The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-06
AMUSEDfENTS.
Miss GwIit" In WaIlack's Theatre-Miss
Cavendish In "a New Part.

Armadale," dramutzed by Mr. Wilkie
Collins into Miss Gwilt" becomes very GU
rious play, in which ono misses little OF
the novelist. except the pathology and the
physiology. and the general morbdity
Of detail in such matters in which he
commonly delights. Indeed the Mss Gsoih
Of Miss Ada Cavendsh has little in
common with the Mss Gtcih OF the novel. and
probably is on that account all the more accept
able for the uses OF the stage. 1t is the best
thing that Miss Cavendsh has given us this
soason; and her performance Of it is charac-
terizcd by more nrmness. distinctness OF pur-
pose. and thorouGhness OF expression than
she has shown in any other part in
which she has appeared Not being fashioned
directly after the original character. the Miss
G,cW OF last evening was sufficiently inter-
estng person and was human enough to admit
OF her occupying rational position in the COM
position Of the play whore she could be under
stood and where II was possible 10 feel a certain
sympathy with her varying condition.
Nevertheless 1t Is u distressing sort OF char
acter. with no serious motive ut the bottom OF
H. and not calculated TO promote any useful
idea or subserve any higher purpose than is
attained in the qualification Of some merely
morbid and dsagreeable curiosity. In the
treatment thauMss Cavendsh accords It. this
sigRt I o. and Mss %S GSm becomes SSns,V'0 none one
the less pleasing for being a little moro
natural ana WOmnnly than one might
reasonably have expected to find her. The
elaboration Of physiological fact and the evo-
luton OF pathological theory are ungrateful
things in tho fiction OF literature and repulsiVe
and useless on the stage. In some parts last
evening Miss Cavcndish was particularly
effective. and showed nm excellent apprehension
OF the nicer possibilities OF the character and
very agreeable tact and discretion In the
method and detail of their presentation.
The play Is interesting, and Miss Cavendish
is very pleasing. but It NAV be reasonably
doubted II IL can succeed in making any very
lasting impression with the public. The in
tricacy and the ingenuity Of the plot. and the
skill with which IL is developed and matured
count for not little IL is true; hut they have.
after all. only the same value that the same quail
| tiles possess in Mr.. Collins's novels. and they
leave behind them an after taste as of some
| thing unwhocsome. disordered. and dyspeptic.
Miss Cavendish was ably supported. particu-
lary in the comedy element supplied by the
two villains of the play One OF these. Captain
! Manuel WIS capitally given by Mr. Hardenberg.
In make up. expression, gesture and depth OF
| characterization he left little to be desired.
| He might however. have omitted at least
| one OF his phthisica details. Mr.. Weaver
WAS effective "a Dr. DOirmrdrd: Mr.. Joseph
| Wheclock was clever but subdued, in the rather
thankless part OF Mdirbitr; Miss Boniface
was careful and intelligent in her presentation
| Of the character OF Mss MiirOy: and Mr.. Harry
| Lee did the best he could with the Allan AyTnd-
dale Of the play. and partially reconclled one to
any fate that might be in store for that young
| gentleman.