Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-06-14
English's Dramatic Lyceum.

English's Dramatic Lyceum.
During the last and thus far in the present
week, Columbian Hall has presented to the
friends of the legitimate drama in this city,
an opportunity rarely afforded them. Mr.. w.
B. ENGLISH, recently of the Portland Muse
um, and formerly lessee of the Howard Ath
eneum, with his talented wife and two accom-
plished daughters-MIsses LUCILLE and Hell
EN-and other gifted actors and actresses have
been giving entertainments unusually attrac-
tive, especially for cities no larger than our
own. They have drawn full houses, and for
the last few evenings the order has been un-
exceptionable. For the first few nights there
were altogether too many rowdy demonstra-
tions among some OF the large boys and small
men, to render it pleasant, but by the activity
of the police, backed by the countenance of all
the better portion of the audience, these an
noyances have been suppressed, and no gentle
man need feel delicacy in carrying his lady
friends there, so far as the good order of the
house is concerned
We have had the good fortune, during the
last eighteen months, to witness some of the
most popular performances of such actresses
as Miss Agnes Robinson, Miss Annette Ince,
Miss Eliza Logan, Mrs. Hayne formerly Ju-
liza DEAN and others, and without disparaging
them we must say that we have seldom seen
the presentations of several members Of this
Company surpassed. Inthe legitimate drama
they are perfectly at home. Mrs. English
stands deservedly high, and although she is
by no means faultless, especially in the dis
tinctness of her enunciation, yet she "holds
so much ease, that she cannot fail 10 win APP
plause. Miss Lucille is great favorite, and
possesses all the versatility and vivacty of Miss
Agnes Robinson, while little Helen is per-
feet gem. Their presentations of the "Wan-
dering Boys of Switzerland'' was one of the
best things we ever witnessed, while Miss
Luciles "Little Devil" in "Asmodeus," is
fully up to Mrs. Woods, of the Boston The
atre. Nor, in this connection, should we omit
Mrs. Nc Wicker and Mrs. Jones. The former
is queenly in her movements, and does up the
characters in her line with admirable taste,
while Mrs. Jones is so full of the mischief that
she cannotGkpid laughing herself, and this is
her chief fault.
OF the male members Of this troupe we
have room but for a word. Mr.. Davis, stage
manager, is remarkably fortunate in his casts,
and does up his own parts, generally, TO good
acceptance. His "Ingomar'' and "Carwin'
we think his best thus far, though in other
characters he has done WELL Mr.. Beattie is
a glorious fellow. He does the old man and
the priest with excellent effect. Mr. Phillips
is promising actor, and, like ''singed cat'
is great deal better than he looks. The
parts assigned him have never failed or tagged
in his hands. Mr.. Watson is a very good low
comedian, and is sure to produce burst of
merriment Mr.. Palmer has the hardest of it
TO make good clown, and in this.-though
pleasing to many,-we think he sadly fails.
We have seen much better. Warren of the
Boston Museum, leaves him long way be-
hind still he is never offensive, often pleas
ing, and frequently very successful. In the
; foregoing we have attempted nothing like
critical analysis of this Company. We are
not qualified for such labor. What we have
said is from conviction of justice and pro-
priety, and from deep felt love of the drama.
We know others feel differently-that many
have scruples upon this point, while others
still look upon the drama with positive disfa-
vor. For the feelings of all such we enter
tain respect, yet we differ from them. We
see no reason why the stage may not be made
tributary 10 the highest ends. Its lessons are
ofen-may be always-of the purest and most
exalted character, and unless we would ignore
all works of fiction, we see not why we should
condemn the stage as such. The citizens of
Bath now have an opportunity to encourage
worthy effort to revive the drama in this
place-an opportunity seldom granted them
and will they not manifest their good taste by
crowdng the seats Of the Columbian, and thus
show to the world that Jim Crow concerts,
and Ragamuffin shows are not the only enter
tainments that find encouragement in Bath.
G.
81 The last that was heard of g Sam" y
In Virginia, he was praying for a " Lodge in
| some vast wilderness.