New-York tribune., 1884-02-17
THE DRAMA-MUSIC
THE COUNTRY IIRI

|
bic as curiosity In its original foun-as The
Country Wife," the third of the farm comedies of
William Wycherley, acted for the first time in 1878
| it is exceedingly prohIgate. 1t presents. in q
spirit Of brazen mpudence and Of gross and heart
less sensuality. tie intrigue Of London rake with
tho silly wife of a rustic country squire
1t had brilliant success, when
first acted-partly because Of its lioen-
tlousness ana partly because Of its elaborate
literary finish. These wore attributes which es-
pecially delighted the taste of q certain class of
London people in the reign of Charles the Second,
and these are the inyariable attributes of tho
writings of Wychcrley-a man whose observation
no NTH appears 10 have escaped. and who did all
IN MS power to make sure that no
nith should escape the oJse walton of
otherS III ought to he remembered, too,
that " The Country Wife may have owed a mart Of
us success to its French origin 1t was ard on the
well-known EcOle des Maris" and "Ecole des
Femmes comedies which, very recently. have
furnished tho parts of an amusing and successful
pay Wives by Mr. Bronson Howard.l The
toste Tor Wycheriey, however, was, happily, ono
that could not endure. II went out with the Merry
Monarch. In later times-in the times of Gauick-
Inc Country Wife had to be dishfected before
it could be revived.
Oarrick named it the Country Girl" and
brought il out at Drury Lane in I776-modifed
and subdued, but not greatly changed At a more
recent period it became a stock piece with the beau
tiful Mrs. Jordan. whose performance was said 10
have been based on that of a certain Miss Brc wne,
at York, but seems 70 have "bettered the instruc-
tion." All the accounts of that performance agree
in glowing admiration. The ju1icious Mrs. Inch
bald, whose remarks on plays aud acting are SO
thoughtful and sensible she mentions 1t with sort
in { l.. A..
Grabbed John Salt, in his sketch of Mrs Jordan,
gOats over it with a sort of ecstacy-saying that
her juicy voice sounded az if she had just bitten
into luscious peach. 1t is not difficult.
accordingly, to understand the tradition of
sensuous aud tantallzing rural loyelness and
town-bred cOquetry, invested with which
TINS character-bearing its peculiarly od0rif-
erous literary enviTonment-has descended
to the present time. Mr.. DAILY has shown himself a
sternor and more thorough editor than Garrick
In the piece which was presented at his theatre
last night there is the dramatic scheme of Moliere
combined with some of the verbal ingenuity and
elaborate artitce of Wycherley; but also there IS
circumspectiOn and refinement. The topic could
not well be rejected but the reatner of the topic
has been considerably sweetened. Some part
Of the picture OF manners remains, and this con-
tiGues TO be enliyened by sprightlg spirit
aud nimble if artificial wit.
Persons who have not neglected ther historical
studies, especially of the social condition Of the
English in the seventeenth century. will find much
pleasure in seeing this comedy. All kinds Of spec
tatOr, can enjoy the acting Of Miss Ada Rehan and
the others who appear in it, The old come lymanner
the dash, the elegance, the sparkle, the gig -
was but epresent in this performance. The sever
al characters however, are well Disseminated. he
dresses were handsome. Miss Ada Rehan has
TO embody the ideal Of a eeomng simple
girl, who, in the innocent wies Of love and court
ship. develops q sudden and astonishing wisdom;
this she accomplishes with a charming assumption
OF guileless innocence and deft touch Of quaint
ness. Miss Dreher picture Of tho average
fashionable women OF the time-but, hike picture
appealed rather to the eye than the ear Tie male
players somewhat lacked ease in their SUI
perb old-fashoned toggcry; yet at
points their concerted action was brisk and
effective Mr. Fischer, of course, carried
Voody the PirchritJ easily enough; but Moody is
crusty and harsh, and it Is not TO him that the
spectator looks for the elegant light comedy ot the
Wo0dwards and the Kemhl les, the ElliStons aud the
Waacks OF the long and stored pan. The story
OF the piece, as now presented Is that OF the nnO-
cent hOOd-Wnking of dcceitIul and cruel old cur
mudgpOn. Ii need scarcely be remarked th1t
This lis not - I'd comedy Enough remains all the
the Restoration admired. Inerc was = Numerous
and brilliant audience. and the representation WAS
hailed win laughter and piaUdlts; l9our Judg-
1ueni in does not sreif chat revival OF NYcherieY
Is ouite worth while. That OF GOngreye would be
more TO the purpose COnSrelo was the dIamatlSt
of that time and excepting sheridan, the greatest
Way Of The World" Was not successful play 10
ITS time. but surely II cOuid be made 50 now ilr
DAILY meanwhile has given us study OF the pist
winch ought not - be neglected