The New York herald., 1878-10-29
.srHE RIVALS" At wALrAcx's.

When the announcement u made that Shertdan's
brilliant comedy was play cd by an almost fautisss
company iuil audience may bs taken for granted
that very enjoyable evening the result The per-
formance last night Wallacks OF sustained
excellence and addition presenting old favortes
In well known characters broaght forward Mr. Cogh-
Ian In the part Of Captain Absolute with q suesess
that should make Of hts tavor,ts roles future
The old playeoer among whose melowsst memories
some particulariy bright performances OF 1.-The
Rivals" do not hold place Is not worthy OF the name
So brilliantly il It written throughout that
the overdrawn sentimental quarrsls or the
Unnecessary lovers Falkland ana Julia have
been spared by sfmprovsrs" who have tried their
On snoa S.Ss q
playing 10 In itself high tribute TO tho rest OF
al III. Sa Sr. Of Ess. .oa.ds :;
,rloi,i.s .HI as the ir.ssiSio Sir Anthony xSso-
gar, is,s' and coward outside OF shsKsspsars sns.
can compare with Bob Acresf 10 Sir Luoius
O'rrtggsr, Blunderbuss Hail. sheridan Tor the first
s,me placed the English stage aa Irish gem
teman was net an odious ca1icature. Cap
a absolute 'psadid yps o. The
Ho is SHOWN In love after the most approved romantic
msnnsr Of the time, but the coolncss ana ready Wit
pursues his passsn 10 triumphant conclusion makes
ins character tho despair OF modern imitators and
. most d Hlcus one act. Tnea our old friend, the
insable Mra Malaprop, ssis,oera,,o relative us she
10 Of ShAksspsars's Dogberry, b perennial delight
10 herself The uitra-som.nt Lydl. Languisn, q
~ valuable dramatically as any OF .uo
others. But In ~nas other English pages than
Shsriden's or Shakespeare's have We such clown
David such gcnsleman's gentleman as Fag, such
intriguing little servant maid US Lucyf wh,le "fhe
in one partcaiar-nameIy, the biting nature
Of iss social satire, there runs through "rhe
nUr. s.na Mr. ro GS sSsy SIR Xhy
has often been praised for its irresistibly
comic irascbilay, alisrnated with equally
nothing Of us laughter -provoxing qualities
enough II was usus, here strong point Of the
shared in a large degree with Mr. CogbIan as Sir
Anthony son. Since Mr. Lester Wslack playsd tho
part Of the Captain We have mad many who neither
successfully initiated hts rendering nor gave US .
neASurnbly strong one IN s place. Mr. Waliack IN the
scenes with his iatnor pointed the outward respect
for hts parent with many subtle touches Tor the
d,ouce which Kept tnem = litter all along iswas
noticeable ,hs. NJ. Coshlan eschewsd this
sions, but ior all tnas the masssd
when the secret 10 out 10 him that tho lady his
father has chosen 10 The samo he has been wooing
aldsr an assumed name, and the sly dog
tho advantage oil Mr.. Coghlan's treatment was
obvour, between father aud the house fairly
roared WIN msrrimenI For tho rest Captain Aoso-
lutte was manly and dgninsd, as he should
be. Ar Becksips Bob Acres has been seen
CsOr: her. and seemed please s..,s ss
st tho audience, but We doub, that hs version 10
correct as IL Is funny. 1t seems to belong moro 10
burleeQuc than to comedy -csricature. Genial John
Brougham played SIR Lucius with his accus-
toned unctivn and kept groom toe memory
OF other days. The Mrs. Aalaprop OF Mme. Ponist
need no. be more tnan alluded TO; its excel
lent m ,ks-up. breadth OF skirt ana Of humor
wsro admirable. In Lydia Miss Coghlan has not
robust person aud manner, bus shc played with
piquancv throughout. MISS Meta Bartlett made .
pert and pretty Lucy Just began the "taR" OF
the nrst uct nothing would SUIT the young lady but
a slight attack OF vertigo, which made lame
conclusion TO that part Of tne play. She rsecd for
wings In dazed manner, waving nor hand
saying, 81 can'p 20 the audience For,r-
uatey some sturdy arm Rraspsd her near
the winss-M an angel might be grsspsd-
and she able 10 proceed IN tho following
acts without furtbsr mishap. Mr.. Heiland!s DAVID
and MT. Edwins Tag werc well donc aud she gloomy
iovers less than usually Questionable In tho
hands OF Miss Boniface and Mr.. Rockwell. sThe
Rivals will be repeated tonight and the School for
Scandai' tomorrow evening.