New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-23
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
a.,1n ecuonL FOR scANDAL.

The highly interesting ulscO'eiy w 80.
- tor scandal is q good play has been 30 ne-
schoos ~ - nd Announced in the erudite newspaper
Nssei favored period that-eyeD Ia the presence VI
% .S5vsi of this comedy which has 30 deeply con
$500 the intellectual arcana OF WaIacks 1ho"'.e ~
80 Droper 10 refrain both nom printing tno pO' v
- n,aoe and commencing the genius OF the au'uVl
,,nadars are probably aware that this WORK Is spA
49, srtricsl and idealized picture of London me anu
aDners toward the end Of the last century 'u"' ~
Sasbsla the stage. In honorable eminenoe TOT many
oars. aud that the wonderiW nan va"
s. a. Alls n grave in Westminster Aobey-"here
49, a .nn, lvinpD for Industrious persons Most
also are doubtless aware tn & the piece Is more
uable for its brilliant mental vgor than Tor any other
,tbute that its satire cuts IN every direetOn-aunt
, soer reettuds quite much as 1t scourges Diahu
hvnoorisy; that bits Of ts text are ohensNeU lhueo"
~ therefore repuRnant In the present day, TO goou
breeding aud that the chief impression which remains
non the after he has Witnessed
&C. ~ mis- comedy Is that OF trusm Illustrated ana
epforcea bv the most delightful fire works THESE views
yasay-not stating them in reproaob, but only III reer
aou of Obvious factshaye often occurred 10 those
c think as well as see need not therefore, Dc I"ue
etheme OF printed exhortation The Schooi Fo 9oa
daL" in reappearng at Mr.. Wallacks Theatre Is SUP
stanaly the same old favOre that delighted our lore
fathers Il takes no new form-n0ne, that Is "hlcH ~
A. uorth while TO notice. proposition may nave Oeeh
lifted out of it, and there by the hercuean sagaOy
!, Mr. Roueoault; the agile Mr.. Wallack may have got
Dorriugion the sage-carpener, may, IN Its stage-se'
ting nave screwed down brace or two In ne" spot
Rat these innovations need not disturb the pup
lie eouanimtv sheridaRs laurels are not lBey 70 DO
despoiled Let BE- said, though-whieh really Is Iao'
~ so,ne moment 70 this oommunitytnat the exhibition
and the performance OF this piece, at Walaeks are
highly respectable and such be-with little excep-
tion-tboroughy enjoyed The novelty OF the exhioi-
op consists in the framing OF large and richly decor
aed stagesets for the several apartments In London
houses through which the current OF the talk ana acOn
flows These constitute quite pageanti and' coupled
with the costumes-no less sumptuOus than accurate
they must have severely taxed the whole millinery ana
upholstery resources of the establishments No sueh
scenes were before fashioned for this play either
An London or America 1t will, perhaps occur TO some
of the spectators Of these dazzling displays thaV
700 uch cltframe throws into dull shadow the picture
which It ineoses and which fact lt ought 10 heghten
ur stage has these many years eyinced fantastic ten
depoy toward garniture while, in the popular taste OF
the time the Hebfaio diamond breastpin goes Tor much
moro than than the modest and really richer pearl But
all spectators will perceive and allow the literal purpose
of Mr. Wallaek dress the old classic comedy in goT
oeonsappare Itay be surmised Also that the manager
has had no DESIRE while handing out the paint and n-
sell TO restrict his actors in the OF their brains or
place the least obstacle In the way OF their thoroughly
adequate department. II the gilt Obseures the ginger
bread that is an accident and the loaf must exhibit more
ginger To most observers, fancy, its spice viii
be quite sufficient The od-time /" gig" with which
Sheridan and CoIman used to be acted is fastyanish-
ing legend Of the stage and lost art TO the new genera
ton Of paygOng people. The novelty OF the perform
anee IN this instance is modern treatment OF the char
Aeters. II we except Mr. Gilbert, who is duly
ant0uated and beautifully formal; Mr. BrOugham.
Who is Slua and tender, without oeasing TO
be quaint and delicate; Mr.. Floyd, who is
appropriately fuical and exquisiiey neat; and
Mrs Ponls WHO knows how it ought to DO done though
she has the viyacy TO do 1.-THE rest Of tue players
in this cast OF The School For Scandal" ore all IN the
style to-day Ii is in very good style 1t answers the
purpose 1t does offend That the old one was better,
and would still be better, In the old plays.
meantime is a proposition which, presumably, nobody
will dispute. Times however have changed, and we
must take the past get Tiff we take It at all
Mr.. Coghlan-whO acted Charles SHrfdoe on Saturday
night with much Vgor than he was formerly used
20 dsplay-gvss 1t to toned down toward the COLO
aual languor Of these complacent times. Mr. Barron
though Joseph Srfgee he certainly curbed his
characteristic tendency 20 formal elOcutOn and to nom
chalanee ofnannerquetiy sacrifices breadth OF treat
ment passionate vitality OF spirit and manifest force OF
expression In favor Of modern repOse Mr. Beckett puts
on false nose and reprOduce5 Hebraio dealer In
Chatham-st. garments-oomie, but not old-tashioned
Miss Rose COghlan taking her hint from SrPeteS pert,
rural eOquette,' impersOnaTes Lady TcaSie as ripe
richly sensuous, tantalzing, hearess hippant beauty
Of tOdaya frivolous being from her cradle, and one IN
whose nature leYity is substance aud not veneer
To some extent this ideal Of the character may be
correct setting aside the mOdernneBs, it is an old one
But-if quality Of spirit and style Of execution be re-
gardedAss Coghan resemblance 20 Lady Teazte ceases
with her oldfashioned dress. Aud yet. tbs charm
ing performancs-by virtue OF the delicious, over
womanized quality which apperans to this actress and
which she cannot help showing The sound Of her
sweet English voice might. alone, reconcile the
listener to any sort OF treatment Of all the old comedies
put together Mr.. E. n. Holland.-a light actor for
Crabtree-substitutes absurd seniliiy for the
strong, cackling humor that used 10 infest this
part Mise Bonface, sweet and chdlike girl Is the
Maria Aud so the play is played Ontstl bright, still
charming, though the light that falls upon it is
anything but its kindred ustre. Il received WITH
delighted interest By great company Of notable and
fashionable individuals Saturday nights and at
tain salient pOmts-the meeting OF Sir Peter and sir
Oliver refusal OF charles to sell the portrait Of his
uncle and the moment OF Sir Peters ecstac meriment,
Just tall OF the soreen-s performance evoked
the emphatic plaudits This revival is thus
mited full enjoyment Of the public favor II proves
alsO-as may be gathered from Mr. Walacks play-bll-
70 be only "the happy prologue to the swelling act
announces that Sheridan, HOloroft, Goldsmith and
BOuccault win be illustrated in the most perfect Of
their works" This "n pursuance Of determination
msde by Mr. Wsllaek some time snce:" andvery noble
the determination wasl and Grandly impartial the
lutte Mr.. Wallaek manesty Is, IN the distribution Of
laurels.
MARY ANDERSON
Miss Anderson, in the course Of her present
engagement the Fifth Avenue Theatre has appeared