The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-14
RIS TORI.


The Marie stuart Matinee.
R,storis first matinee IN New Yosk . grs~A s1c-
cess Tho little French theatre was filled yesterday
forenoon 10 its utmost oaparty 70 witness marie
Stuart" Even the prosoenium boxes were crowded;
and though tho audience iess fash lonabiy
dressed than II the evening representations, Il
was, nevertheless, spprecisnvs and critical
noticeable feature was the large foreign element
present Books Of the words comparatively few
and far between and the rusting turning
leaves was seldom heard sufficiently annoy
II Is hard 70 got up enthusiasm theatre In the day
time. Morning. audiences always cooler aud more
PHI egmatic than evening audiences There Is sort Of
owisn atmosphere about matinee. You have neither
gasght good honest daylight but something between
the two which perplexing and somewhat depressing
in It's effect The nrst two acts which Risor has little
70 say ordo passed on With quetude amounting almost
70 apathy but in the third act where Queen Elizabeth
losing her way In the chase conducted Fothcrngay
By Leicester and Talbot and there encounters the
happy Queen or Scots, Ristori's magnificent acting
swept away the barrier OF and called forth
tumultuous applause The ice once broken the sym
psthies and attention Of the audience
again lost, and the drop curtain finally fell upon per-
feet ovation. The management acted wisely in the
drst instance in placing Ristoris Mario Stuart
before tho American public previous 10 her
Elizabeth. They showed equal judgment yesterday
in giving preference to this former play in their
FIRST matinee. and reservine Ensbeth for the second
The two pieces dramatised by different hands, clash
together Elizabeth may follow Marie Stuart hut Marie
Stuart following Elizabeth apt suggest unavorab
comparisons. II is dsparagemcnt 10 Sgnora Coffin
who, in Marie Stuart enacs the part OF the Virgin
Queen 10 say that Elizabeth contyasts unfavoraby
with that OF Adelaide Rs,or Unfortunately the play
Is 80 constructed that Elizabeth lls almost rromi-
nent place a. tho unhappy Scottish Qneeo. Two
Ristoris required do the subject justiee-at
any rate 70 those who have n recollection OF
Ristori's conception before their minds eye There
curious Inconsistencies between the two pieces In
Elizabeth Of England, tho Queen signs Mary stusr,s
death warrant alone in her chamber leaves II the
table, and her secretary seong it there takes and
bures it execution against Ezabeth's wish
she subsequently protests In Mary stuart the death
warrant u signed in formal couael and is handed
by the Queen urlegh and Leicester be- carried into
effect The historical anachronsns which amuse
in Elizabeth almost equslcd in Mary
Stuart. Tho Dean OF Peterborough and every
who did take ieadiny part in the
closing OF the life OF that fair aud most
unfortunate Of soveregns conspcuou-iy absent in
the play and almost every who not there is
introduced into the scene The Queen represented
nnding her way from London ro,hcrngay Castle in
the OF days hunt which considering that the
distance between these two points a. least hundred
and f,y miles says much for the endurance Of herself
and her stced. But these, aftcr all. minor
matters They might be Of moment II either piece
put forward historically accurate; bat. this l. no,
80. they quickly pass out OF sight The audience
yesterday TO Rstor not TO study history. la
the pathetic watch end the play the whole house
stirred with deep emotion Risoris fcrvor seemed
to inspire each and all OF her associates ana nner
tsblrau than tbs closing scsue could scarcely be
imagined.
The cast thu same In previous rspresents'soss
already criticised the HssALo R,stori admirably
sustained throughout.