The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-27
Theatrical. in sAe Unised States.

During tho last few weeks the theatrical sea-
SON in the metropolis has boon unusually dull.
Neither In the audiences nor In the pieces pro-
duced ct the regular theatres has there been
observable that vitality which is looked for at
this season Of the year. With the exception Of
the two houses which have abandoned the
legitimate drama for French spectacle and
ballet but few Of them have been covering their
expenses. The success Of these latter, with
their swarms Of nude beauties and gorgeous
scenic effects, seems to have swamped every
other kind Of entertainment bat more espe-
.ci4lly the opera. av.a il
The return Of Ristod 10 the city has changed
somewhat this state Of things. The legitimate
drama il once more in the ascendant With
her appearance comes the consciousness that
the lovers Of true art have been guilty Of shock
ing intidelities. The tinsel divinities at whose
feet they have been worshipping remorsefully
draw back as she comes upon the scene In
the presence of the great tragedienne they feel
that they must seek another atmosphere. And
then, how she is received What enthusiasm,
what an electric interchange Of gratifed feeling
between audience and artist what eagerness
to catch the quivering accents-the evidences
Of uncomfortable emotion which first fall from
her lips! s~:a 4.s~ ,g.'s
Good reason his Madame Ristori to feel all
this. Never before her visit to America has
her genius met with 80 full and generous re-
cognitio1. Her success here has been some
thing wonderful. She commenced her per-
formanccs in New York on the Goth Of Septem-
Der, and in the three months that have since
elapsed there has been paid to her by Mr..
Grau, as her share of the receipts, free of all
expenses, about one hundred inouSaiid dollars.
Q: as is period stated she played between Ms==;
York and Brooklyn forty Eight nights, the rest
of her representations being apportioned be-
tween Boston, Providence, Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Washington. Out Of the metropolis
her success has been as decided, not only as
regards the enthusiasm Of her reception, but
the amount Of the receipts . fact that must be
most gratifying 10 her, inasmuch ~ it marks
the general appreciation in which she is held
by our people. %
II is thousand pities that there is not living,
q Shskspere, an Ariosto or Schiller, to weave
from the events Of our times series Of dramas
suited TO the genius Of this great artist The
occurrences Of the last ten years would have
furnished the materials for dozen such works
Can there be found anything more dramatic,
for example, than the episodes presented by
the Mexican empire under Macmillan What
heroine in history, Mary Queen Of Scots, per-
haps, excepted, offers subject for more
spirited and touching characterization than
the Empress Carlottas Her beauty, talent
and queen like energy, her courageous strug-
giles against French dictation and Mexican
perndy, her stormy interview with Napoleon,
her frenzied appeals to the Pope (the first, per-
haps, who has been subjected to such an
ordea), and her final transfsrence to private
mad house would furnish scope for the finest
effects that can be produced by the pen OF q
dramatic writer Then what chance there
would DO for tho delinsation of character far
exceeding Richelieu in ambitious daring, craft
mess, selEcontrol and reserve-that Of Nspo-
leon! The rest Of the cast could be filed up
with the good natured, uxorious and science
loving Macmillan, the vain and insolent
Bazaine, the mysterious Castelneau, the long
winded Seward, laden down with bis tones of
foreign dispatches, and the mercurial knight
Grant Sherman, with bis diplomatic Ssncho
Panza at his heels. All these would furnish
characters for drama of more intense and
real interest than any that has been presented
on the stage. II Is to be regretted that there
is no writer to be found who could do Justice
TO such piece. Az the main parsonage round
whom its interest centres We certainly know
no artist who could attract for the character
and misforiunes Of the unfortunate Carlotts 50
much admiration and sympathy as the great
actress who now concentrates all the attention
or our play-goers.