Wallack’s Theatre

“DAN BRYANT appeared last week at Wallack’s in a round of Irish pieces. On the 11^th, we witnessed his Ragged Pat, in ‘Ireland as it Was.’ The house was about half full, but the audience was a very demonstrative one. His performance of Pat was marked by careful study of the character although he did not infuse into it the same life we have seen a majority of the Irish comedians do. The fact is, Mr. Bryant requires a great deal more practice before he can go on the stage and play characters so well known as those in which he has appeared. What he wants the most is experience in that line of business which he has chosen. He has the voice, and certain intonations which can be made subservient to this important expression of the feelings, and if he neglects them and their use, the fault is his and not the author’s. At times he is too impulsive, too boisterous, and aims for effect by what is called a short cut. Hence it is he overdoes many of his impersonations by sacrificing truth and nature. He should not pay so much attention to applause from the gallery and take it as a compliment to his talent—it is nothing more than a compliment to that which is not art, but a caricature of it. There is one thing about Mr. Bryant we admired on the above evening, and which we observed with pleasure, and that was, he avoided uttering a single low expletive.”