The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-22

WAMxorox March II, 1854.
theatrical Affairs in the Capitalize National Theatre
and Risey's Tariess-A New D;butane
Your readers generally. who cannot complain of any
stint OF intelligence affairs Of Executive Con-
sressona political character that take place here
viii not am convinced, object to short chapter de
scriptye Of theatrical matters in this metropolis II is
by means unnterestn. or inappropriate subject,
for in the prosperity decline Of the drama may, to
some extent be traced the progress OF enlightenment
and &6nement among people
This city nsnsgcs TO maintain two dramatic establish
n,ents very large tie other Of diminutve di
mensions These the MAJ ona theatre, of which Mr.
T. A. Msrshall-of the Broadway, New York-is the
lessee proprietor and Rseys yarete the managers
proprietors of which icsrs Rsley aud Goodall
The former is situated at te rest end of Pennsylvania
avenue within block Of Wizards Hotel and the lat
ter is located centrally the same thoroughfare,
being within two blocks OF Browns and the Ma
tonal Hotel As the National theatre is that which has
the highest claim to attention snail devote the hrs and
chief part of this communication to it.
The National theatre erected, rather rebuilt
the former edce having been burned short time pre-
three four ago for the reception of
Jenny Lind in the capital Ii has been since them be
neve that 1t passed into the hands Of sr Marshall Its
outward appearance fronting the avenue by means
Of character to impress tne passerby with very ele
waited ideas as the taste Of its designer
II presents his eyes low, broad dead WALL OF dirty
yeliowish hue, pierced BY halfdozen win
dows the glass Of which might probably be transparent
IL they ceansed, but SUCH not being the case
their utility for admttng ight is very apochry pha
Two wide fights of wooden steps conduct from either
side of the front Of the bullng TO covered central
porch in which is located the box Office You enter the
thtat and at stracE with its large dimensions
well with the absence o. anything like decorations
believe 1t is one Of the largest II not the very largest
theatre in the United sta having capacity for seat
ing between four and five houand persons Its stage is
the finest have seen Three tiers of boxes gal
leres rise the parquettc ry tue plan
in the Broadway theatre. lie must nave been
original genius WHO planned lsie interior Of the
edifce. Certainly, he im atrl nothing that l
have ever seen before n he shape o! gae.' t.
He mast have beard Of the tower Of Pisa, an
pred TO construct souicti peculiar The sa;ar
principle So the seats in II boxes not ouly "a,
in gradstions to command lew OF the stage bat III"
forms themselves have got a leaning in the SANG Ill
rection one end being considerably higher than the
other, thus forming sort of architectural sliding scale
which however meritoriou II may be in point of origi
nalty of invention makes the sitting part anything but
luxurious. The forms scantiy and shabby uphols-
fsred and in places in the dress circle the rude
unfinished woodwork is dsubed over with coat Of
brown paint. There is such thing pendant chan
deler gasaer in the house. and the illumination Of
the building generally any hing but brilliant This,
however is partly attbu able to he great width of the
house. and in s greater degree to the miserable sub
stitute for gas which vile monopoly here palms upon
citizens.
So much for the external and internal appearance of
the National Theatre do not mention these things
Disagreement OF the estsbshmen from desire of
being csptious fault finding; but do so-frst, be-
verdical historian, could not omit auding
to them without being liable charge of Partially:
and secondly because the notice OF the matters to which
have alluded may prompt to the Improvement in some
respects the appearance this really excellent theatre
now to the dramatic portion of my sketch; and
having arrived at this poin, have no further faults
to find No further complaint is necessary, OF or
the National is, in all RESPECTS, excellent, and
can favorably compare with most Of your New York
theatres. But, since the opening of the season, the
has not depended his stock for at
traction Julia Dean, Collins, the Irish comedian, and
Forrest have successfully appeared stars; and
another actress of much merit, but almost unknown to
fame has upon the boards OF the National and has
attracted much attention his artistic named in the
bills Miss Annette Ince and sort Of guarantee Of
her ability it is stated in these not always reliable
bills that her recent unequmed irumphS in New York.
