Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-07
RisfnrI nj Hnme.

The presence of Madame Ristori III
Boston has caused the Advertiser to re-
fer to Mr.. William V. Story's "Robe
di Roma" which was published some
years since In the Atlantic Monthly, and
which cantains some pleasant gossip
about the great Italian actress. MIR.
Story says that Ristori made herself q
great favorite among the Romans, al
the Teatro Vale at Rome, long before
she lett Italy to win European fame.
"Many and many time in 1S48 and
1849" says the author, have l seen
her act on the boards of this theatre.
Her , ole then was principally III comedy
in which she was more admirable than
In tragedy, and in such parts as the Lo-
candiera OF Goldoni she had no equal.
At this periol, too, / remember with
special delight her acting In the char
acter of EIDaiTe in Moliere's "Tartuffe. !"
Indeed, the company to which sue was
attached performed this play with a
perfection L never again expect to see
and, after which, the traditional acting
of it at the Theatre Francois, good as it
was, was a disappointment"
MIR. Story also makes a comparison
between RlstoIi and Rachel-or, rather
attempts TO define the different STYLES
of the two actresses, and show why in
his opinion they cannot be compared
and makes the following criticism :
" Ristori, at this time, was in the
very flower of her youth, and q more
beautiful person one could not easily
see, not even in Italy. 1t was not until
she had become little paSss for LOGAN
diera that she took to tragedy and made
her visit to France. Since then her
whole style has changed, and she doe
not please the Romans so much as in
her earlier days. She is now more
stately, elaborate and calculated In her
art then she was more simple, natural
aud impulsive. She has been within
the circle of Rachel, and has felt her in
fuence, though she is in nowise her
imitator. Comedy she rarely plays
but in tragedy she is a great actress
greater than she could have been 10
those carrier days, One is always
tempted to compare her with Rachel,
but they are very different in their pow
ers. Rachel was a Lamid "a serpent
woman, and her greatues was in the
representation of wicked and devihsh
passions. Love and tenderness were
beyond her faculties but rage, revenge
and demoniac emotions she expressed
with unequaled power. In scenesIof great
excitement that pale slender figure
writhed like a serpent ; and the thin
arm and hand seemed to crawl along
] her rich draperies and almost hiss, sc
subtle and wonderfully expressive was
its movement. What face and figure
she had, capable of expressing ali thu
venom of the characters she loved tc
play RistOri, on the contrary, excel:
in the representation of the more WON
anly and gentle qualities. Her acting
is more of the heart-love, sorrow
noble indignation, passionate desire
heroic fortitude, she expressed admir-
ably. In the terrible parts OF Myrrhs
and Medea an infinite grief possess her
The horror of the deed is obseured by
the pathos of the acting and the exigen
Giles of the circumstances. Rache
seemed to Joy in the doing of horrible
acts Ristori to be driven to them by
violent impulses beyond her power t.
control. Her Medea is as affecting al
it is terrible her Judith, so heroic anC
inspired, that you forget her deed il
the self-sacrifice and love of country
which prompted it. Bravely as she car
ries herself, there is always an under
current Of won saly repulsion which SD,
Is forced TO overcome by resolution.