New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-24
pLSTnRrS RENEFIT.

The best audience, both for character aad numbers,
that we have seen in the French Theatre, W"
assembled to say farewell to Madame Ristor on the
occasion of her last evening-pertormanos
in this city before leaving for Philadelphs,
Baltimore and Washington. Ristori played
" Medea," and sfterward gave the sleep
waking scene in Macbeth" Respecting her
"Medea, we have nothing to add to what we said
about that performance after seeing 1t Tor the nrss
time. 1t is part peculiarly suited TO her powers
and must rank as her third best personationi hnzs
beth being the first, and Mary stuart tne Sec0hd.
There are portions of "Medeap which are as full oil
power and passion anything Ristor does and there
Is a wild and sumptuous magnhcence about many OF
her attitudes and gestures such as we nave never seen
and never expect to see approached Dy any onet ac
tress The tenderness OF her parting with the cndren
ia 40 deem and true that it is impossible not to be-
moved By IL; it is simple nature, unadorneds without
a trace of exaggeration or entimentality-equalT
true to human nature and to the character OF Medea
passage too to be forgotten ls that Wnere sns
Describes 10 Creusa what she will DO if she meets with
the object of her jealousy. All the panther IA the
nature Of this barbarian sorceress comes out IN IT'S tu
bloodthirstness as she tears the imaginary victim OF
her fury limb from limb, her eyes burn IKE coais
of fire. her cheeks grow livid, her lips cari
back from her teeth in a white horror, ana shs
seems TO lap Creusa's blood with delinous JOY.
But all this tumul Of passion, all this deep and ender
feeling are expressed without once violating IN inc
slightest degree the beautiful modesty oil nature.
There is no rantlng no stage suut no BasPinR not
tuning; fine restraint touches all the movement
of the body, and every gesture with Its charm.
and when rage aud Jealousy love and terror shake tbs
soul of this wild woman with their fury, we are borne
along unressting and unconscious, swept by the aw-
full silence of the storm. Would that Riston were
ALWAYS SO great; would that she never were tempted
TO assume parts for which she is unsulted In cer
tain field she ia greats but that field, though splendid,
Is limited and she unnecessarily Injuries her fame
when she steps beyond it.
Madame Ristori was most warmly and enthusiastic
calv received last night. Tine audience for once were
fairly walked up and seemed to have dim conscious
ness that they were seeing something memorable. IL
is profoundly to be regretted that Rstor is not better
supported, especially by those characters who are
brou ght into intimate relations with her part. Mr..
Carboni is insufferable as rule but his Jason Is
intolerable and not to be endured.
We must again praise the acting Of the little Iy-
caon; many of his elders might take lesson from his
natural and simple personation.
At the conclusion of the performance, Madame KS
tori was called before the curtain and made the toi-
lowing speech of thanks in English:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IL makes me sad 10 say adeu 20
New. York and you wonder leave friends 70 go "
sranges give up sympathy to meet perhaps indersnos
But consolation that will see you soon ssau