New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-02
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA. I
MLsks AND FACES All wALLAcKs.

,. MASKS AND FACES AT WALLACK'S "A
The season began at Wallacks Theatre last nighkj
and largo and remarkably brilliant audience sax
there representation Of the strong and tender
comedy of Masks and Faces" Such an audiences
indeed. is seldom nowadays drawn together. Thi{
particular comedy has long exercised potent at
Effectiveness over the best taste Of the best play
going communities in this country, and the proca-
nation of its revival at Wsllack's Theatre
was the promise of great and refined pleasure. It
would avail nothing to speak here Of the old casts
which have been provided for Masks and Faces"
or to revive memories of Warren and Fisher az
Trple or to recall the sparkling radiant faces OF
the WofflngtOns of other days. 1t is always unjust
to Judge the works Of to-day by standards reared
upon recollectiOns of the past. Most of the per-
formers who emerged in this fine play last night,
however, could bear no comparison for one instant
with eithor the historic reality Of the persons they
assumed to represent. or the ideals most clearly
outlined in the text of the piece. The representa-
tive of CibJr was suggestive of the reality; but
only suggestive; the Quin end Clirs were
wretchedly incorrect the Sodper and Sndrl as I'M
couth as the rawest amateurs. Ernest Pdae was
made to look like an elderly General Washington,
and to behave like lecturer at lyceum Sir Charles
Pomander seemed afraid that he should not get
through his part and it was idle nonsense for Peg
to speak of him as one of the "irreslstibles" he
could not have lured fly, unless with patent
trap. Miss Measor was over-weighted with Mdbd
although she made some capital strokes of sim
plicity and of real feeling toward the close OF tho
banquet scene. The weight Of the piece, IN fact,
rested exclusively upon Rose Coghan, as Peg Wo6tug-
ton, and John Howson, as Triplet aud
for both these players tho evening was
one of popular triumph. Dir. HOwsOn had
glad welcome, expressed IN repeated paudits, and
he was recalled after each of his exits in the first
aud second acts. For first performance of Tripld
the effort was remarkable, and it should be &C
cepted with sympathy and respect. But it was very
far from being perfect performance. In the music
scene the situation greatly helps any actor who can
act at all. 1t is the sustanment OF the identity
throughout by which the comedian must expect to
be Judged. Mr.. Howson looked like an emaclated
DR.. Franklin, and his fOrlocnness went no deeper
than his rags and wrinkles. The manner was alert,
brisk, spTingy, almost spry. There was no mellow
ness in the work-whether of voice or emotional
condition. Triplet is of the kin bred of Dominic
Sampson without his learning and the sort of liter
ary man that never can or could be adjusted into
conditions of success. Mr.. HOwson will nave to
let him drift itte-to slacken some of his cordage
of practical readness-before he can make the per-
feet Illusion For Miss Coghlan it was impossible,
with such surroundings, to make the deep heart
of tho actress felt and seen beneath
the brilliant artifce that is Peg WotlingtOn's ex-
terror yesture At the sparkling points she was adj
mirable; in the passion and the tenderness de-
fcent and cold. Her appearance, however, was
very lovely, and her technical suitability 20 tho
part could not be doubted. With the audience
of last night her was not entire, but 1t was
such as should inpel her to renewed study and
effort. Masks aud Faces should be seen while
il lasts for even as now played, il IS luxury; and
il will doubtless be better played now that the lce
has been bTOken.-" Moths" Is III preparation.