New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-12-06
The Varieties.


"PAYABLE on DEMAND'' Tom Taylors new
play, Payable on Demand, - was brought out in
America last night, never having been performed
previously this side of the water though promptly
produced in London, where, as the bill states, it is
now producing great sensation; and we can well
believe it, for, though not . sensation drama in
the Ledger acceptance Of the word, it is drama
to produce sensation. But we question if the
London cast is superior, if equal to that fur
nished in New Orleans, for certainly no man
could surpass Couldock as Reuben Goldsched; and
he can add the character to his starring repertoire
as one in which he may stand unrvalled upon the
American stage.
A brief synopsis Of the plot of this play, which
will take place in the front rank Of the acting
drama, will not be uninteresting. tits founded on
the incidents connected with the rise of the great
banking house of the Rothschilds. When the re-
publican armies Of France entered Frankfort, in
1892, a nobleman, Marquis 81. Cast, (Mr. Copland)
who had fed his country to escape the wrath of
the sans culoaes, and who had sought refuge in
that city, deposited his valuables, large sum of
money, with Reuben Goldsched poor Jew, taking
his receipt. Shortly after this the Marquis is slain,
and Reuben flies the country with his wife and in
by the murderers of the Marquis and compromise
him. There is a desperate conflict between the in
tegrity and the cupidity of the Jew, who wishes to
appropriate the money of the dead man; but the
former triumphs through the arguments of his wife,
Lima, (Miss Charlotte Thompson), and the curtain
falls on the first act the money lender and his wife
in tableau-he kneeling and swearing upon the law
of Moses that he will seek to restore the money to
the Marquis wife and child.
The second act opens in London, twenty years
later, in 1914 Goldsched is then the rich banker,
having speculated with the capital for which he
has been unable to find the heirs. 1t is his daugh
ters birthday, and he has left his office to spend
it with her, though very crisis in stocks is raging
in consequence of the war between the Allies and
Napoleon Constant dispatches of the state of the
market and its alarming features come to him from
his clerks and brokers on Change, and all his for.
tunes are impe-ed by the fearful decline in stocks
and the tottering condition Of the houses with
which he is involved. But he stakes all on the
hazard, and will not sell, resolving to hold on to
the last penny. The action of the play in this act
is strikingly like the staple portion of " Rchelieu,"
and Godsched is another Cardinal.
1t is his daughter Liaa's (Miss Thompson) birth
day, and her French sicteacher, Mons. Victor,
(SIr. Copland,) with whom she has fallen in love,
calls in to bring her boquet, and she shows him
desk which her father had bought her fer birth
day present from an old curiosity dealer. He
recognizes the desk as one which belonged to his
father, (whom he tells her was the Marquis ST. Cast)
by his mothers portrait on it. He tells her of
secret drawer. Her father comes in and she shows
him the hidden receptacle, which he opens, and
there finds the receipt he had given many years
before to the Marquis for the two hundred thousand
thalers. He resolves to make restitution of the
sum, Though his financial operations are at a
crisis, when its withdrawal would cause his ruin.
He restores it to Victor, who acknowledges his
right to the and title of St. Cast and tenders
the money to Goldsched to use, after having been
promised Lina's hand. The money is dispatched to
his broker, and almost at the same moment mes
sengAr rushes in with the news that the Allies are
in Paris-and Reuben Goldsched is millionaire,
his speculatons based upon such issue making him
SO.
Mr.. Couldock played Rue5en Goldsched most
powerfully and effectively. 1t is an elaborate and
difficult character, but he is its complete master.
His performance of it is study for the critical.
He is great in it. Miss Charlotte Thompson is fine
as both Linds, but particularly as Lima the poor
Jews Christian wife. Her performance of this
part of the "part" could scarcely be improved.
The other characters, which are of minor import
ance, were generally well done. The play de-
serves and will have, run.
ST. CHARLES THEATER-Last night Mr. Barry
Sullivan was greeted and intently listened to by
one of the largest audiences Of the season at this
theater. His Hamlet, to which we will refer on
another occasion, was, as whole, a very fine piece
of character impersonation, often flashing with
brilliant points that met general approval.
PAINTING OF THE CRUCIFIXIoN.-This work of
art, now on exhibition at Odd Fellows Hall, will
be very soon removed, and those who wish to see
it have little time left.
HACKMEN's UNITED AssoCIATIoN.-Notce is given
through our columns that the monthly meeting of
the Association will be held tomorrow evening.
WASHINGTON FIRE Co. No. 2O.-The names of
the officers elected at the annual meeting, held
on Sunday, are published in another column. Also,
those Of the delegates TO the Firemens Charitable
Association.
TIN CIRCUS AT THE AMFHITHEArER-The circus
was opened last night and before the performance
commenced every seat was full-the best criticism
or notice that the worthy managers and propri-
etors could desire.
THE V4RIETIEs.-To Taylor's great play, +" Pay
able on Demand" will be repeated tonight with
the same cast, followed by dance by the Misses
Gale, and the entertainment will conclude with
Harlwickcs comic drama, 's A Bachelor of Arts"
with Messrs. Sothern, Chapman, Miss Stephens and