New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-06
REVIVAL OF @sEALED INSTRUCTIONS

The regular season at the Madison Square Theatre
began last night, and Mrs. Verplanck's comedy of
Sealed Instructions" reproduced there to a
crowded house with refreshed embellishments and
with a carefully adjusted east of characters This
play made a popular bit last spring and it was
discussed in the press at the time OF its first production
April 49, Its construction is vulnerable the
OF probability but beyonC question it possesses The
element OF romantic interest. Its first act, indeed
gives in striking manner the promise OF powerful
exposition of the conflict Of passions in story Of love,
jealousy. sin and reribuOn but this promise is not
fulfilled in the sequence OF its movement. Various
designs appear to have been entertained Ill the making
OF it, and of them has been entirely fulfilled.
The elimination Of the play is made dependent upon
an impossible blunder, and it's villain is made to
illustrate process OF impossible moi al reform. The
InSdrectiOn OF the sealed instructions could not have
been overlooked by the tibet whose interest it that
they should reach tLeir destinations snd rascal who
would rob and dishOnor his father, and would at
the the impIcate his innocent chid in a
dasiardy CRIME, Is not made OF the material that any
force OF subsequent experience turn into herOism
and virtue IL long ago observed that figs do not
come of tbistles.
Critical objections are perhaps clrcumscribed
within this single statement-that the principal
characters developed without regard TO logical
sequence while many Of the incidents employed
without regard to probability The bad people in this
play become good before the curtain falls, while the
gooc people in it become absolutely angelic. Only
corrupt individual is lett unregeuerated and he
Is meanly allowed to suiter under the repr0ach OF
duplcity stock jobopg. Whatever thoughtful drift
OF the piece remains It's story has been told would
to set toward the doctrine that there is wrong
which cannot easily be righted, error III human
conduct which cannot easily be retrieved and form
OF human nature that is ntriEsically celestial
These views of life amiablc but they not tue
The mile mum is expected but ii has not yet arrived.
Writers who merely theOrize about the human heart
aud human conduct must, necessarily, sport with
shadows and symbols, and however they may display
literary talent or technical skill scarcely tail
produce the general effect OF having trided with
serious subjects. Assuming, however a certain
amount Of amiable credulty on the part of an
audience, 1t is conceivable that such plot and such
ethics nay tnd acceptance That they have been
accepted obvious from the past success of the piece
which was repeated last night.
The revival was success with the audience and IL
will be successful with many other audiences as long
as u has the advantage OF such even earnest and gem
orally judicous acting that which yitalized n ON
this occasion Mr. j. H. Stoddard made the irrational
surroundings OF fimsy character seem entirely
probable, and freghted an impossible situation with
the reality Of deep patbos. Once during the perform.
ance be recalled the scene from first to last
he kept the sympathy and admiration of every
thoughtful auditor. Miss Maude HARRISON who
usually has pleased by her piquant merrment now
affected the public heart by honest Tenderness of
feeling. sweet simplicity ot demeanor and q surpris-
ingly hrin, frank and true artistic mechanism. The
situation wherein the exposed rascal is dissuaded
rom suicide by the governess would laugbahe were
II not Tor her sincerity. Miss Annie Russell in her
Senneaticn OF charming girhood, proved as true az
before and even more piquant spirit and vigorous
Snd elective IN execution. Agnes Booth although
"sle formidable tor siren. was painfully real as