New-York tribune., 1886-02-16
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
VALERIE AT WALLACK'S.

Last night at Wallack's Theatre drama en-.
titled Valerie acted for the first time, and Mr..
Lester Wallack made his reentrance here The latter
incident gave great satisfaction and Mr. Wall SEX was
welcomed with unmstakable goodwill by "a numerous
aud brilliant audience The play OF I" Yaeri'," which
il conn rsed In three scts built upon the basis
OF sardou's play of Fernando. Its subject therefore,
does not come before the public In the lght OF an
absolute novelty Reliance appears TO have been placed
upOn certain freshness OF treatment as an attractive
charm The scene of the drama Is shifted TO Ehgand
and the portrayal OF the foreground OF the life Of Fer
uaude-who is called Vdiereis omitted. The names OF
the characters are changed The first act deals largely
in narrative and preparation and 1t is sny devoted
TO the preposterous scene In which the really
evil female nature OF the piece aure- her lover by
false confession that she is tired of him to make true
confession not only that he is tired OF ne hut tDat he
.loyes another II IL represented that he 10 a
namber of noble English family and that this otner
woman whom he loves young stranger whom he has
casually encountered IN the street. eaniDs aIaDst
post in condition OF fantness This rcmarKaoN Scee'
furthermore, eau his ahanced bride I" oner nor
services TO discover the unknown object OF his sudden
aGection She has rescued poor vaeran' from ITO
streots and turns out that this vagrant Is the WOMAN
for whom they seek In the second act the AIS
carded lady is graf fed 10 secure marrlage oi 'er
former lover to her somewhat preclpItae rv" THIS
her revenge; but when she is about to bum are am
Destroy the man who sighted her. by declaring thas
he has been married Outcast Mr Wailack as tho
good genius story forcby compes her retrrmeh'
behind velvet curtain This is the strong situation OF
the drama In the third act this bad womans schemo
OF vengeance. which she enieayors 10 push 70 CONF
petion is totally and finally discounted by the vndica
ton of the girl and By tho consequent happy ciA oA
an impossible plot
The three acts this play are long, and portions OIL
them are tedious. The language In when they arc
written ia commonplace Two original lines, however,
attracted attention Love first sight you know
nf nny ia II
the piece may readily be surmsed Is the vengeance
that hard n atured woman might possibly feel inclined
TO take upon a who had grown weary OF h'r
charms. Pernaps th' theme may be Interesting. 2 Ina
stratIve applause caused the second raising OF the rs
and second curtains and the frequent ret rus o. tuo
principal performers IN this piece THIS maui e~ta'l
o. public enthusiasm. however, may perhaps nave Gei
due 10 the in VIII cb the play was represented by
the actors mainly intrustrd with its illustration MISS
Annie Robe appeared as Valerie There wis cerialu
muscular ygor in her personality which made it incom-
patibe viii the ea sweet aud fragile girl who
i Intended in the scheme Of the original author on so
woman like intuiii0ns and was sufnsed with tolJhlns
sinceritl Mr.. Wallace has To perSonaie chsracter
"t h nature shines hro ig it, no ever and the
of his playful manner makes II delifhtfu Always IN
walIack- acting there i that delicatt suggestion OK
great knowledge Of human nature ana Oh Tue worlH;
which only be possessed by thOs" who nave iHd
ample experience Of life and also there i e SUGGESTION
Of q whicI has been sw"etenrd anu not emGit-
tered by the trials through which It has passed Mr
Kyrle Bellew acteI will simple dignity aud perfect
grace in situations OF snch an iraiional charoeter as
well might TAX the resources oI al
comedian. His performance was much aud Justly
admired Miss Sophie Eyre, Who imp"rsonAtes tue
fen a aysugpr fulfilled her haleu task wh SURPRISING
Wig r much breadth OF tire tment and freqenuya hne
Theatrical erct but IL must be said That her PERFORM
ance eXcerd rather in force thau in refinement
Valerie il drama Oi slender merit, ana Whatever
merit il contains l. derived from tine Frrnch 0rlsluai
and has not been con rbnted the American adaDer.
U.nGsome scenes have for the play, and the
manner it, representation Ti probably secure i0 u
a considerable measure OF Inblc acceptance. rus
community has now seen resuscitatlois OF the old
former successes oi the Union square and OF Days
Theatre fl would be prOlOng this series, but 10
some obse they indeed tue faded spectre
OF a distant past.