New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-19


In these days of dramatic decadence, is refreshing
to occasionally catch glimpses at least of the tail of
some theatrical meteor, that flashes now and then
through the cloudy haze that envelopes the art and
its professors here and elsewhere.
The interpreters Of the text of most of the now
day dramatsts generally mar them by false concep-
tions faulty rnemorlzng the introduction of nterpo
laons of ashy sentiments and the vulgar cant of the
day, imagining that they thereby improve the spark
ling and brilliant language of Shiel, Sheridan,
Knowles and Others who are niched in the pantheon
of dramatic literature. The advice suggeste1 by one
Shakespeare to fools whospeak more than is set down
for them, therein making the unskifu laugh while
the iudicious grevc,' is pearl strewn before swine,
and your tailors apprentice leaps with one bound
from the shop board on to the stage, being bioogized
to the idea that he is kean Or a Macready. full
+ tedged and capable of doing the heavy business
for any establishment whose niggardly economy will
accept him for his che1pness in lieu of more eXpen-
sive intellect.
The profession Of an actor actress is one re-
quirng years of TOLL study and labor-an analytical
mind, student methodical and logical, and COM
prehender of nature and of art capable OF nteracRe
and of dividing them at will in order not to confound
them, or be passable in either-bending them grace
| fully with ease and naturaness An affected enun-
citation orpecularity of mouthinS deterorates greatly
from the requisites of acting, and CRATES harshy
the of the scholar and critic though most of the
performers a-days affect something of the sort
and are deuded into the idea that they will be appre
ciated sstnnesgraduates of colleges of elocution
unknown to the world and the Kings English. Tho
actor upon the stage should follow, not advance on
nature, declam with grace ease and natraness-not
act excessively and mechanically, and act in every
thing but and then let nature like Jones, have
chance professionals do this, they would ele
vate the vocation, reduced to the Nadir Of it,
status.
An example of discrimination, OF the benefit o
study thought discretion and patriotism in her pro
fession, may be found in Miss Logan-now perfonnn!
at the Gaetyone of the most effective actresses OIL
the American stage, an established favorite in ever
city of the Union where she has appeared. Her con
ceptons of characters are always finished and ac
curate and her readings elegant and chaste. In
instances she is over-impassioned and perhaps over
artistic but is altogether the most credable actress
next to Charlotte Cnshman that has appeared in Ney
Orleans for years, and we glad to perceive tina
her merits appreciated by audiences numerous an
respectable Her personatons are materially blurre
by the inefficient support extended her; but fol
tunatey the genius scintates in spite of the SUI
rounding defects.
The fact that we have heretofore urged upon th
managers of places of amusement in this city is b'
coming every day more apparent. New Orlear
rejects empirc and pretension and the receipts at th
doors confirms the proposition. An artist who nass'
the Rubcon Of taste and criticism set up here hi
cause to congratulate himself and his laurels
servcdly. There are one or two managers who unde
stand this one of which is Mr.. Boudousquie, of IL
Orleans theater-an opera house, supported liberal
from year to yeara thing that no other city of tt
Union can boast Of.
Miss Logan enters into her parts with Il rigc
( earnestness and energy, which is her chief charl
An illustration Of this is recognized in all of herp
formances, and more particularly in the magnitice
and dramatic manner in which she chants the gre
; MarscillaiSe.