The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-25

good Mr.. Hckmson'S mAkc-up was excellent Mr..
johnson deserved praise Laura Keene WAS capital Mr.
Burnett should swear little less.
yysilack's Theatre.
This theatre was crowded to overdowing night to
witness the appearance after long absence old
fsvorite Mr.. James Anderson, and the debut OF Mlss
Agnes Esworby, English actress whose a1ven. has
been prefaced BY highly udatory notices from the
London papers. The attraction was enhanced by tho
production for this occasion Of original four act play
By Mr. entitled, Ciouds and Sunshine thus
presenting him the double role OF actor aud author
The scene OF the piece is laid at Versailles In the
icentious age Of the Resee and the character the
period is well preserved In the completion Of the story
and the persons who ncve In H. The duchess Of Marine
(Miss Esworthy), young Scotch widow, possessed Of
large estates and great personal attractions ha drawn
around her circle of devoted admirers whose propo
sails, however s In succession dsmsses. One OF them
moro earnest and enthusiastic than the rest, Edgar
Dunos (Mr Andcsson) unable to survive her rejection
Of his suit destroys himself under her window.
The Marquis de Msrcilly fNr. Sothern), ons
OF The nain Of ouicast lovers, resolvnnI
upon taking violent revenge upon the proui beauty
snA ne appsssansss Henri Danois {kr Aadsrsoa redf
ri) the twin brother OF the unfortunate Eigar a yrds
HIM both opportunity and ntling agent carry out
sdesgp. By accusing the Duchess of cruelty and de-
CeN 10 cuk1 ana mOtueT, whose Q09tn followed
speedily that Of her son. he prevails upon Henri to enter
into bis scheme Of vengeance. Henri Affects 10 be de-
votedy 10 love with the Duchess finally succeeds In
winning that heart which had hitherto been Inaccessible
TO tenderness The plot is ripe TOR execution Hsv.
ing secured the iady's love, Is settled ihsi Henri is
publicly nnd scornully 70 reject her hand accompanied
by such display Of contumely may satisfy the design
Of revenge projected by the Marquis. But there Is
complicated emotion 10 be dealt with s this po Mt Of the
story. Henrpn winning the heart Of the Ducpess has
lost bis own. He loves her with decps devotion and
with n much constitutional ardor ~ his brother had
loved her before him. and In sacrificing TO this terri
be scheme OF vengeance, he feels that he also sscr
ncipg himself But he ba, pledged hi, honor 10 the
task, and be fulils IL. This the eliminating point Of
the plot The lady, huniAted and over Whemed by his
perndy, summons up strength enough 70 regent Il,
~ exposing 70 him the falsehoods which the
Marquis bad paimed upcn him. Henri outraged By tAS
discovery, compels the Marquis 70 light BIN, and lays him
apparently, dead before him New events new ARISE
The Duchess determines to revenge herse ia turn she
loves Henri but pride pc xerin than love- and to
cruth the unhappy sutor, Who ,t follows her with I'm
plorng cntrcaies for forgiveness she accepts f.vos
nom the Duke dc Richoleu (xr Reynods) aud IL about
10 bcstow hcr hand upon him Tho Incidents ,hcken To-
wards the cose expectation continually auctustipg be.
tween hope and despar and IL Is no. It'll the catastrophe
ia on the OF accomplishment that the denouement be-
comes apparent TO the spectator just tragic termi
naou II anticipated the piece ends with comedy Of or.
rorftne cead restored 10 Lite again. and Henri and
the Duchcssare, they orght to be, rcconclei and
united
From the above resumi VIII be seen that the piece Il
highly melo dramatic In character and lust such ar
night have bccn expected from actor author more In
tent upon producing elective and telling situations than
work Of high literary merit. judged by the which
be bad In view, bound 70 confess that Mr Ander
bas sucoeeded In his object, The piece Ia one which
has the merit Of eDsrossng beginning 10 end the
nisrcsi Of the spectator; bu, mu DO added that ef
fecs this By The liberties which takes With the dramatic
unities and tho occasional bodnes, Of IL. anachronms
IL srtstic, however in the stage sensc Of the word
and That, considering the character Of Of modern
dramas, as high praise its author probably seeks for
y. In the mounting q the piece great pains had ev
IDENTITY been bestowed BY tho management Toe mise n
n,ne and costumes were SPLENDID and contributed, OF
course, greatly TO the success OF the play
The appearance OF both Mr. Anderson and Mss
Hnworthy was greeted with bo,terous applause and
for awhile the lady seemed overpowercd by the cn,
siasm Of her reception. This nervousness In some de-
gree marrcd her efforts during the act, bu, Ia the
scccrd and third she completely M and by the
vigor and uuthfulness Of her performance car.
fr" 'ne hboicnce comPieseV win her. 10
person che Va rather above the middle heigbt.
with nney formed fcanres and dark ex.
ryessive eyes, Her voice no, powerful, but her in
alton is perfect and her least word can be distinctly
heard. Tho nrss impression which she produod on US
was not mvorsbic owing "a the 100 marked and
occasionally awkward character Of her gestures and A.
we thought . tendency 10 rant Az she entered into
the deeper emotions Of hor part however, these faults
disappeared and she appeared natural and suinfulap-
pealng effectively 10 tie sympathies OF her audience
finding her In the enthusiastic applause with
which her efforts greeted. Judging by the rcsua,
Of hor performance last night she vii be grea. scqui.
sision 70 our stage
The character Of Mr. Andersons performance s ,,tt,s
since we last him. II exhibits the same
forco and confessional elegance but also the same sb
sence Of originality Of conception which nave si~Sys
characterized him Az "a. he one Of the bcs, ac,orr
the Enslish stage. Had he genius he would be the
greatest
On the WHOLE the OF last night both a. ersrds
the new piece and the dsiaaonD may be regarded q.
highly sssssac ory "a all parties Mss Ellis worthy vss
called repeatedly before the curtain aud n the copclu
Mr. Abderron Vas con pelIed rive the audience
speech, which be old In very nen and noeety terms
smscAinE somewhat Of previous PREPARATION
------
ksrsTxrsron reference 10 the at Al The head cs the
editorial psec, will be observed that the attractions
cTcred ., the vsrcus theatres &c. FOR 70 are Of An
unukua,y xared -nd rovet charsrter