The New York herald., 1878-08-15
ADJUSTMENTS.
'oLIvIA" AT THE UNION SQUARE THEATRE
.1ras nAurNnnnr,s nrAnnr. n.,.cr

'oLIyIA AT THE UNION SQUARE THEATRE-
MIss DAvENPoRT's REAPpEARAScE.
Tho four act play of OLIVIA, adapted by Mr.. W. G.
wills, oi London from portion OF Goldsmith's de-
Iicous novel; .'rhc Vicar WakeneId was produced
the above theatre TO crowded house. achieved
a moderate success Whatever was lacking to a COM
plete triumph was due to the Inherent weakness OF
tho play ITSELF for actors and management Wed in
conscientious efforts TO carry It through.
The event especially interesting; first, as pro-
scaiing Miss Fanny Davenport IN new role which
she went TO England to study, and second, In being
really opening OF tho dramatic Many OF the
well known FIRST night faces were missing, but
many also there, aud the bronzed COM
psx IONS and n,ional summer suits OF tho
gentlemen toa Of recent sojourDiugs at the sea-
side and among the mountains There was
straw ha!iednesr about the iobbies and comparing
oil notes upon horses and hotels, beaches and
country sides, togethc. with jovialty begotton of
fresh air and exercise, which presented n sharp
contrast with The rather stin and formal
OF people when tho time set by fashion tor theat
ricals IN New York has returned This Is the only
theatre Of the arst class open New York
and tho profession, consequently, was well
represented. John Mccullough and John
T. Raymond shono from one proscsnium
box, the former earnest and thoughtful, the lattcr
knitting his features into the known Rrimaces
OF Colonel Sellers. Clara Morris. clad in
white, b~amed from another box, drinking In every
OF the play in that sympatheticaliy nervous
way OF hers, ana Kato Caxton sat in the dim re-
cesses OF another. Harkins leaned over, brood-
shouldored aud hercuean tho orchestra cnairs and
faces often recognized behind the tootlghts were
plentiful throughout Tho house. They helped TO make
up audience resolved 10 show It's friendship Tor
the old and deserving players on the stage, but crt
cal also But ',.he plays the thing"
II Is presumable that body OF taste has
the s.v,car OF Wakefield, - whose "weIl of
English undeaied" is . delight TO the student
humor and exquisi,ely drawn central ngure insure
its lasting favor With all who believe that
and d. simple faith than Norman blood" The 70
experiment OF dramAtizing the sad incident OF tho
hs Who sousns nep RUN u. her T0sn ,ah
her return nome aud the reception by
we'll with It could be- He hos ovideutly lahored
in all sincerity 10 keep up the idylhs tone Of
mas RETAINED irom Introducing episodes foreign to
the story. But why did ne attempt 1t allg wo
Tn. school OF RoS.son is that or Ia rs intsms
OF England He worked up details and eab-
' we'll marked society cSsrsctsrs in story OF
sufficient interest. That mine has been pretty
Mesnxhio has grown up the mania for old CHINA old
CLOCKS old cupboards, old tables and old teapos.
was .ssa wsu on as
| for the tsapo,s OF their great grandiathers
| that led Mr. Wills into the mildly ruled
| the good Vicar In London tho venture suc-
| cesded well that sscieiy crowds tho little
theatre whore 1t is nightly performed They bathe
| with delight In The pictures OF ola English
I life and II society hcrs o0y have the Same
curiosity and interest," Awakened IT may do equally
woll here. No margin for failure has been by the
management IN the matter OF appointments and
scenery
ln the frat act, which takes place the Rardeu of
tho vicaragsa beautiful sceneDr Primrose receives
the congratulations ei hs parisnsoners csls-
bratten OF bis silver wedding. he loarns OF the
| IN . ~ n1nk
ing but cannot then bring himself 10 break
] tho news to- to MS ia family. r.. HIS younger a.ugh.er,
/ but secretly benevolent Mr. Burchoii while
the love OF the elder daughter, Olivia Tor the gay
but scoundrey Squire Thornhiii IS brought to light
| The Vicar when the merrymaktnE IL over,
sembes his family at prayers, and tells them
basis tho play is ,hus clearly lhoush little ted
ousy iorih. The act Is iad tho vcarage
parlor The Vicar u itemztng has noushoid gods for
| the sale 10 meet his creditors. He IL warned by
Mr. BurchsIl Of the base designs Of young rhornh,l
him tho house. Meanwhile the Squire enters
| aad ploads with she loyo stricken Olivia 10 ly
spite OF all warnings she has had. A louon ing
sceno OF leave-taking occurs, wherein poor Oiiva
con,ares =. 70 love nst ~nsa s sso gone as ,hsy
outside the vcarags WINDOWS as the family,
made happy by tns restoration of their properly BY
| young Squire ThornhiiIs uncb, grouped
| about harpsichord singing song OF home.
Tnis act furnishes all the strong situations OF tho
play and was loudly appauded. In the third act the
scene paror In tho Dragon Inn. The rake throws
aside his victim asd is confronted by Mr. Burchell
| who announces the and abashed rascal
tnat he Is his uncle. sir William. The stricken
father appears tsndery leads erring daughter
home. In the fourth and last ACT at the vicarage
| Onvia Is taken 10 the bosom Of the family, the
/ posed false marriage Is declared TO bo
| real one and the curtain falls upoa reconciliation.
The nrst and last acts arc weak and the third act,
while treating repaisivo subject with delicacy
does NO. carry forward the promise Of the second.
| The quality oil humor Is almost entirely missing
OF MISS Davenports Olivia much In praise DO said
The farewell sceno with the family very pathetic
| tl.t fnrf ~. In
anger al the horriiying discovery oil her dishonor
ner despair and her repentance were well accen-
! tuated, II not powerful throughout. II is ono
| her artistic life. The Vicar OF Mr.. Fisher
| was also a good aud careful performance q
trine spxsm odic at times. but always within bounds
Mr. Edwin Price made quot but emphatic success
Squire Thornhill WAS dashing enough and cruel
| enough in the scene Of casting of Ohvia buI his
love making was not a! all sodueuve. THIS Is
should have some visible foundatisn. The Sophy
OF Miss Linda Dietz was pretty and piquant. But
Mosss-unocont Mosss-so deer TO us all was
very poorly played. Hc Is simple, but he should
not be sheep The play with
tne perfect smoothnoss which only continued
rehearsas can give. The groupings In tho nrss acI
were perfect pictures of stage arrangements and the
phrase '.regardless OF expense, may DO applied 10
the scene The following the entire cast:
Olivia. Miss Davenport
Sophy LIND" Diex
Polly Miss Eugene Paul
A Gypsy Woman an................Mrs Frank chill
Sarah the housemad..... ......Miss Florence Gillette
pr .na'.s Fisher
Mr. Buschel.. MI Edwin Price
Leigh George B Waldron
Farmer Fiamboi ough. h.................. herDert
Dick Little barrett
bm...'.'..' 49, Ann" marble
'sOtyIa' W III be PLAYED until further notice,