New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-20
ROMEO AND JULIET, At THE WINTER
GARDEN.

yoHug lady novice cerain hattering promises of an
easily won that are ofcn potent in influencing
her selection Of this loveiorn heroine the subject Of
hen rst Listrionic essay. Every charm of tace and
every grace of shown TO the best advantage
and those qualities of high breeding acquired by life
of intimacy with social circle Of intelligence and
inement have nowhere the stage more telling Elf
cheney than when brought aid the perfect delneaon
OF the ligh-born Italian beauty.
In the first act Oh the play, Juliet, having but a
dozen lines to speak, and those the meres common
places has ample opportunity to recover from the aGi
ton which the vociferous reception of enthusiastic
friends is certain to create aud TO become accustomed
TO the novelty OF the situation and rally all her STRENGTH
and sefpossession, before the exgencies Of the play
make serious demand upon her powers The progress
of interest is very gradual and the intensity of the
passion increases slowly and the actress has time to
become somewhat familiar with the audience the foot
lights ard the business Of the scene, before she needs
10 phi forth her powers in a grand effort. Spite Of
hese advantages Juliet has that task the best
abiltef of the tragic actress; and though unques
ionably is grand triumph for untried person TO
make great success in Juliet yet if she fails to grasp
at once the brightest laurels of the stage, her short
comings are much more apparent than If she had
been content with honors not brilliant, but which
could have been won with efforts far ess trying.
Tie arrow aimed at the sun will not be likely to
strike that useful uminary, but it will certainly fly
higher than if al OBJECT the Earth had been the
target and the lady vino last night appeared az Juliet,
though MOI giving the most thoroughly satisfactory
personaton of that hasy heroine have ever seen,
has nevertheless more nearly approached great sue
GEES tlan she would have been likely soon to do had
she attempted less pretentious part. Her friends
were satisfied with her efforts and testified their salts
faction by repeated calls before the curtain and by
| profuse applause.
| The lady's NAME as already announced in these
columns, is MssAnny Dnsmore and she is the adopted
daughter of Mr. Ellot the Oculist. Not immature
in years that the future will bring her many added
charms Of % rson she is in the full vgor of phyical
gIaces and Of mental strength. She Is % years old,
or thereabouis, with face of much beauty and in
teigenCe, an expressive eye, and voice not power
| full bur sineuary musical. In the words of the
! text she was perfect, and her readings are all
| sensible and good. In the business of the
! stage she was as easy any inexperienced
reison can be- and she has evidently abored long and
endeavoled to qualify herself for her last nights under
taking. She was much frightened, and seemed unable
10 thoroughly REGAIN her sehpo-session at any time
| during the play. Her engaging appearance however
her evident appreciation OF the text and excellent I'M
derstaud;ng of the fullest meaning Of the author and
that kind consideration always granted lady under
similar circumstances won fOf 1er full ll- suros o
applause. thai strict criticism Of the performance
might possibly fail to justify.
Upbor1e on the paud1 of a theater full OF enthusi-
agtic ard irtoreed friends Miss Diusmore has tri-
mlLautly passed the terrible ordeal Of first night
Lut vi en- that dclusive support is Withdrawn we APP
rrchend her hstIionc victories will be less easily Won
Ii is ever a most unwecome duty 20 damphe aspira-
| tons Of Young ambition, but we believe tina, in all
e.; O. Ike this it is best for the profession, for the
lady. ard il her rends that the honest truth be told
! in al kindness, ard with all genleness consistent
| with plainspcakng and delicate sub
| iect Without desiring to criticise, we merely
| state fact, when we ray that Miss Dinsmore s
voice though exered last night to its utmost sraiu,
ws for many whole scenes neatly naudible ia the re-
noteY paris of the house. Though she has many ul-
| questioned graces Of mind and person that would
ado Inc profession in which she aspires to shine, we
doubt if Sic has call TO the stage sufficiently mpert-
i've 10 Justify the sacrifice of other and more dorestc
| ioys If as is minated, che stimulated to her
elton by pure love Of she the better hear the
mwelcomc truth that her fine appreciation OF dramatic
clala,tcr outruns her individual abilities OF dramatic
4
| perf,na:,on.
| Itis with full remembrance Of all the allowance
due lady and all the considerable overlooking OF al Is
ne Shortcomings novice always claims, that we sub
| mi, our unwilling opinion, that Miss Dinsmore will
not speedily attain the power of forcby representing
tie leading herones of the DRAMA The stage will not
lose 20 much as society i'll gain should she decline to
remain in ornament in which she may 10. shine as
| brightly as the brightest.
| Mr. Edwin Booth was the Romeo of the evening,
and lie gave a mort beautiful reading Of the part The
ii.h act was e.I eciay good and the dying was
| grand We have never heard Mr. Booths equal in
donetiDgtLe throes of physical anguish, and all his
dc aih-scenes are consequently terribly effective. His
remarkably graceful carriage and manner stand him IN
good stead in Romeo and his appearance and bearing
are emiueuty Characteristic of the noble romantic
lover The entire personaon was very fine and salts
fvinq being AIRED only by the fault Of Mr.. Booths
,ccuion which destroys the beautHof many of his
| finest
There are certain rapid transitions in his tones that
are unpleasant and at times he raises his voice into
soft seni-,in.in ing tone, which gradually degeneraes
INTO a shining cadence that is eminently unnatural
al If is thoroughly disagreeabe. 1t Is tone so easily
guarded against that Mr. Booth does himself great in
ju.ce and lis admirers positive wrong 10 not Grad
cang fault that often ruins the finest passages he
speaks.
OF Tie rest Of the company there is little to remark,
rave 10 again remind Mr.. Dyou and Mrs. ArchbolC
that lie person who says for tutor, "ehewtor for due
"iew;" for Duke, "juke' commits lingual vulgaF
SIN tia, would be mercilesly laughed at in private
lie, and that ought TO be mercilessly ridcued on
he stage.
| A..s...snsn1s.s@ess--.
| ROdPD or EDTGiTION.