New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-18

knowledge OF human experience when il u'sPH9ou
IN the conduct of It, by the incidental trscery OF
character by the pOrtraiture of the sudden inSpi
-otion of love, by the ingenious conirlvahces
which keep catastrophe In suspense ana holu
examination In continual pOstponement anu Dy lte
harmonious OF language TO character ana Oh
soDnment TO stuatiOn-it assumes most unequivocal
nt of substance. II there were nothing III IL out ts
warning against the peril Of amatory station
rv II would still remain q work OF sterling worth.
Fraueh with so much beside, and typical of consummate
the construction Of comedy, 1t not only pleases by
acately exaggerated pictures OF manners aud me- but
4, ,nstructs in the methods aud purposes OF drama
Perhsps the important vista OF observation which
,,op. Is that through which the observer allowed
to contemplate the sentimental side of the man-ofthe-
world and the interesting sasacity OF the ma
ture and accomplished woman. Prosper Coird
mont and Suzanne dc RuzegiHe kindred IA
tprss-both sapient; both original; both lit
ia in the shadow; both constitutionaly III
elned 10 hight and drou views OF lie; both uneonyen-
tional though thoroughly welbred; and both on the
Ia rllne between icvity and sentiment. There Is an
obvious back ground Of experience behind both; ana
the situations in which they are matched against Que
another are full the flavor OF their personal brancy
CouranaonL with OF passion and fervencF'
would deepen into Congreve's Valentine, or Robert
sons Chdioos Suzanne, with more emouoh
and DASH would give the perfect ideal OF Donna V0t1n
These therefore, characters that Ilque curiosity oy
suggestions reserved power Of diversified experience
blending sorrow with blss-both passed, but not unre
mcmbcred-and Of perfect adequacy TO all Gil
cumstances OF social life. Their love, as 1t is de-
veloped out Of their courteous aniaGonisD'
while lacking the romantic glamour OF the
period Of YOUTH is free from Its caown"Ss They are
pouant beings. and they irradate common life Win
amusing nOnchalance and with grace and gilt
ter They surrounded in TINS piece with otherNps
OF individuality, less complex but not less ehectlve
whether IN their quality fOis. Mr. Wallaek acts
Coram0nL and, by the perfect pOisc OF his mood the
splendd precision of bis touch, and the unvarying
braucy Of his execution, makes US again think OF the
cmeter oil saladn-whlch only be can WELD IL might,
perhaps be wished that the temperament OF COHrdm0'
rs suggested the sooQuy Of the second act were in
effect svecter ana .mOre lnnOceut-for then the
man would be wholly Iovabe. But this is not
grave qualification Of admiration that Is
thoroughly deserved. In the filling Of situations OF eli
max and equvOEe, and in the uterance OF lines thai
depend sudden delivery and subtle, shaded infection
for the release Of the fragrance OF their humor Mr. Wal
lack possesses almost unmatched felicity TINS part
i. fun Of such moments for actor and every one Of
them improved The serious fibre of the character
the reposeul effect OF experience and the araway tone
OF seutmsnts indicated with just the right emphasis;
the vole spirit sdperDiy sustained; the comic per-
pexty Is admirably assumed; and the equigoke
ia managed so entirely well that It makes
the whole theatre furrOw of laughter. Those
accordn.y who Mr.. Walack in this character, are
refreshed by a able and sparkling personation,
firm mental texture distinct in design, and sustained
roundeH ard flushed with exquisite taste.
There is Of course, Of thorough detail and deep
perception the companion figure Of Suzanne. which is
presented by Miss Coghan: vet this excellent
work II wOman-lIke, with sweet attributes; II Is
duly weight with air OF meuta maturity; 1t gilt
tiers with mschevOus spint it, vitality and zest are
oouspcuous; II Is delightfully."- and its mechRn
ism and movement evenly sustained. 1t lack,
somewhat, in repOse, and more in elegance. The
passage IN second in which the generous woman i'm
petuousy endeavors explain the ance to the jealous
tTrr~v BE f'n % ll4u
whose rch is herein heard 10 great advantage,
and whose trepdaOn and almost bysterca earueStncss
are quite lovely. and in way appropriate. Mr.
Rockwell is admirable the frgt reucent. formidable
Baron de La Giaeere. maJteT-offact simple iussy'
easy-going old gentleman, B,tsemouche, Is drolly
embodied by John Gilbert Other important
parts are moderately we'll sustained by Mr.. N
s. woot-an oldish young man, whose voice
and appearance seem strangely M-aSsOr.ed. and
who appears 10 be amateuf-Miss Stella BOnface'
Miss Eli, Germon and Miss Kate Bartlett The piece is
mounted with handsome, eh4Ste and char9cieristie
scenery by J. CT are and j. Roberts; and Nj. ". h
"A scrap of Paper" altogether may well be recorded
ns, thus far the brightest feature Of the season az
walacks Theatre; and 1t should carry that season lar
forward toward us prosperous close
BOOTHS THEATRE-1HE LITTLE DUKE.
An English version of LecOcq's Opera-bOutfe,
Gle Petit Due" brought out at Booths last night
whatever Objectionable features there may have been
in the work IN its original form-tbe features which
belong peculiarly TO Opera-bOufe-have been re-
moved and 10 its English dress not only has nothing
offensive about IT, but IT has to belong purely 10
the school of light comic operas Of which have had
instances lately Suvan's I" Pnafore " and sor-
cerer" The bretto is not clever as those Of these
operas but IL is oredtabe piece Of work. full Of harm
less, innocent fun, with plenty Of absurd
situations. and the action OF the piece never hags
Neither has the music the merit of Sullvans IL is on
al entirely different plan, and not, as is the case with
Ia En- "A suDerlatiVelV clever parody OF
grand opera of the Italian school but the work is
full Of graceful taking melodies, and, on the whole,
the work Is Of its thoroughly good Lecocl's mu-
sic has rot so much snap much OF the real opera
boufe fla vOr Ofeubach's, but he Is vastly better
musician than any his rivals and in the end his work
is likely 10 give pleasure. The present opera rs
one OF his best, aud IN the English version
II will surely become favOrite piece If 1t Is properly
given Unfortunately it not win done last night
on the whole. There good points about It, Mr.
Macdonald the Mont6arrg has fine voice. and he sings
and acts with intelligence, and Mime. Bauman, as the
DirecreSs sang very nicely With these exceptions how
ever the solOists not at all up to their work
Miss Ellis the Latte Duke has not nearly enough voice
for such building. and Mile. Baudet. the Duchess.
(Which the other leading par is still worse of in this
respect No matter with much vivacity an artist
may act, 1t is prepOsterOus 10 put performers
who sing in such roles as these, for
the music is vastly the best part OF Lecocqs
operas. and II demands thoroughly go0d singers Inc
piece H. nicely put upon the stage the performance
showed signs OF wholly insufficient rehearsal. for the
PLAYERS know their lines the orchestra Was often
At fault and chorus little prepared that on
broke down utterly and had to come TO
dead stop In this respect OF course the perfOrmance
will improve with time, and 1t Is beyond doubt that
when things go better, most amusing element VIII
have been added TO the musical attractions OF the city
-
MIDNIGHT WEATHER REPORT.
GOVERNMENT INDICATIONS.