The evening world., 1888-08-15
"A LEGAL WRECK"

Mr.. oilette's new comedy, entitled "a Legal
Wreck" which was produced OF the Madison
Square Theatre last night, 10 rather an exasperat-
Ing piece OF work, inasmuch a. It deals in continual
surprises and fails 10 make apparent the necessity
or desirability OF this shock system.
One moment MIR. Gillette tickles you into an
ecstasy OF coined while the next he takes you just
as you are, all laughing and good humored, aud
plunges you into the depths of conventional melo-
drama. No sooner have you began to howl with
dolor ous vehe mence than the tickling process be.
gins again. And 30 on through four acts.
! dislike to be surprised. want to know 10
some extent what I may expect. ] dcspise shocks
TO the system, and wild bufsloesc couldn't drag me
into q Turkish bath. "a Legal Wreck " is written
upon the Turkish bath plan.
MI. Gillette has done some very excellent work
In his new play, and 1t stands out conspicuously
from the less meritorious portions. He is singularly
happy In his lie iding comedy role, that OF an at
torney-at-law, who Is easily accorded the place OF
hero, and who is yet selfish and thoroughly
natural. The character Of Richard Merriam, esq.,,
Is SO excellently drawn tina: "a Legal Wreck - Is
worth seeing for that alone. Merriam is not one
OF those dlsgustingly heroic creatures OF the good
young-man-that-died style. You feel he might be
alive to-day, and-well, you wouldn't mind meet
ing him.
The story Of the play is by no means simple.
Capf. Ed'ard Smith, an old sea captain, has a
ward, Edith Gray, and q son, Edward Smith. This
son Is a bold, bad man, and he loves Edith. 30
does Henry B. Leverett, ~ yachting enthusiast. +"
Leverett Is caught in a terrific storm. Edith hears
his boat humping upon the rocks. She INDUCES In
some pretty anguish, and asks Edward Smith to
save Leverett. He consents II she Will promise to
marry him.
"oh, how can l decide in a moment. Give mt
tlme,U nc. Vhua tho maiden put tho hnat
is still humping upon the rocks. She gives smith
her promise and he saves his rival The two men
night and Leverett throws Smith over the cliffs and
believes that he has killed him. From this tragic
situation Mir. Gillette takes you, without any
preparation. and, as l said before. tickles you.
Merriam, the lawyer. comes upon the scene, draw
Smith up alive and kicking from the cliffs and al
lows him to believe that he has nearly done fol
Leverett, while he has sent that gentleman of t.
the Sheriff to give himself up for having killed
Smith.
Merriam then proceeds TO satisfactorily establish
the parentage Of Edith Gray. and unsuccessiulll
tries to win her himself. Everything ends happily,
and the heroine gets not only a rather superfuou
mother and sister, but the husband of her choice
One OF the worst things In the play ia the seen,
between Capt. Smith and Edith, when she tell
him that his son Edward mas been killed. As tn
audience has already been narrowed up for q mo
ment In the belief that the young man was dead
and then f~arcically shown that he was alive. thi
return to the pathetic side Of the question is In dir
bad taste.
Sidney Drew did ZONE capital work as Merriam
the lawyer; in fact, his acting was q revelation
though Mr.. Drew was o favorite before. Iii
humor was dry and convincing, his delivery ad
mlrable; he was absolutely free from exaggera
ton. Miss Nina Boucicault was hardly az accept
able. She gurgled, and in her strong" scene
was not quite equal to their demands. For tn
quieter situations, however, Miss Boucicault wa
very effective.
Mrs. Fanny Denham Rouse played the part o
the conventional veteran widow, who has neve
lived on tue stage. The role was 80 tiresome ali,
provoking that 1t 10 dlnicult to acknowledge an,
merit on the part Of Mrs. Rouse. In justice, how
ever, II must be said that she did about as nue.
with 1t as she could. Alfred Hudson was an ex
cellent ''retired skipper" after MT. Drew he wa
the most pleasing feature OF the play. Georg
Fawcelt, Boyd Putnam, Miss 9rahame and Mis-
Vernon were fairly interesting. ALAN DALE.