The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-14
NEW ORLEANS TUESDAY MORNING. JANUARY vG
Drama atis Gossip.

mr.. Macreadys performances at the London HAY.
market are fast drawing to a close. They have
called forth, as is usual in the of actors who
respect the literary art themselves, some very fine
criticism. There are those among our readers,
whose old recollectlons Of he Park Theatre will
ne pleasantly revived by this sketch of a;r Ma.
creafy's Virginius, which We fnd in the Eya.
m'ner: What beauiiul play it is; and wha a
perfect represen'ation-a picture Of the most natu-
raj emotions drawn from the highest sources of art
is Mr.. Macready's Wrginius. With what SUI.
prs,ig genus he bring. out The historical truth of
me legend, IN The simplicity and strength Of the
one master eeilng of The rude yet gentle soldier
paternal affection. As, in the early scenes, he
rallies virginia ON her love as he stands gazing
on her with silent smiles while Others praise her
as his tongue tells Drn'atus she is a plague and
his heart con'radicts him in his look rs his tones
deepen into quivering paihos when he bettothea
her; a. the very effort to conceal his suffering
marks it, overwhelming intensity, when told OF
the suit of Claudius against her; as he recalls her
mother in her face when they claim her az The
daughter OF slale; az he confronts Appius with
tathers awful passion as, in the terrible forum
scene, he runs with noble fsrvOr through every
cnord OF national and manly sympathy, but touches
Al in VAIN, ani hopeless and helpless humbles
himself al last TO pray for little tms before they
take virginia from him; he seems TO hope
ak 'ihsf hope IN he short pause that ensues as his
eye Whndsrs around bewildrred before it rests On
tue KNIFE; as lie pans-s, and looks, and ksses and
and, rising after ii in that terrific posture Of ven.
geance, d7votes The Decemvir to The Internal gods
re sf g'eness If fseBg the affec;ionsle simplicity
- Inc part, IS never losi sight Of for an instant
from even 'he last act, where the now childless
V!rginius still fancies himself father, wander.
through his house calling for her, wonders ahe has
nor come to greet HIM viii a kiss, and talks with
'ier Ia phantom Sounds" We are taken back 10
the hnppy scenes at the opening of the play. The
most awful and the most gentle emoflons Of the
tragedy are thus n'eparably connt cied and sweet-
ness given to even the horror of The catastrophe
the Subsequent revenge on Appus. aud the re-
awakening u reason over the urn Of Virginia com.
t,lete this gentle and noble picture. Surely any
'hing more pathetic can never have been witnessed
IN the stage of any period.'
We have heard, says the London Ather seum,
"lih great satisfaction Of a mnnifcient Offer made
~ Sir Edward Lytton BulWer AT the close of some
ifainhtic entertainments which he has been giving
nj hhehworlh--the performers consis,ing Of the
ompany of amateurs who usually play under the
managerial direction Of Mr.. Dickens ST Edward
proposes to write play, to he acted by that com.
ANY at various places in the United Kingdom-,he
proceeus 10 form the germ Of fund for a certain
number Of houses 10 be further endowed for literary
msn and artists; and the play itsef, if we under.
stand rightly, to be afterward disposed of for the
osneht OF the fund Sir Edward will likewise give
n fee, ground on his estates in Herts for the erec
non Ci such ASYLUM rest, retreat, Whateve else
may be determined to call the residences in Question
Tue actors to whon conspicuous share in this
COCO Work Will be due, hope, We understand, to
World.