p. 274

390.
December 14th "Comedy of Errors."

December 16th "Lady of Lyons: with "The
White Horse of the Peppers."

December 19th Mrs. John Drew after a length-
ened adsence made her first appearance this season
under her husband's reign. The fine comedy of
"The Love Chase" was produced in which she ap-
peared as Constance and was received withthe most
enthusiastic plaudits. Mrs. Drew acquitted herself
in this charming female creation of Knowles with
her usual excellence. Such was her success that
"The Love Chase" continued to run for five or six
evenings until Christmas eve.

Monday December 26th Moncrieff's popular
comic drama in three acts called "Paris and
London"--Frederick Froth Mr. Wheatley: Lady
Volatil Mrs. J. Drew. "Paris and London" was
played every night till the end of the year.

The firm of Wheatley & Drew should never have
been dissolved. Its entree into the theatrical world
was efficient and prosperous. But ambitious rather
than business aspirations are the characteristics of
professional men. Poor John Drew has gone to his
last rest while Mr. William Wheatley proceeds
ith the strides of a mighty Titan in managerial
speculations having become the lessee as rumor
says of the principal theatres in Boston and New
York and the new theatre now being finished on
Chesnut street it is said at a rental of $14,000 per
annumy. To us it seems a large rent to encounter in
these times; at least it is large for Philadelphia. If
the edifice is a gem it will require a gemmed corps to
give it a tone which will demand large salaries.
Time however is a good crucible to prove all things.

CHAPTER CXXV.
Wheatley & Drew's Arch Street Theatre--
Spring and summer season of 1854--Julien's
Orchestra Concerts--Mr. Fredericks--Bal-
let girls--The story of Mary Thornton--
"The Hypocrite"--Standard pieces the order
of the day--Close of the season July 4th.

At the Arch Street Theatre on Monday
January 2d, 1854 "Paris and London" was
performed. This comic pictorial drama was
brought out during the Christmas holidays
and had the usual successful run of those
pieces in those usually joyous times when all
good people wish each other "A merry Christ-
mas and a happy New Year!" This attrac-
tive drama of Moncrieff's eccentric but ob-
serving mind continued to be played alone
till the 7th of January when other pieces
were added.

On January 10th they began with a series of
the old English comedies. In "Wild Oats"
Mr. Wheatley played Rover the strolling
player with all the smartness and caprice of
that personage while Dolman as blunt John
Dory gave a graphic drawing of an old sea
salt a character of ocean life now fast passing
away. Mr. Thayer as Sir George Thunder
was characteristically spirited but rather too
refined for the old commander of a man-of-
war. As Lady Amarath Mrs. J. Drew gave
us all the amiability of the well-bred compla-
cent lady of benevolent sympathies with
truth. John Drew as Ephraim Smooth was
truly a fanatical hypocritical Smoother and
was excellent. "The Irish Emigrant" with
Drew's affecting acting of simple nature still
proved quite attractive.

January 11th the comedy of "The Serious
Family" with "Paris and London."

The "Jullien Concerts" at Concert Hall
Chesnut street were in full play at this time
to crowded audiences. The action of Jullien's
musical baton in directing the orchestra was
really a pantomimic novelty. His supple
baton switched quivering in the air to time

the violin passages or to arouse the sudden
crash of the brass instruments or was gently
waved to softly awaken the dulcet notes of
the flutes or flourished in agitation to call
forth the united notes of the grand finale.
These were expressive of the art of a consum-
mate orchestral leader. His figure was im-
posing his expression and action figurative of
his subject. His final attitude as the last
notes sounded and echoed in their expiring
tones was followed by his falling back into
his regal chair of musical state as if he were
physically as well as mentally exhausted.
This was dramatically picturesque. These
effects we believe we do not exaggerate.

January 13th Sheridan Knowles' admira-
ble comedy of "The Love Chase" was per-
formed with infinite tact and cleverness to a
crowded house. There is a conventional style
and sameness in the profession in acting
comedy parts a tradition of manner as handed
down for more than half a century. Yet Mrs.
Drew in Constance threw off much original
conception and spirited naturalness of deli-
neation. The performance was fresh without
artificiality of stage trick. E. Tahyer's Fond-
love was naturally conceived and acted it was
the very feebleness of the passion of love
with all its pitful pruriency of impotency.
It was a true picture of age in love a weak-
ness ever to be felt for.

