The Evening critic., 1882-09-14

This ilno production OF Barley Campbell
VIII be produced at tho National Theatre next
week. Tho Albany EtCHiHg JoHrad speaks OF
las performance In tnat city In tho following
iiattcrlng tCrms:
"a fair but enthusiastic audience, n nnoly
mounted, deeply absorbing play, perfectly
nct,d, were the chief features NJ Martins
OperaIIouse last ovoning, on the occasion OF
Tho Galley Slave, by his own company.
10 is seldom that Albany audiences are given
the opportunity OF witnessing so perfect
dramatic treat, and seldom has dramatic
company mot with 80 marked demonstrations
Of approval. The plot In brief recitos
nc story Of party py, OF American Nl.oG m tour,
young hcircss; Ms. FnG6e Gdy, widow,
ana her daughter, ISlcho; gtrer O!tphdnti an
elderly gentleman, and hFdnktl1 rus, II
student, who is deeply In love with Psyche.
Tho party form acquaintance, among othcrs,
SidHty NOTcOu and Baron lie Bots, the formor
n young artist, and tho latter an adyonturcr.
right name uf AHt0nie BrdJdDt, married an
italian girl, Francesca Rimtni, by whom he
has had child. The marriage was witnessed
by tourist, one Wellesley Napier. ANt0aio,
however, deserts ErdHcesca, and seeks for
riches on his own account, These obtained,
he aspires 20 the hand Of Ciceiy. She loves
SidHsy, but estccms the BdiOD as n friend. In
duo limo Ciceiy and Sidgeb who returns
her love, become engaged, and tho baron
finds himself thwnrted but does not despair.
In the meantime FfdHc6scd has left homo with
her child In search OF her husband, aud finds
him visitor at the residence OF tho Americans
In Rome. Believing her husband Is wooing
Cic6iy, she effects mn entrance In tlmo TO CON
front the Bd,on alone, and he, temporlzing,
agrees TO meet her the next day at an obscure
spot, and make provision for her and the
child, SiaH6B takes leave OF Ctceiv for n short
absence, and francesca, actuated by jealousy,
returns TO sec the woman who has gained her
husbands love. Believing that II Is hor hus.
band who has Just left, she beseeches Ciceiy
not to marry him, mentioning him rs nm artist
who had won hcr love and married her. Cic6kN
rather illogically, Jumps to the conclusion that
her lover Is villain, turns him OF, and
when tho BdiOn again proposes lie Is accepted
ana their marriage is arranged and takes
place one year aftor nj the same time and
place with that OF Psyce and brd'kLln rus.
Whllo In the privacy OF hor room aftor the
ceremony Cic6iy Is surprised by the advent OF
her lover, who uppralds her with bitter scorn,
and she begins 10 realize she has mado fatal
mistake. She ls about TO fly with him, but
honor rcstrains her, and as they are parting
the Bdi6n appears upon the scene. In order
to save the family name ,Slaney is accused,
admits OF being a thief and Is sentenced to tho
galleys for seven years, finding on his arrival
francesca, whom he had previously befriend-
ed, serving out term for stealing to got food
the prison, and endeavor TO prevail
upon Sidney to accept his pardon, but
he refuses, preferring the degradation OF pun
shment TO casting d shadow on the name OF
the woman he loves. Clcely Is also admitted
at this iuncture and the Baron following her,
he beholds her again In the arms of her lover.
slave, hTdHcescd appears upon the scene, and,
recognizing the Baron as her husband, the fn-
tai mistake Is explained. This announcement
closes tho fourth act, and moro cleverly con.
structed pleco OF dramatic work was never
constructed. The last act illustrates how the
BG1CR is fully exposed and tho lovers reunited.
Throughout the entlre piece tho plot is most
admirably sustained, and the interest felt OF
the most absorbing character. The situations
are all exceedingly strong and effective, the Ia.
logue FREQ from yapid sentiment or far.fetched
gags. In fact the entire play is superior In con-
struction, superbly mounted, and interpreted
by o company who cannot very well be sur
passed In their respective characters. or
these the most prominent are Miss May
Wilkes, who displays qualities OF high char
acter as Ciceiy; Miss Eda Clayton Is seen to
good advantage rs francesca: Miss Laura
BascOmb IS eXqulsitely neat and attractive as
FSyche; Mrs. Mmma Skerett Is as charming
mother-in.law as one could desire. OF the
male characters, Mr.. Frank Evans, as
.SidReu NOrcOn, and Mr.. Walter Adrian
carried on the palm for quiet, conscien-
tious and natural rendering of their lines,
emitting no detail that could tend to render
the interpretations perfect. Mr.. Thaddeus
Shine as FiHS and Oiirer Okiphdiit were also
very commendable. In fact, the entire cast
were irreproachable. The costumlng was ele-
CANT, and the music OF tho best character, max.
Ing the entire performance one of the most
finished ever presented on an Albany stage.
The applause was frequent and enthusiastic.
TAKE AFTERNOON trains from Sixth