New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-11-15
THE VARIETIES.

A large audience attended the opening of the
Varieties last night, play-goers being anxious to
see if the sanguine expectations of the excellence
of Mr.. John Owens management would be an
swered by the excellence of the company which
he has been busy engaging for his boards. The
fine comedy of g Old Heads and Young Hearts y
was performed, and this gave the manager an ad-
mirable chance of displaying some of the cards
which he holds to win with this season.
AS Ton, Coke, Mr.. Couldock, the heavy comedy
man. was all that the many who have seen him in
times past remember him to have been-a veteran
artist, earnest, impressive and natural in his imper-
sonations, making every word and point tell, and
vindcating his claim to the position of first class
artist. He has superior in his role in the United
States.
Mr.. E. A. Sothern the original American Lord
Dundreary," showed in fine relief in his part of
LHleton Coke. His superior, or perhaps, his
equal, as light comedy man, never figured on
New Orleans boards. He is nimitably funny and
has the droll peculiarly of never seeming in
earnest in anything which he has to do, while at
the same time the gentility of his professional
walk. and of his department in it, saves him from
the asperson of butfoonery. His comica genius
is loudly apparent i'll every word, look or gesture,
and before next spring thousands of the commu-
nifty will be his debtors for millions of hearty
laughs
As Lord Roebuck, Mr. H. B. COPELAND was intro
duced. He is evidently versatile man of all
work. and could look as ferocous in melo-drama
as he can humorous in comedy. He is the anti
podes of Sothern in one respect for he looks per-
fectly in earnest in everything that he does He
has the parts for doing his business well, whatever
1t may be, and will be popular with the habitues of
the Varieties.
Mr.. w. A. Chapman, Glow comedy man." made
his salaam in the character of Bob, and was most
provokingly ridiculous. He is thorough drilled
stager, and makes every wink tell Possessing
severe, magisterial, Cesarian outline physiognomy,
he perverts that gift of nature by devong it to the
absurd end of making people laugh, and the conf
cal contortions which he is enabled to effect by the
abuse of his facial muscles accomplishes that OBJ
ject efectually.s
Mr.. Lettingwell is the department man-th
magnificent middle-aged nobleman-the indignant
"parient," or the indugent father. With the mer-
its of Mr.. I. Morris, as the twar-worn veteran"
the genial old country gentleman or the " hale
old farmer,' our playgoers are acquainted Mr..
Fl. Bland, in the character of Reu. Jesse Rural,
had proper chance of showing what an excellent
"old man" he is. His personation of that import
ant part could not be surpassed and we are quite
certain that he will render most acceptably any
thing confded to him in his line.
Miss Charlotte Thompson made an exceedingly
favorable impression in the part of Lady ALce
Her style is brilliant and dasling, with q strong in
fusion of archness, and it may not be precpate
opinion to say that she will adorn almost any
character in the range of genteel comedy. Miss
Sara Stephens the Mss Rocket of the evening,
She is q pleasing actress and a manner of naive
shrewdness seems her distinctive trait There is
not Scope and verge" enough in Miss Rocket to |
bring her out to the extent of definite classica-
ton of her place of business.
These were the principal members of the com
pany who had to do with the staple play of last
nights bill, but it will take several performances
to bring out all of Manager Owens strong force.
The play passed off swimmingly, and every point
made was applauded to the echo The curtain
had to be rung up again after its fall to give the
auditory parting coup d'ga of the performers.
and then followed persistently long and loud call
for Manager Owens, the people refusing to be COM
forted until Mr.. Sothern came before the curtain
and stated that Mr.. o. not in the building and
could not respond. The fascinating danseuse con-
tingent, the Misses A. and H. Gale renewed their
professional acquaintance with the New Orleans
public, to the apparent intense satisfaction of the
assemblage. We should not close without mention |
ing the music of the orchestra, over which the
brilliant young musician and composer, Mr.. Carlo
Patti, lourished his baton as presiding leader.
A QUEER CASE OF SoMNAMBULIsM-A young lady, |
residing near Aurora, Indiana, dreamed that two |
entered the house to kill her aunt, whereupon
she arose and ran half mile from the house with
out stopping to dress. She then came back, got
into bed, and appeared to be entirely unconscious
Of her exploit.