The daily gazette., 1880-04-09
A5nassensenfs.
PERFORMANCE OF THE ALLEl
sLAVEv -s'l'


A fair sized audience was present at
the Opera House last evening to wit
ness the second performance in this
city of the Galley Slave" qss
The "Galley Slave" was written by
BARLEY Campbell, whose plays now
seem to be the most successful on the
stage. As to his ability as a play
wright, many may differ, but the fact
nevertheless remains that the "Galley
Slave" is beyond question of doubt
the most successful of his plays thus
far presented in this city. 1t is we'll
constructed, but a close observer will
notice that some portions of it closely
follow that Of ga Celebrated Case"
although the main difference being
that the characters are reversed. lay
ing aside this fact, which is OF no great
importance, the construction Of the
play stamps Mr.. Campbell as rising
playwright, .......'.T rra.-so7 80 .
The Dialogue is good and runs with
an almost equal distribution Of the
melo-dramatic and comedy, There is
just enough comedy to make it pleas
ing and jHst sufficient of the melo-
efesA1nr w PtCfOhb ~ lIOfn OClDH d GUILE
edy. In this the author has been very
successful, and deserves the praise of
the play goer. There are also enough
emotional situations to make it even
more interesting.
The company that presented the
play was one of unusal abity. Mr.. J..
B. Booth, as Olioer OIiphant, a Scotch
Cresus, portrayed the character with
his usual ease and ability. Fortunate
ly for himself he forgets Junius Brutus
Booth, and knows only the character
in which he Is cast. This is what. few
actors or actresses do and thus it is that
plays are often marred. To be sue
cessful and to present play correctly,
those in the cast should not think of
themselves, but think only of what the
author ofthe play intended in the char
acter which they are assuming. ''ts-
Mr.. Owen Fawcett, Franklin Fits,
a travelled American, never performed
to better advantage. The character is
one that requires q comedian to per-
form, and unless the person cast in it
is comedian it would fall fiat. Mr.
Fawcett is an acknowledged comedian,
and therefore the character of Frank
I'm Fits received justice at his hands,
and was portrayed as the author no
doubt devised that it should be. Mr..
J. Newton Gotthold, as Sidaey Nor
colt, an artist, was very good, Mr..
Gotthold appeared in this city short
time ago as 81 Salem in the "Octo-
ROOM" and Judging from his acting
last evening he has improved vastly.
He had very difficult role to perform
but he was equal to the task, although
during his interview with his lost lady
love in the third act, he was slightly
inclined to rant, but this may be for
given for the fine portrayal of the
ladies. Miss Gussie De Forrest, as
Ofcely Blaine, gave fine representa-
tion of emotional acting, and a fine
specimen of women of deep passions
and strong will. Miss Nellie Barbour,
who has appeared here several times,
scored another success last evening as
Psyche Gay. Taking it all in all it has
been some time since such an excellent
company has appeared at the Opera
House, and it may be some time be-
fore such a company appears again.
The play was presented with strict
attention to all the minor details. The
dressing ofthe ladies was particularly
rich and fine, and showed great taste
on their parts.