The New York herald., 1879-09-16

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Ann Eliza wiie Of M yssst Mary Dysepps,s Hp,'s
Katrina, maid servsnr Miss Virginia Newbod
The dramatic event last evening the appear
ance at Haverly's Theatre of the Criterion Comedy
Company and the production by them Of new four
act play from the German Of rArronge. 1t may
be stated at the outset that they proved
worthy OF the reputation which has pre-
ceded them. and without so good COM
edy as sour Daughters would have scored
an instant by reason of the general
cellence of their performances. This company was
organized more than year ago for the purpose
of presenting series Of the better class of plays.
and with the further design that every role. from
the most prominent to the most trivial. should
receive thorough artistic attention. Adhering to
this plan they have since achieved much success.
and exhibit in their work unity. cohesiveness and
smoothness of action that is not often beyond
sae boards of metropolitan theatre.
"Our Daughters illustrates by a combination of
serious and humorous incidents the distresses that
result from the axity shown in the education of his
daughters by Jacob Van Dale. retired German
gardener. jacob leaves the cares of domestic man
agement his wife while he devotes himself to study
ing the "Railway Guide"-an eccentricty Of his
which manfests itself throughout the play. and
ARISES from his theory that travelling is
science and time tables and railway routes
objects that require care ul study Notwithstanding
Jacobs kno owledge of the guide book he misses the
the third act detained ut the house of his newly
married daughter Rose. Here the father witnesses
that s anas ms
and jealousy Of her husband by receiving
the ss ss ss o wssn Se nSs
and finds his daughter in tears He leads her home.
There arrived he turns over new Leaf and, assum-
ing the management OF his household himself. takes
the education of his only remaining unmarried
daughter Fanny into his own hands. He also
effects a reconciliation between husband
sense of their duties. Incidentally the amusing
quarres OF fhisssecond daughter Emily and her hus-
band have no children and are always squabbing
how they will educate their child when they do
have one. enlivens the play. "Our Daughters" is
the story just sufficient the talented author,
L'Arronge to hang his happy portraitures on. The
plot is suggestive to managing mammas and moth
ers-in-law; encouraging to weak-kneed husbands;
instructive to sons-in-law, and likewise affords
lesson to weak-minded wives. The trouble ends by
the production just the curtain goes down for the
last, time of the inevitable live baby, which, OF
course delights the fair SEX Whether or not the
translator has closely followed the original he has
certainly made an adaptation calculated to please
popular audience, especially one that is largely COM
posed of ladies'. 1t abounds in bits of honelike
pumor natural situations. and forcby illustrates
the fact that nicely turned and sentiments
are not always essential to the success OF a play
In Jacob Van Dale, the retired gardener, Mr. F. r.
Mackay showed his fine ability a character actor.
and kept the house in alternate of laughter
and flow Of tears by his artistic personation tho
careless, easy going head OF somewhat demoraized
family Messrs. De Wolf. Hopper and Egbert and
Mr.. w. A. Whitecar also deserving Of
favorable comment. The latter gentleman
tanned the difficult part OF stannierng young
physician, not well he will probably do here
after, but. nevertheless, in . manner that made his
appearance on the stage always welcome. The two
strongest female parts were those assigned to Miss
Louise Sylvester Rose) and Miss Mary Davenport,
the mother Of Our Daughters: Misses Emma Fell
Newbold each likewise filled their respec-
tive places acceptably to the audience, and
| showed the result OF the careful training to
which they have been subjected under the system
| Mr.. Mackay. The company were frequently re-
| warded by recalls before the curtain and not o
| small share of applause was bestowed on the hand
some dressing OF the stage by the scenic artists.
''Our Daughters IL comedy that will doubtless
attract large audiences. although it would be diff
cult get more people into Haveriys Theatre than
filled Il last night.