New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-19
The Theaters.
DEBUT OF MISS LACoSTE.

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wishes-and one, we may add, which might well have
been sparcdwas afforded at the Academy of Music on
Saturday evening. The occasion that OF the dtbu
Of theatrical novice IL had been beradedby extraya
CANT promises and it witnessed with corresponding
disappointment Miss Lacoste is not as was announced
Tho mos, faultess reader o. tho English language
neither did she cyince the possession OF extraordinary
talents Yet possesses several OF the qualities and
faculties essential TO upon the stage Her figure
is fine; her face handsome and expressive ervoce
sweet her bearing despite the occasional awkwadnesS
Of inexpcrience is both dignded and graceful. She
/ IT, moreover manifestly quick and intelligent stu
dent. aud a worker. likely 10 press onward with
the energy OF a selireant character. On tho other
hand her porsonaton Of Vrginia-tLe play being Vir
gina Of Rome" and serving up, in new form, the
old Roman story that has been made familiar by
Knowles "yirgnius' and Macaulays Ballsd-ey1ced
neither Imagination sensibity, ripeness Of intel
lcct. From her first appearance. at the commence
ment Of he FIRST act until her DEATH at the end Of the
6fth the Virginia OF Miss Lacose was equable and
urruled as her own statucie which adorned the vest
bule OF the Academy Perfect In the text, and mindful
Of her schooling every point, she went through the
business Of the part with the precision OF chronom
cter. Nothing disturbed her sweet serenity nor dis
I fN"f
Of her lover scas the insulting proposals cl Appias
Claudius even the knife OF Virginius whereby she was
finally dispatched failed 10 inspire her with thrill Of
natural emotion She became vehement. indeed. at times.
and at times tookion the aspect OF But these
charges Ike her infections Of voice were plainly
,honical and naitcr.ofcOurso. Who lives by rule -
saws an ol poet keeps good company Rule herein has
u, uses But who acts by rule though he may attain
oorrectues. viii always be- merely tedious. Miss La
cose an Illustration Of this truth She is victim 10
eocu,on when she utters The word hiss she
Kisses When she SAWS high her tone rises; when
she SAYS low II falls. These PRACTICES may perhaps.
be in accordance with the princrles of eocuton but
they are not in accordance with nature. Moreover TO
think too much Of manner forget the value Of sub
stance. In assuming TO Ilay Virginia, Miss Lacoste
undertook 10 do far than TO decaim number of
srccches in blank verse. She undertook to deneate
the heart .rcndlng grief OF acc0nae young girl,
whose lover * snatchcd iIom her side. by violent
DEATH almost al the nuptal altar; the fiery pride aad
the whitening Of chastity which Is nsulted by
loaihsome animal passion the solemn dignity ard holy
sorrow Of lie that is Dedicated TO the memory OF
lost love: and finally the submity OF the souls ri-
umph over the body. when death is sought as refuge
from dshonor. These are not common emotions.
nor easy OF adequate portrayal. Miss Laeoste
did not for a moment suggest that she understood them
at all Hence We inferred The lack of Imagination and
sensibliiy Turipcncss Of intellect evinced in
many ways. But linecr too long upon painful
topic We have spoken seriously. despite very strong
temptation to present the udcrous sidc OF the subject
How udicrous that was win only be appreciated by
those who were present at The Academy on Saturday
evening One good result may chance to follow. Miss
acoste will not have played IN vain If she learns-and
IT, from her experience. the lesson is commended to
other ambitious noyicesthat there is royal road to
success in the dramatic art. IL is recorded that Mi
nerya sprang full statnred and armed from the brain OF
Joye bat ihee j. no authenticated instance Of repe
tion Of that phenomenon. rs Longielow writes:
we have not wings: We cannot soar,
Eut We have feet whereby to climb
By slow degtces, b. more and more,
The cloudy sumniIs of our time
4 word rs 70 the play of Virginia Of Rome will
be appropriate here. II constructed 50 as to afford
excellent opportunities the effective exhibition of
the central character. and il written IN smooth and
melodious blank verse. Its basis is translation of
that French tragedy in which Rachel was wont TO
enact Virginia, II reads however, better than it nets.
Several OF tie speeches singuary poetic. But the
topic. which is intensely disagrecabc, acquires no
grace from the treatment There is one scene wherein
Virginia is actually made argue with Appius Claud
Infamous proposals. The American adaptcr, Mr..
saac {. Pray not however. responsible for the incl
dents The blank verse alone Is his. and that is un'
usually good Mr.. Pray appeared on the occasion
named and enacted the part OF Nirgnius His style oi
acting is old. fashioned and smacks Of the artificial
school Of Kembe. He fought brayey against the tram
lnels Of eocuton however and. though out OF prac-
tice, interpreted the part with dignity and feeling.
Mr. j. j. Prior appeared as Claudius. ana acted the
part with the cool precision Of practsed performer
The rest Of the players attracted no especial attention.
SAFE By their awkwardness. The audience was com
paratiyey large. and though critical. displayed re-
fnarkabe patience and good nature. under circum'
siaDces strongly provocative of emphatic merriment
THE NEW YORK CIRCUS.
The entertainment which is nightly offered
at ths establishment offered, too at Matinees. on
Weduesduys and Saurdays--is almost the only one in
the city with which there is possibility OF reasonably
finding fault Genunencss is t. leading Characteristic
That which Is promised Is always performed. The
PLACE too is pleasant, well lighted. well ventilated
aud well managed. A more delightful resort Tor
children could not easily le devised. Twelve acts
sttute the programme OF each performance; yet 40
various The incidents and rapid Is the execution,
that can SIT throughout tho entire entertainment
without being wearicd. We attended the Matinee on