New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-10
THE DRAMA-MUSIO
SHE sTOOPS AT wALLACK'S.

As often as this good old play is revived IL pro-
notes pleasant train Of thought upon one OF the
sweetest writers Of English that ever touched tho
language Though Irishman), and upon the age OK
formallty and stubborn prejudice in which, with enor
nous difficulty, 1t first brought upon the stage
Goldsmith seems to have intended that this piece
should mako reaction in the public taste, against tho
sentimental style Of comedy then In fashion, and IN
deed 1t received q bold stroke at an acoepted
Institution. This seems almost incredible now, ZOE
at present. It would DO deemed stroke OF the very
mfdest kind infexble style OF dialogue
than may DO found at intervals In :" She stoops 70
Conquer II would be difficult to invent. and the Cd
server thinks with a shudder Of the comedies In con-
trast with which this one could be considered bold
and free. Those were certainly days OF starch ana
buckram. DR.. johnson, who had dressed hmssI III
bright colors In order to attend the first performance
Of his friends play, discarded his gay rameht anu
assumed sober hues being reminded that the court
was In mournng-for, said he, q would not Dc retro-
grade to any general observance NOBODY az tha'
period could be very "retrograden to conventonaty,
1t would appear, and surely Goldsmth's comedy was
not retrogarde," In any alarming degree ihere
hiss at the Of Mrs. Hardcastles befoolment IN
tho garden, but otherwise all went well, and rom TINS
distance Of time It looks though the sentimentasts
received their knockdOwn with plenty OF composure'
What would they have thought Of the Dean In Danny
Dlchp and the butler In Heart of Hearts'f There
an element OF farce I'm She Stops to Conquer, and It's
infusion of stable yard and taproom life is to say inc
least sufficient but the work affects the present epoch
as far from revolutionary 1t IS, to our audience
frolic dressed In oldfashoned clothes and framed In
anQuated scenes. There Is much human nature ID
It, much character, much hearty and honest mirth'
1t long ago became a stock piece at WanacRs theatre
where 1t used be acted in better manner than Is
possble now. Mr. 1earle does not and cannot re-
MACE Lester Walack in Marlowe," in any part
OF that nature, and Miss Rose Coghlan Is Rot as
sprlghty as she has been in Miss llardcastle inc
veteran JohE Gilbert gives about all the soul there Is
I'm the representation visible at this house ~,
IL should, however, be observed that Dotn tno
choer and the fine natural dignity when are esseH
tIal characteristics of Hardcaste" were expressed
with even more than his customary felicity IN inc
finely balanced, delicatey shaded and authoritative
ural and in every way competent embodiment OF mo
wife of the country squire notably correct scene,
rich stately yet sufficiently home like, was set 1or
Mr. Harlcaste's" hall, and all the appointments
NJ tho company evinced Mr.. Wallacbs own admirable
taste and Trustworthy knowledge. Mr. Clark Grover
appeared as stony Lumphno but his h@mor was
hard and some Of his business coarse The young
SQUIRE Is mlschevous, but surely he ought 10 take
with him the good natured interest and kindly feel-
ing of HIS audience. 1t pleased Mr.. Groves IN MS
use of transparency in acting to indicate most moor
rectly a certain hatefulne5s being latent IN the
character He cannot sing, and altogether tns per
Torrance IS not DO recorded Of his successes
The house was we'll filed and the merry portions OF
the piece were taken with evident relish ana nearly
applause This is the best play that has Deen pro
dtlced at Wallack's Theatre understhe new manage
ment and while the performance of II Is not nVari-
ably brilliant 1t IS better deserving OF serious pubic
attention than anything that has preceded IL upon
40, ~toO inca tba