Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-10-08
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC ART.

WIFI RItbb anu Nut bCtutTy, DrODeTt1e9
and appointments were in keeping with the
establishment and the intention of the au-
thoress
The tragedy is not the best of Mrs. Bate
mans productions, and yet contains many
passages and situations that are admirable.
In the first act "David of Ruthinr curses the
house of Chester during banquet, anG the
curtain falls on q very affective tableaux.
The second introduces "Anselmo,n a prior,
upon whom the entire play thereafter de-
pends; for he is its moving spirit, and the
interest he arouses is kept up unfailinp to
the end. This is probably owing to the man
ner in which it was represented by Mr..
Sheridan, who deserves great credit for his
life-like and altogether admirable imperson-
alton.
The next two acts are devoted to the de-
velopment of the plot of the prior against
Geraldine" and edith" and the return of
the crusader, "Hubert," the affianced hus-
band of the eldest daughter of the house of
Chester. During his absence the girl he
loved had bloomed into womanhood, and,
through disease supposed to have origin
ated in the curse of the bard, became de-
formed without her knowledge, which can
not be regarded otherwise than as altogether
improbable.
Edith" falls in love with "Hubert," her
sisters husband, and the prior uses this fact
to rouse the anger of Geraldine" who de-
termines to slay the gentle girl to whom she
has been both mother and sister. The scene
between edith" and "Geraldine," in the
last act, is quite effective and ends. as it
should, in the death of the latter, by poison,
while the former is saved from the dagger
by her protestations of innocence, and the
confidence with which she inspires the
would-be sororicide.
Thus the revenge of "Anselmo," who
proves to be son of "Dayid, the Bard,n is
prevented, and Edith" and Hubert" are
united by the very act that he supposed
would have caused the destruction of the
last remaining member of the family of
Chester. The play has some characters
and dialogues that have no true place save
to occupy time, as they might be omitted
without marring its completeness.
1t was well cast, and every part, with one
or two exceptions, was in capable hands.
With the aid of appropriate even magnif-
cent, scenery, splendid appointments and
clever impersonationS of most of the princi-
pal characters, the play nightly passed off
agreeably and was loudly applauded. Mr.
Pike deserves the highest praise for the man.
ner in which the tragedy was produced, and
the entire affair reflects creditably upon his
taste and liberality as a manager.
This evening EUdngeLine, dramatized from
presented, with Miss Bateman in the title role.
That she will look the character of the gentle
"Acadian Maiden" no one can doubt; that
the drama will be well mounted we will
venture to aver; but whether the beautiful
simplicity of "Evangeline" will be faithfully
represented, or whether the poem is capable
of being transferred into play, remains to
be seen. Miss B. has already made a num-
Der of warm friends in this city, and these
oddad IN tho o1u,traro .NF
doubt not, will fill the house during its per-
formance.
NATIONAL THEATER.-Some months ago,
we stated that we knew of no American
actress who had been endowed by nature
with so many qualifications for success in
the profession she had chosen as Jane
Coombs. She has fine figure, an excellent
face, a full, strong, powerful voice, and an
innate gracefulness in her movements that
can not be acquired. She has an apprecia-
tion of the author which gives evidence Of
her intellectual capabilities, and an appar-
emily intuitive insight into human nature
which renders it possible for her to portray
vividly the most delicate shades of passion,
or the strongest feelings of the heart.
Nevertheless, she is not great actress.
Her great fault in the use of her voice, which
has an extensive range, and is sweet and
AhuSiSpA AlOLl lto lOWOoO W lbS hlRuCSJ uOJt,
and yet she distorts by a popularity of in
Election and intonation that renders it, at
times, positively disagreeabe. This appears
to be the effect of erroneous indulgence, and
is, therefore, simply habit, which she might
abandon at any moment, if after having be-
come aware of its existence, she but de-
termined to remedy it.
She plays with spirit and care; pays con-
siderable attention to detail and minutia,
and evidently prefers naturalness to affecta-
ton; art, to artifciality, Her impersona-
tion of Constance" in The LoUe Chase, is
one of the best we remember to have seen;
and although we dislike the character, re-
garding it as extremely indelicate and unre-
fined, we nevertheless could not faii to ad-
mire the truthfulness with which she repre-.
sented it. She will appear every evening
during the week, and we heartily advise
those who have not seen her to embrace this
opportunity at once.
WooD's THEATRR. The Zanfretta and
Siegrist Ballet and Pantomime Troupe have
been doing fair business during the past
week at this establishment, and they emi-
nently deserve to be seen by all lovers OF
amusement of this kind. Marietta Zanfretta
performs some muscular miracles on the
tight-rope, while the gymnastic feats of the
Siegrist brothers are really marvellous.
They stand on each others heads, hands and
feet, and each uses his brothers skill to show
his own.
The ballet is not quite as good as it might
be; but it has one or two members whose
faces will compensate for their lack of skill
in dancing, and whose voluptuous figures
would cause most persons to forget the fact
that they belong to the ballet.
The troupe will appear, this evening, in a
series of performances, including q military
exercise on the tight-rope, by Marietta Zan-
fretta, and the wonderful teats of the Three
Depils, the programme concluding with the
comic pantomime of The Brigand Chief.
and really wonderful exhibition is still al
Smith Nixon's Hall, and may be seen
every evening during the week. Under the
management of Mr.. ]. @. Guest, it has been
doing fine business, which, we doubt not
will continue. AS work of art it possesses
considerable merit, and deserves to be wit
messed by all who delight in the triumphs OF
mechanism.
NEW YoRK.-A new three-act drama,
founded on one of Carleton's charming tales
in his Traits and Sketches of the irish
Peasantry, has been produced at Laura
Keene's. The title given to it by its adopter
is Ailssn ArooH, or the Lady Of Gldnmire.
The following is a resume of the plot and
incidents:
''AileeD," miss Laura Keene) has loved young
doctor named "Philip Warner mir. Leyiok but,
in the usual OF true love- has failed to marry
him .GOImaD Baradan (Mr. Daly( having rescued
her father from difficulties proposes for her hand and
mark of her gratitude she becomes his wife with
out intensely reeprocating his affection. On the
day Of their wedding, while they are staying at an