The New York herald., 1878-03-26
AMUSE is.
FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE-MR JOHN s. CLARKE


AS DIR. PANGLoss.
Colman the younger's comedy, "Thc Heir at Law''
has retained vitality among wreck OF the bulk
Of his dramatic creations. Stripped Of much Of its
nmsy sen,mentality it is still Of the OF the
old comedies hold STAGE for the variety Of It's
characte rization the freshness OF its humor-
ous dialogue aud It's harmless fun give
good company ample material for good
acting and audience plenty OF food Tor laughter.
The first quality we have noted makes difficult for
star" exhibition as star support generally gocs In
order to suit the cxigencies OF tho case whom the
object is to make Dr. Papgoss the sole, dominating
figure the scissors must be freely used and much Of
the balance which the author gave be necessarily lost
Yet the arrangement which Mr.. Clarke plays s
as clever as the mutilation will permit The little
"gags and bits Of effective business which have been
grated tho of Pangoss by the successive
comedians have played It preserved and much
added but II Is done with skill and peases tho house.
for the eccentric lines OF Tho character Ike the
viLes OF the Virginia creeper-capable Of almost in
definite growth.
The Panyloss of Mr. Clarke s not unknown to
America: but Of the audiences that crowd hear him
very indeed familiar with it, There Is q ripe
ness and unction about all this accomplished
comedian undertakes that pu, his At once IN
sympathy with him. HIS aow OF humor n
so easy without effort ana while
uli his points are carefully studied they
greeted oven when Iorcssen, with mirth The ridicu
turns with whsk into delighted servihty when II Is
question of higher salary, was portrayed with many
ino touches. While so-did and mean in essence the
quotins Doctor - kept by Mr. Clarke clear OF vuL
garty near VIII ch the character ccnstauiy steers
are us droll be conceived. Perhaps
Tho best thug IN tho performance Is his scene
with with Dick Dow%s; a. the Blue Boar when
title in the family. The como pcduRogic horror Of
OLD pupils laundering orhosraphy, Tue quizzlcal
delight al correcting II, The sly humor OF ms side
were admirably pointed IN his marvellous
iacIu play and quaint gestures. II Is necessary
to specify all the good points Of his performance,
it Is iull them. Suffice say that while na was
on the stage the laughter was continuous, With every
now and then an extra roar us somebody discovered
what he thought new point
The support Is not what we have seen at our best
comedy house in this clty out IL was not as bad
feared. Tho Lord and L,uy Duberly oil Mr. and Mrs.
W. A. Chapman were lar pcriorlnances, and the par
venu pair are not by any means easy TO play even
man lacked the animal spirits and rolcking bumor
which arc associated with this mSdel chaw-
short OF the grace and dash which some OF the
best young OF the stage havc invested II with.
Miss Marie L. Booth is little too much o. WIDE
awake city girl TO be successful In looking tho blush
IDg, SIMPLE Cicely Homespun.
After the 'Aeir at Law" .'roodes' was gwen last
night This bill will be repeated during the week. at
the end oil which Mr.. Clarkes engagement closes.
NIBLos GARpEN-"rHE CRAIGA DHoUI."
0The Craiga Dhou," an Irish drama adapted from
Mcssrs. Arge and Vermonds Lies Memories du
Dabie' by Mr. Hart Jackson, was produced at Nblo's
Garden last night. This drama has recently been
brought out IN Philadelphia and was presented 10
New York audience for the 1rst time last night. The
plot hangs on tho misiortunes Of the Baroness of
Craiga ana daughter Rose have pcen deprived
their name and property by their iormcr steward
on the grounds that the Baroness was never legally
cd and lint Mt hn
ter Is illcgitimate. In the first act Inc
Baroness and her daughter have taken refuge In the
house OF Of their tenants, when Philip Croghan,
the rascsily steward, aud offers 10 renstate
tic Baroness In her good name aud properly, pro.
vded he Is gwen the daughters hand. Alter an In.
dguans refusal Crognan retres ana the Craga Dhoui
makes his appearance, with the usual thunuef aud
lightning accom- paniments Ho makes himself
known the Indies by the name OF Gerald and prom
to reinstaic the BARONESS In all her rights within
one month II he is rewarded WIN tho hand Of Rose.
| The Baroness Is going to refuse, when Rose
comes in und accepts. The second act dis.
| plays a masked ball IN The house OF the Earl OF
| that character extracts promise from the Earl Of
Kmore the Countess oil Langiord Philip Croghan,
crimes 10 sive up their snarcs in The Craga estate and
to publicly make that restitution at Craiga Castle on
the eighth day IRON that evening. He mas also
pleasing little scene with Rose, whom hs does not
ognizc under ncr mask The third act opens In Craiga
Castle with the arrival OF the three partners, each
anxious TO inform the other that Gerald has been
killed o duel with the Earl Of Langord, but when
they ring boil the iabo tho Craisa Dbou appears
before them and states for their information thai bc
| was only wounded. In tho meantime rhnip Croshan
steals the Devils Record, containing the proofs
OF the crimes. ard which had been iDrusted to the
OF the Baroness, and when she comes IN and
nounccs the loss Philip 10 seen 10 the background
quietly burning paper Oy papor until they all
| sumcd, when no declares tho result Gerald Is, Of
course In despair at this unlock termination OF
his plans, the als leaving tho spectators
rather mystifcd 10 how virtue 10 to meet with
reward In the fourth act the silent servant Cormac
ODon ohu ue comos 10 the accidentally Gerald
IN explaining the position Of Affairs and speaking Of