Steele Mackaye, an American
author, was given last. nigh, ior the nrst time al
wallack's Theatre. The performance lasted until al
most midnight. and q large audience were pleased,
judging from the applause, at the authors
epdeavors The play is called "won at
Last" slightly ambiguous title, rs 1t may
apply with equal justice to either the hero the
heroine. Tie piece was well mounted and the acting,
on the whole, good, Mr.. Wallack lending all
the assistance In his power to make the
play u success The plot Is very simple
when stripped OF its excrcsencez Mr.
and Mrs. Fleming have just been married
at the beginning Of the piece and shc devoted
to her young husband. But OH the evening OF tho
wedding she is witness TO meeting between her
husband and anoIner woman. Hinc ,iLs lac
vym9 Sne renouncos him, but
on tho morning atterward patches up
kind OF 'pui devil, pull baker' reconciliation. ac-
cordng TO the terms OF which she becomes species
ol housekeeper In mis- house la the last acts every
thing ~ maze all right by very un-
Upon ths slim foundation is built pyra-
md of incidents more less conducive
To the action OF the play TDe piece IL fashioned upon
The French drama, out the scene being laid IN New
England, the incidents often strained and out OF
place Tho play Is much too long and needs an
sparing pruning knife ana even some OF the cnarac
ters might be dispensed with without damage to the
entirety Oi al times using,
but TOO often degenerates INTO vulgarty prosness
Mr. Montague interpreted the part OF John Fleming,
the blasc husband, IN wavering and undecided sort
OF fashion. But then perhaps 1t would have been
much TO have expected any very definite character
izition from such diversified outlines The author
had made his nero man OF rare lndecision and in
consistency for man oil the world This
indecision was hardly reconciliable with the
mlnd for any reasonable time. In the very first
with MS wllc after the disag rceable reyca-
iion had been made TO her ho firmly persuades her
nj
least in seeming Again. when tho adventures, with
characteristic cnrontery. pursnes h'm to ms own
home, IN which rather peculiar scene takes place,
he promptly shows her TO the door. la both
Instances he discovers commendable nrmness.
but he Il peculiarly helpless wnen endeavoriDg
10 make way TO the heart OF his wie, whom he loves
ardenty, and who is equally ond OF him, and only
awaits hts advances. Miss Grace Fleming grace
ful and pleasing the injured wiie straining
after effect though strong IN strong situations few OF
wh'c presented themselves to her hand Mr.. John
Gilbert played The part OF Professor Tracy. tho father
OF Mrs. Fleming, part that led him into the
emotional rather beyond his usual won't Mr.. Ebcn
Plympton was a boisterous young sea captain the
Professors son, who turned up from an unknown
island in the Pacific 10 do duty as quasi lover OF
Mrs Fleming. while the French adventures was
making trouble the other side. MISS Gabrielle
Du saudi. who made her hrst appear
last evening. gave u rather clover
portrai,ure OF tho adventurers. Mr. Floyd moved
about TO no very evident purpose, though not partcu
Characters were well represented by tho other mem
bers OF The company
FIFTH AVENUE HALL-''HELLER S WONDERS
Alter u brilliant campaign IN Boston, embracing up
ward OF seventy consecutive performances and re-
sulting in profit OF many thousands OF dollars Mr..
Heller and his weird sister last night reappearcd be-
fore large and fashionable audience at their hall
adjoining the Filth Avenue Hotel, on Twenty fourth
This place has been specially arranged for tho
presentation Of what .'Heller's
Wonders" and doubtless Ia oil the most
tasteful oil the kind In the metropolis.
Light warmth comfortable seats, spacious stage and
artistic blending OF music and marvcs intended
to characterize the performances, and Mr. Heller Is
well known for his ABILITY to sasiy tho public ap-
peu,e leave any room Tor question that he will not
deserve the here which attended his
Efforts elsewhere The programme last evening con
sisted OF four parts-to wit, (l) wonders, (2)
music, l3) mysterious second sight revelations
aud a. mystical mctamorphoses While It Is
that portions OF the entertainment were moro
less familiar they derived freshness from the grace
aud delicacy with which the tricks werc performed
aud tho unctuous humor with which the pubic
bamb0ozicd In whatever he undertakes Heller Is
peculiarly happy. Whether in tho midst Of pres
udigitation, startling his audience by que and
expected effects, or rafting through budget OF jokes,
or presiding AZ the piano and throwing oil symphony
with as much ease us he turns handful OF rags into
pot full OF mocha, or button-holing grecn-
| horn in tho auditorium and extracting lobster
from his pocket he is thorough representative Of
his art, thorough gentleman, neat, refined, attrac
two and clever. Possessing these elements Of sue
cess, u is easy to understand why during the last
twenty years no has always been warmly welcomed
/ by the public, and why New York IS koly during has
present visit TO show that the innocent pleasure hc
has Afforded the past IL amoLg It's most entertain
ing memories. Miss Heller is wonderful in her exh-
btion OF second sight, and the spiritual conjuring
dwarfs the efforts OF the most notorious mediums on
record Tho performance will be repeated every
night aud on Wednesday, ana SATURDAY afternoons.
/ THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE 1.-THE oCToRooN." !"
! Tho familiar national arama OF .Thc Octoroon"
was last night placed the boards oil tho Grand
| Opera House by the management Messra Poole Il
| Donnely. Tho audience was not very largo one.
nor tho reception OF tho play enthusiastic
s,ll il could bo noted between scenes
that tho people well disposed toward
| tho pieco because OF It's entirely American
| character. Mr.. h. S. Chanirau drew in his usual
bio style the picture Of Salon Scudder the uni
versa genius from New England, Mr. Alexander FIT r.
gerald made pretty good Jacob McCiosky, and Mr.
w. II. Lyttell played capital Unclo Pete. II must be
that the George Peyton oil Mr. Albert Rob
anything but good IN fact. the r6tc seems not
at all suited his style o acting Under any circun-
stances MISS Lille Eidridge Is sympathetc actress,
but her Zoe (the Octoroon) was not played IN
her happiest style; her acting could not bo
tensty OF feeling which tho fine character demands
MISS Galaghers Dora Sunnysidc lthc southern bclc)
also somewhat souless--as indeed, many bellies
are-and lacked animation. The scenes the Missis-
sipp tho burning steamer and tho moonlight til Q
swamps called iorth moro applause than the act ng
did, and u the cast had been good generally tho
scenery might have been abio TO predict moro
cess tor tho piece
EAGLE THEATRE.
Last evening "Robinson Crusoe" was performed by
the Lydia Thompson com pany at the Eagle Theatre
before oil those audiences that mako up In thu
siasm what they lack numbers. All tho brightness