New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-12-31
aDoT.n

OF all the sweet life pictures which have trick
led from the master pen of Charles Dickens, and
which have become traditional in the hearts of
the people on both sides of the ocean, nay, all
sides of the world none has certainly ever been pro
duced on the stage with more exquisite fidelity than
that Of "Dot," or the " Cricket on the HEARTH
which is this week the card at the Varieties The
ater. We have seen it several times, and have re-
ferred to it in proper terms; but it fascnates,
rather than pals, upon repetition, we cannot for
bear speaking of it again. and in terms to which its
great merit entities it.
As scenic picture, displaying the resources Of
the Varieties in that branch of theatrical effect,
"Dot " has certainly never been surpassed, if at
all equaled Whilst the paintings are perfect
and beautiful tasteful and elegant without being
gaudy or unnatural, the machinery includes some
new ideas, by which the transformations are ef-
fected in a manner harmonious with the spirit Of
the play and therefore to afford the heart
lest qualification to the spectator. The fairy dell
in the outset, with its trplicate vision Of the ship
at sea, the cottage on the hill and the freside
scene in Dots cottage; the transformation from
the forest to the interior Of Dots cottage the win
ter scene in the village and the gradual disappear
ance of old Caleb's cottage; and the transforma-
| ton and fairy tableau at the end, are severally
exquiste-all that could be needed for any dramatic
| representation. H..
And now, te the drama itself: the exquisite ad-
mixture of hamor and pathos which make up the
humble-life Christmas story of "The Cricket on
| the HEARTH The drdmdtis rei'song are suited to
their several parts, and good without solitary ex-
| ception. There is not " stick in the crowd, to
mar the representation with blunders other stu
| pidity. So far from this, all are excellent, and
| many of them capital. What, for instance, could
| exceed the rough and bluff but good-hearted man.
illness Of Couldocks Per,ybiagle the yivacity and
| sweetness of Miss Thompson as Perrybingles wife,
| the happy little Dot; the vigorous drollery and
comcal effect of Miss Marshall's stupid TIly Slo,c-
boy; John Owens as the affectionate and halfm-
beetle old toy-maker, Pl,mumer; or keffingwell as
the villan the horrible ogre of the piece, Tackle.
ton' Each of these presentations is picture in
itself; together, they form such scenes and pro-
duce such effects as are not common on the Amer
lean stage.
We have said that all the characters are well
portrayed; and this is so. Miss Sara Stevens as
the blind girl Bertha Miss Couldeck as Mary
Fielding, Mrs Chapman as the Widoo Fielding
Mr.. Lingard as DOTS father, and Mr.. COPELAND as
the young sailor Ed,ra,1l Pl,u1,1ner, are the fine
nishings of the pictures, appearing neither better
nor worse than they ought to be- The fairy scenes
| introducing the Misses Gale, Mrs. Seymour, and
the other ladies of the company not engaged in the
drama, could not be more charmingly rendered
They give fine Christmas set-off to the portrait
ure of one of Dickens happest Christmas fancies.
Should any one be tempted to accuse us of over
enthusiasm in regard to this dot" the latest and
greatest of dramatic trumphs at the Varieties, we
say to him, go and the piece, experience the
pleasure of it, and afterward judge of us. If he
goes, he will see an audience composed of our
citys fashion and intellect, in an unanimous ecs
tacy Of merriment and enthusiasm, throughout the
whole of the three acts !; and if he be not cur
mudgeon or an idiot, he will himself become satu
rated with the sweetness Of the representation
and will succumb as readily as the rest to its diff
ferent turns of humor and pathos.