January 14th the play of "The Stranger"--
the misanthrope by Mr. Wheatley; Baron
Mr. Dolman ; Peter F. D. Nelson ; Mrs. Hal-
ler Mrs. Bowers who was now rising in
public estimation. She received much appro-
bation with prophecy of future greatness.
Whether she has reached the topmost round
of Fame's ladder where Genius alone can
place her we do not know. It is for others
to say. "The Honey Moon" concluded the
performances--Duke Aranza Mr. Wheatley;
Rolando Mr. Bowers; Jacques John Drew;
The Duchess Mrs. John Drew; Volante Mrs.
D. P. Bowers. So they went on very success-
fully with the old plays cast only to the
power of the stock company which gave the
public all the satisfaction that they desired
re-creating as it were a correct dramatic
taste.

January 18th Shakspere's inimitable co-
medy of "The Twelfth Night ; or What You
Will" was revived with an excellent cast
and appropriate accessories. Orsino Mr.
Dolman ; Sebastian D. P. Bowers ; Sir An-
drew Aguecheek Mr. John Drew ; Sir Toby
Belch Mr. Thayer ; Malvolio Wm. Wheat-
ley ; Clown Mr. F. D. Nelson ; Viola Mrs.
J. Drew ; Olivia Mrs. D. P. Bowers.

A curious controversy took place in the
London papers some years ago as to how the
Clown in "The Twelfth Night" should be
acted. It has been rendeed in various ways
mostly in simple clownish manners although
he speaks witty things in polished phrase.
Mr. Wigan a leading actor made him a
merry fellow while others drew the character
in dry and quaint colors. However one of
the critics (and we think very sensibly) said
it was an open character and might be played
agreeably to the judgment of the actor.
Clearly he is a jester above the idea of a
common clown for the often quoted line
comes from Shakspere's buffo of "The Twelfth
Night:" "Some are born great some achieve
greatness and some have greatness thrust
upon them."

The "Twelfth Night" was often performed
during this season.

Jan. 25th Mrs. J. Drew played Mrs. Tric-
tac in "Married Rake" with much gusto and
applause with "Twelfth Night."

February 1st the comedy of "The Heir at
Law" was presented--Lord Duberly Mr.
Thayer ; Dick Dowlas Mr. Wheatley ; Dr.
Pangloss John Drew ; Zekiel Homespun F.
D. Nelson ; Cicely Mrs. J. Drew; with "The
White Horse of the Peppers."

Feb2d Goldsmith's fine comedy of "She
Stoops to Conquer."

Feb. 4th "School for Scandal."

Feb. 8th "The Hunchback" was presented
--Master Walter Mr. Fredericks ; Sir Tho-
mas Clifford Mr. Wheatley ; Julia Mrs. D.
P. Bowers ; Helen Mrs. John Drew.

Mr. Fredericks we think played the part
of Master Walter with much excellence. He
read it well gave the fatherly affections with
infinite pathos and his sterner characteristics
with power and effect. It is not an easy part
to play. Mr. Fredericks' figure and face are
well adapted to certain roles.

Mr. Fredericks seldom appears before the
curtain and then only to strengthen a cast
as we have observed. His appearance in
many characters we think would be most
desirable to the Arch street patrons. But
that is his business not ours. His name has
been long and favorably identified with the
management of the Arch Street Theatre as
its wary active and efficient stage and acting
manager especially so since the first days of
Wheatley and Drw's management and
thence through all its managerial changes to
the present day. This augurs well for him
for it is a station of much difficulty to main-
tain. It requires many capabilities to steer
a theatrical institution safely through the
breakers. We are not personally acquainted
with this gentleman although we have long
seen him on the stage and off. In this con-
nection we shall offer a brief sketch of him as
given on the authority of our old friend
Wemyss in his Chronology of the Ameri-
can Stage which he gave us leave to do at
any time. Mr. William S. Fredericks was
born in Dublin Ireland. He early com-
menced his profession at the Hawkins Street
Theatre Dublin (date not known.) His first
appearance was as Romeo in "Romeo and
Juliet" which was a successful performance.
He subsequently appeared as a leading actor
in many of the theatres in Ireland Scotland
and England. His first appearance on the
London stage was in 1835 as Laertes in
"Hamlet." He made his first appearance on
the American stage as Virginius in Septem-
ber 1836 at the Park Theatre in New York
under the management of E. Simpson. Du-
ring this period he has acted frequently in our
three theatres here and also acted as stage
manager for the old Chesnut Street Theatre
for several seasons previous to its destruction
in 1855. He is now Mrs. John Drew's stage
manager. He must be appreciated as such by
the ruling powers of the Arch Street Theatre
to retain his administration for so many years
in succession.

February 11th the tragedy of "Jane
Shore"--Jane Shore Mrs. Drew ; Alicia
Mrs. D. P. Bowers ; Hastings Mr. William
Wheatley ; with "Rory O'More"--Rory
O'More Mr. John Drew.