Philadelphia and other Cities have been the theme Of
universal admiration" am much inclined to question
the truth Of this nen as do not recollect
reading any criticism OF er performances nthe HERALD
and If she had made her dsJia in New York. a notice
thereof would most certainly have appeared in its
columns. But more of this anon
Icannot say whether the engagement of Miss Dean
successful not, sii not happen to visit the
theatre during her sojourn That Of Collins certainly
not The public have been satiated with the rdicu
lous buresques of Irish characeras delneated by Col
Inns, Barney Williams, and such 'stars"-and II Is not
desert rather little ii stili The engagement
of Forrest however recnshe the Golfers Of the treas
ury which must sadly depleted by the results
of the season up that time You could hardly imagine
that the theatre, large i Is, unable TO accommo
date comfortably the vast throngs who focked to
il to witness Forests acting Yet such the
Persons coming Late could not possibly procure seats
in the house. except they Lad en engaged previously
And continued during the whole term OF his engage
ment, which lasted three four weeks He sue
ceeded by Mrs. Farrcn star This lady appeared
TO be of the dii"nest lumnarcs Of the thea
trics stellar genus that etr twinkle on the stage
As the member of regular stock company she might be
perhaps regarded as above par bat as an artist aspiring
to Mich in the temple fame her prctcnsons lar ont
her merits 1t seemed that mo people in Washing
ton 10 the conclusion, without many OF
them witnessing her for they judicously
engagement,
prayer meetings and chemical lectures instead OF the
drama.
But said that a new candidate for popular applause
has appeared the boards Of tie National Miss Annette
nce made her first appearance there last Monday evening
In the character of Julia, in the play of the Hunch
back" Miss lnce is a young and handsome lady, and
whose appearance does not bespeak much adaptable
y for the profession she has chosen She Is blonde,
and we'll could make cut from the indstinct view
which distance from tie stage enabled me to get Of
her. she has expansive brow and regular features Is
of the medium height and pos graceful though
rather slender figure For the charms and grace OF her
acting can however vouch with confidence. The
character of Julia 10 in which almost every modern
actress has appeared with less eai and though
it requires much dramatic power in s representation,
s the style acting been laid down long ago and
rarely dc,ated from The Julia Miss Dean is with
little variation the counterpart OF that OF Miss a-
yenport-and both are bat copies OF that Of Mrs,
Kean. So that though that role Is generally
eccd to exhibit the talents OF young arstes 1t affords
but little opportunity OF judging Of their real merits OF
there exceptions 10 this rule and IL is for the
purpose OF quoting exception that alude to it, All
tho artists whom have perform the role of Julia
to have based their IDEAS OF ITS impers0naton on
the theory that her passions of the naughty
excable and imperous kind than of the truly pure,
deeply loving and amable osershadowed for moment
though they by singing sense OF humiliation.
And representing the character Miss Julia has been
shown up not by any the model young lady
Cousin Walter priied himself on Miss Ince though she
docs not ignore the wounded pride Of the heroine,
hibts IL in less violent than is customary bat
brings out in stronger relief and in pleasing contrast
the feminine sensibiy, and the deep pure, boundles
love with which her heart filed. have rarely
more finished exquisite and natural piece of acting
than she displayed in that where soloqusng the
heroine ex6laims-
fT5toye, and il not love- why then,
Idolatry. Ave, that's word, to spcAk
The breadest, deepest, strongest passion
That ever wonnB's hcaFt hsrnc with.
this In other scenes the talents OF the actress
recognized in the llaudts of the audience. The
other characters of the piece well maintained Mr.
McIonough PLAYING Master Walter with much ability
and Mr.. Perry Sir Thomas Clilo ora There is much that
is absurd and unnatural in the plot oil this play although
Iss been long fayurite on The English