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Show "THE JlllllilXMAS." An Kirrllrut Ploy Artlttlcally oud Irullifnllj IVrforniid. "Tho Middleman," which wai pro-tented pro-tented nt the Theatre last night to a largo audience, 1. In every retiect u must excellent play. And thu virion, character, were so faithfully portrayed a. lo mako thu ectator. almntt forget that they weru guilng upon au Imlla-Hon Imlla-Hon of llfo Instead of upon life Itself. In thla play, principle, are vindicated which would lon adornment to any Christian pulpit. It Ii re mrmoii preached from tho itoye, and which ought to bo thundered forth by the prcachon of every denomination of thu world. They would be worthy of a C'lirysoitomue, could ho again stir tbu world with hit elc-epieuce, 'Iho atory Is a pathetlo lovu story. It contain, a strong appeal to the capl. tallita in behalf of the too fruiuently abused working claries. II present, lu It. c.utral figure, Cyrus lileiikarn, a genius, who conquera nil obstacle, and cirri!-, the victory against fearful odds, through hi. own industry and will power. And nbovoall, it direct, the attention to that noblestof all maxim., which wu taught by the great Founder of our religion In thu followlmr worda: "Iove your enemiea, bleta them that rurae you, do good to them that tiato you;" and again: "llleasid aro tho merciful; for they .hall obtain mercy" a maxim nttuoet forgott.u lu this age of dwarfeel Ideals. And these .eutl-inent. .eutl-inent. aru ulven In a dramatic form which It truly classical. Not that tho author hat Imitated thu heavy ilia-loguea ilia-loguea and monologue, of ancient classics. Un thu contrary, the drama It entirely freu from superfluous verbosity. ver-bosity. Hut It Is clastic In th. faith-fill faith-fill delineation ot characters, drawn so boldly and with audi masterly skill that In seeing them, wo fancy ourselve. .urrounded by Individual, familiar to us from our own cxporlencu of the world. And yet, Ills doubtful whether Mils play, excellent though It be, could charm thu public, had It lest brilliant artist, to Interpret II. Mr. Kdwurd H. Wlllard hu original talent at least eeiual to that of iloury Irving. From hi. Ilrst appearancu on tho itige, last night, hu proved hi. superiority to most actor, that visit our city. '1 hnsw who havu oucu seell lilln, w hen, lu the broken-hearted rather,he pray. Heaven to grant him wa er to triumph over hi. enemies; seall him, when amid the Lining furnaces, he tattle, for the, great purpose of hla life, and puevecda; or, finally, when ho conipieri lilui.elf und forgive. liiaenenileM, with the exclamation, ex-clamation, "I will forglva them; that shall be my ruveuge," can soon forget the Impression thoso scene, 'create. Well say. I,. Clarkn Davl. In thu ten. tury Mii'jfizlntx "Wu cannot always havo actor, ou the stagu nf genlu. or talent like Ih.t of Mr. Wlll.rd'e, but wo can, If audienit. suulll It, havu always i lay. which, llku 'Tlio Middle-mill,' Middle-mill,' elevate, not debase, tho stage. Thu theatre I. onu or the greatest of teachcra. Why should It not bu onu ol tho bett7" Tho company with which Mr, Palmer list surrounded Mr. Wlllard Wll-lard Is nl.o excellent. MIsiMarle Hur-roughe Hur-roughe 1. an actress of moro than ordinary beauty and talent. Bin, represented thu living but unfortunate unfor-tunate "Mary Hleukaru" with great falthfulne. to her issumcel role and Mis. Tilbury wai nhno.t equally sue. ceisful as "Nancy." Hoycn Carleton gave good sHtlifactlon In thu dlfllculi rnlunf thu lieartl.s. man nf ttiu world, "Joa. Chandler," I.oula Masseu gavo a.trong nod manly ropr.aentatlon nf "Jtillii.Cliuiidler," and Harry Canu look "llatly Todd's" part really well. F. H.Tyler amused thuaudlencu very much ui "Jessu Pegg." Thu audience demonstrated repeatedly repea-tedly their appri-clatlou of the perfor nance. The curtain felt afler every net amid thunder. olupplauso and after the third acl, thu pleyer. were recited no less than four timer, all of which lliey received with graceful modesty, " fhe Middleman" la, at played by .hi. company, a plee'u that evcrjlioly ought to.ee. It will bo given again (Saturday evening and at tho matinee tho same day. Tonight and tomorrow ulght "Judah" will hold lliu Hagc. Thla Ii a dramatic opus that has by ninny been pronounced uveu superior t" "Thu Mlddlenan." Mr. Wlllard lu thll piece lias Iho rolo of a Prtiby terlm clergyman. |
