New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-06
THE DRAMA.
WAIrACK


TO tho dramatic public of New-YOrk tho
reopening OF wiack's Theatre is an important eva"
TGs house, by VI character, prestige aud hong
priority OF position. understood to lear the standard
and lead the van OF the contemporary drama. Wen,
there iore it, doors are thrown open for the regular
season, brilliant asenbdge Of the character, Dinc'
Wit, beauty aud fashion Of tho capital throngs -
benches 10 enjoy and honor a bright OCCASION ITO
conc0urse that filled It on Saturday nighc "heo-ai'r
such "A wholesale regeneration and fresh adorrment 80
have almost turned II into q theatre-Ar. MalGck
opened It FOR the new dramatic year. was Tea'y
pagcanf OF refinement and elegance. To this ass Ia
Adeghted with the beautiful aspect OF the house.
mindful OF It's traditions sympathetic Win ts spirit
and IS renown and surely worthy of Intellectual con-
sideration aud courteous resDect.-was presented -
MARTY deodcrzed French farce indicate In IT'S subject,
coarse in some ines tainted III It's suggestions,
devoid all noblene-s and sweetness noisy h-brcc,
shallow, and only recommended 10 approval b. ~
abundance OF incidents, and by the adoitness
and yivacity with which these were handled By the
actors who effected Them The result upon
which 10 is almost sad 10 pause. AT hfst THIS
mas, OF comic prurency seemed 20 strike It's listeners
with shock Of surprise but in little while iho better
sense Of art aud place 20 the careless sense OK
froc and from that moment the exhibition was hailed
with peals OF laughter. There nothing higher then,
the OF the OCCASION than there u Ia an evening
with the Ethiopian Ministries. At the close OF the PEI
formancc. Mr. Boueicaurwho says that he has con-
structed" this farce from TWO French c0niedes,'-
came before the curtain, and IN most APPROPRIATELY
commonplace and clumsy speech, stated that ~ ga
little tribe" We fallen upon barren days, indeed.
when little trhes OF this sort are thought WORTHY u
superb treatment 1t most important epochs IN the hFat
theatre IN America.
There call for viruous Mysteries. No person IS
seriously harmed by this production. Most OF the per-
sons, indeed, who will It and laugh over IL VIII not
pause to consider what it is they behold. The real
injury from the incidental bettng Of the whole
business OF the stage The time has been when n
hot
dress the higher perceptions Of humanity; when mag
nation fanclcs intellect. thought character, w.t. and
style were deemed essential elements in good piay
the idea Of turning the stagc-at the biga top
gallant OF Its fame-ato scene for tie mcnkeysanes
ola parcel OF psy prongatesat adancc hail would have
been Viewed with horrlhed amazement That was GOOD
time, and that the right IN which to view tho
subject To change all ths-sO magnify tainted froth
because IL Is funnyis to give TO vulgar mOunle banks
the rewards that belong 10 genius aud ART TO depress
and friiIcr away good public enthusiasm, aud TO turn
the stage TO folly and contempt The farce that Mr.
Walack has brought forward, had Il related 10 clean
topic had it been presented incident OF lis
season, would been entirely good taste aud en-
tirey welcome Even stands It's fun Is patent and
not TO be denied French dramatic writer's very
clever At this and Mr. BOuccaut given his 0rginals
fair chance But il should need no argument to show
that thing which is ayowedly little trhe." and
dirty IN It's topic. IS msy and low and there
fore OF place lead the Waacks Theatre.
suppose no thinking person will deny that every
play ought havenot moral lesson for that is often
suuday-schoolish offensive, but good moral quail
y. This all events. ia the bias Of the best 'bou gh ot
our age, in France well in England and America
and that thought not yet prepared concede that
the withered feelings and jaded principles OF old. bat
tered, saacous, playedout men OF tue worl-the MI.
berry Hawks and Lord Seynes OF this interesting Pc
riod-furnish very safe standard by which TO
ure the morals of the drama 1t is one Of
the curses OF life, which old men but too
little remember. thar, although they themselves arc
growing odand losing the glamour. the grace, and the
of their better daysthe youth OF the world
forever young. and Innocence, aspiration,
romance, virtue and dcicacy arc Immortal The writer.
the teacher the leader who either ignores does not
see ths-who passes these by and addresses and
vitised tasecan do SO only from OF two causes.
depravty decay.
Contempt OF Court Is In three aets-each requiring
set scene-iur0duces twelve persons, and passes,
the present day. Paris It's style is crisp and direct
but could improved by the excsion OF profanity and
by the enrichment Of solloquies We want ge, rid
Of a husband when know he won't co." says OF
tho wives n ID. /" II she little less faithful
should think more her. should better care Of
her." remarks OF the husbands. This BIT hints at
its theme and its The theme Is the alleged prof
legacy of married men, and OF some married
The tone knowing lcer and significant grimace The
story rreestby c0mieal-if you do not look beneath
It's surface The piece is reminiscent Of Americans In
Paris Forbidden Fruit" " The Pink Dominoes," AMI
Baby" Tie masquerade scene is suggestive OF
Belize Sratagctn-" The agement Of the plot
is particularly neat and the piece Is cnarmnely
acted with delightful vivacy and sustained ygor by
all concerned In ts principal parts The mirth Is made
spring out OF the adventures OF gay and eccentric
lawyer Who having been committed TO prison for
tempt OF court proceeds to sort Of Cremorne Garden
ball. requented by profgates OF both sexes there 70
spend the night before going to JAIL and there unexpec
eddy TO encounter his wife aud the wives OF
Of his fren Is and nnd himself crushed with very
serious domestic emharrassments. IL is possible to
the substance OF this plot with moro particular
specification. The incidents only innocent when
looked at comic absurilies Mr. Harry Beckett who
the Sergeant Buster OF Forbidden Fruit" is the
CfcQWot of Contempt OF Court" The former persona
ton TO our taste. droll real
because the mrth played a nature more composed
and serene in wicked ways The personaon Clie2uo
however. pure farce and intensely and broadly comic.
The animal spirits efcrvescent all way through
and the Transition from airy nsouciance 10 horrined
CONSERVATION is effected with many folices treat
mcut aud most sympathetic earnestnoss yet with
keen an1 very comnendabc nstincl OF proprey.
Tie actor centres attention his - farce crea.
tion, and a.human experience. HIS dclieacyi m
the prison thus insured by his extrava-
gance MISS Ada Dyns, In "A slender character which
prettness. pesnlanee aud wOman-lke charm was cor
daily welcomed back 20 Mr.. WallAeks stage The tul
OF the part. Is as follows:
Clcquot. leading Harry Beckett
pr bs'eoeup iEs;,,nt Y,. ada ,'ss
Cisirvile a ySnng barrisi.r y riot
Laouete leaierOf orchostra........ n. NJ. Holland
Selonsi l"eenAy- ---.----... Charles Rockwell
MaEas, prison W shannon
leopold. jaer W. j. j. i h,slsS
Bapnste. waiter Mr.. G. n. Elwin
Wailacks Theatre never handsome a. Il IL
now The changes effected IN IL many aud they all
seem to De impreyepents Chairs have replaced tho