New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-24
THE DRAMA.
OLD COMEDY AT DALYS THEATRE.
ADA REIIAN AS vIOLANTE.

ADA REIIAN AS vrOLANTE.
Mr. D,,v.s production OF "The Wonder" which
was accomplished last night in his theatre 10 'no
delight of n numerous and cordially responsive au-
dlencc is chiefly notable for the merry pq'an''
sparkling performance OF Violante given Wy "''
Rchan Violante is ardent lover, Out "'So '''
is gay tormentor and or an impeiuVus SP"''
and she Is prone to act from the woInannhe pro-
Density TO use her power. In the scheme oi t"o
comedy she is represented as keeping an iihoc'h'
secret for the benefit Of another woman. ana 'nere
bv stimulating the Jealousy OF her ioVer' ION
Felix whose behavior presently arouses he' re-
sentiment and causes an intermittent ioVc'' tp"'
rel OF the most representative descripto"' 49,
love- OH both sides, Is the basis OF the "0"o''
lady and her lover are equally sincere ep'",''
spirited equally passionate in feeling equaliy ~
can, Il, ,,orner and almost equally fertile In SUD
terfupe and adroit OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, In the ia'-
ter particular possessing somewhat supei'o' 10
cility A humorous MISUNDERSTANDING ao'o,'"e'''
which while It continues. Is the CAUSE VI NJ
SAINT action and OF copious merrmeht,-'s inc 'uD
stance of the play Violante, NOBLE Ill ne' Hp'''t
and conscious Of her integrity flames INTO ris'
wrath when unjustly suspected: Dut she uea,'S
,oyo. bor liver and while willing to punish MN
for his doubts she IS woman enough 10 eNui' III
her own ripe and tantazing beauty anu u ue''0
10 fascnate even while she wounds
Miss Rehan whose comedy style exactly harmo-
nizps with such moods as are thus i"u'N"'NN' $500
caught the swing OF the character,-playing IL Oh
,hIs occasion for the first time,-and her "'o'F.'e"
through all the cumulative complications Vi ti'
r,eca was marked by delightful CELEBRITY. prompted
and warmed with passionate fervor. Inc ioroe VI
the part IL expended upon gossamer s"os'""oe
and hence Violante is very difficult OF eHecl'e rep
rpsentatlon. The actress must supply
feeling sprghtly manner. and incessaht "'Sn a,'
snor,,Ie Miss Rehan's presence enlivened the
M
and at tho fine climax OF the quarrel ""e' W.
horo,ra noeses from raillery to tears, she rouseu
her audience into q tumut OF pleasuraDIo e"'',rD'
The weight Of the piece really depe"'' o 'n
Felix whose fiery Jealousy must DC pia''' q, .
scene after scene, and whose response I"
ct,ottor is the essential substance; but III 'i''
{, uos horne bv the more experienced rePiea'"
- was r,,,o, and n was carried with un-
s,.o,ra grace 70 n most triumphant cohciusio"
ga, poha,,s assumption OF demure gra'i'y'-"
demeanor OF artless innocence, archly pia'e az.
compressed mlschief-at the moment "a ' -.
oonoature Of Felix In the trues1 spi.' Vi
comedv and all such strokes OF aIl nav 81 -
NJ delicious exhlaration. Inc Val"0 VI ,o
hodirent 70 the public Is the impairment u IN
~ ,os,,ro and also-which IL a sun greater
,eet ,ba suggestion OF n lovely IDEAL upo"
,,oh % muse and dream, Of gentleness Htii'i''''
tender feeling and plduant variety III es
nature Miss Rehan was repeatedly o"". 49,,
tho curtain. and OF her brilliant suco' " ,as.
VIZ o,,no ordeal there could not be the least
doubt. - .r,ho Won
twenty wears have passed since last me WI,
u.s., u,o acted I'm this city and to the contemporary
oud,once II IS practically new play. lHa' a"u''"
will find II a charming compound OF oroi eh'a's
monte necessarily vivacious alike III stSlo anu M
don't and Interesting from first to last ouoi, 'ep
sentations OF It az were given In the pest I'd. "
ros,er Wallack will not again be seen There Il ho
nly n
personate Don Felix. The part requires dash' ran
ierv sarcasm impetuosity. fiery force alternating
with eentlenesa an undercurrent or deep passion
and a fine free manner or gallantry anu eies"
and also and especially It requires rare iehcly anu
grace Of speech The drunken episode must DO h"eS
transparent and delicate. With possibly one eA-
centjon.-that OF young Dornton In THE Road 10
pu,r Don Felix f. the most difficult character IN
tho vhola wide range OF old English comedy MT
Richman who played the part last night should pe
congratulated upon an suspicious oeslhnins' ms
intention was seen 10 be Intelligent ana hne ms
feeling sincere his action busy and expressive; out
I'm general his execution was violent. ana almost
an the effect. that he created were those OF noisy
tumult and boisterous vehemence. The intimatiohs
OF this actors personality. however. are always
agreeable: he Is Enthusiastically public fayorite;
and he was liked and loudly applauded even when
at his worst-as in the cry OF "Damnation.' ara
the sledge-hammer exit at the end or act third;
y proceeding as remote from comedy "a bass-drum
Is from music Among the subsidiary performances
that Of Flora by Virginia Earle.-the most promis-
ing actress OF chambermaids seen here In long
tme-should be recorded as conspicuously excellent
Mr. Gresham made hit "a the mischievous and
vain Iissardo and Mr.. Deane Pratt. careful and
jealous actor, gained much credit by neat perform
ance OF the Scotchman Gibby. Mr.. Ecke's Incl
dental music some OF IL from BZets "LArle-
sienne" executed with SURPRISING Skill THE
Wonder" will be repeated this afternoon and on
Thursday and Saturday. "The Magistrate" Is an
nounced for Friday, and these pieces In alienation
with "The Geisha" will be acted until April 3. when
Mr. Daily will produce The Tempest"
CAST OF THE WONDER"
Isabella MARIE 81 lohi
Don felN
George Clarke
Don Pedro. EDWARD
.John rag
lisSlrilD 'iiNlptIl
Clb,v. Deane Pratt