New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-31
THE DRAMA.
RIsrORI AT THE FRENCH THEATER.

III was again the pubic privilege, last night,
TO see Madam Rlstor Mdrie Ant0inee Seeing her In
that character the apprecative spectator perfect
historical portrait and great piece of acting Marie
AnoInette was born 1885, and persisted the guotino
In 1793-prematurely old, with suffering at the age Of
thrtyeight years. Her birthplace Vienna Her
parents we're the Austrian monarchs Francis the First
and Maria Theresa She became the wife Of Louis XVI
KING OF France when she only fifteen years age.
she was a good woman and was beautiful accom-
plshed, and charmingly vvaeious. Remembering
these partlcuars-not too familiar, perhaps, to be
here reviyed-One has more definite idea OF thu
historic parsonage whom Ristori has made memorable
upon the stage. In Signor Giaccommetti's drama
the Queen is first introduced at the age Of thiryone The
prologue shows her in her happy loneliness sharing ona
OF the prOudest thrones in the world Three years pass
and the Of revolution has deepened into roar
Danger begins TO invest the Queen and the weight OF
crown is to have oppressed the beautiful womanhoOd
with sentiment Of Two years fit by, and
she is enmeshed with trouble greatly ripper than be-
fore, is more a monarch but a woman too The
rest OF ner experience sharp and sudden Great
woes overwhelm her-he loss Of royal power which is
something's the loss Of husband which terrible aic-
ton; the loss OF children, which fills the cup Of her
anguish Lastly we see her on her march to the guotne
History is closely followed in the current OF the drama To
this play therefore, have the mind saturated with
retaliation OF one OF the most portanand fearful
struggles that have marked the progress OF To
RstOris Marie An0ie is to be brought face to face
there is positive gain here need not be urged Since
must learn from the past art which rcceaes the
Past is blessing to man. But Madam Rston depicts
not the Queen only, but the The spectator Of
her acting in this remarkable character, not only
Majesty the French cOurtiers it, but and fol-
lows subtle and vigorous analysis Of womans nature.
that nature developed under the pressure OF
traordinary experiences Both the great conditions Of
acting, therefore, fulfilled in this persOnatOn Life
| with accuracy. and human
interpreted with equal truth Of detail and power Of
era effect What Marie AntOinee suffered, wife and
mother, Ristori has apprehended and portrayed 5he
made very profound impression when she first played
this part and that impression has only been deepened Ia
the lapse of time. Those who the performance
last highland the house. We are glad TO
say, was entirely flled-saw it TO moro ad-
vantage than ever before. Such genius
that Of Madam Rstor only dwels upon is conceptions
to make them and distinct, vivid and thrill
ling She looked the Queen and che lived It, The identi-
fcaton was perfect Beautiful pure. refined naughty,
affeetionate gracious brave, devoted awful In her
frenzy sublime in her selfabnegauon and heroic death
20 she fingers memory and will nger forever There
was great thrill of enthusiasm in tho house. last
night, from the middle Of the second act down 10 tho
close Of tho tragedy 1t at the end Of act second that
| tho Queen rushes upon the palace balcony and con-
fronts the aroused populace Rstors acting had been
as perfect q superb old cameo, down to this points
and when she sprang forward to crown the truly spen.
did climax OF this act she swept tho audience along
with her in an irresistible tide Of excitement That ex-
element deepened INTO positive acton, when she de-
pcted the parting Of the Queen, fist with her husband
and afterward with the little child. Such acting sub
| jects the feelings to hard strain: It must he
still greater draft upon tho emotional resources OF the
actress But. al know who have seen her act Madam
Ristors bcunteGus hatureher wealth ofieeig and q
reserve powers OF her most remarkable character
tcs All things consplred last evening, TO assist the
effect OF her acting. The admirable scenery was well
worked; the music directed by Mr. Robert StOepel-was
appropriate and effective; and best Of ALL the acting In
the other characters evenly good and in some in
stances superb Mancn and who is one OF the abless
actors this company has seldom played 80 well as he
did last evening as the naughty dogmatc Compile dc
Prorence signor BoLzo again, IA heretofore, tho
very ideal OF the refined, hghminded vaccilang Louis
XVI Glech was the historic embodiment OF Lafdyetk
Butt acted Sdnerre with uncommon vigor OF charac-
tzation and OF rough humOr. II add that the stage
| management displayed q new and very pleasing eff
cency shall agreeably Ill up the catalogue Of merits
that rendered this the best performance yet seen OF
"Mare Antonette" Rson will play again on Thursday
and Friday and at Saturday Matinee.
PANToMIME AT THE CIRCUS
| The new Christmas PantOmime at the Circus
proves charming entertainment. 1t is not too long; IL
is not at al broad and abounds in comic Incidents
Ballet begins t-legs being appropriate In the ring as
where else. Ihls CONSISTS OL thtAO i"iAiSe q"
rament, who first dance and then listen to versned
| PROCLAMATION spoken by their Queen. Her hajestys
yerses are as bad as royal generally ae they
express her august purpose TO befrend couple OF lovers
who-as is usual such casesare determined to We'd In
despite of Paternal opposition ana r, authority:
Of Bagdad." who has daughter whom he
loves passing well and who loves somebody else greas
hero. The Miser is called HGSsan; ana nc mas
hia dau
nteresngls expressed at the outset In dumb show
Action then proceeds and Zea and Omar surprised
In loving confidence by the Misers myrmdOps. over
powered by the latter, Omars position becomes CRITICAL
But the Fairy Queen opportunity to his assistance
aud converts him into Harlequin and the young lady into
OoIiiJe. FoofOo becomes the Oiorn, aud HdSSqn inc
ton Sooner or later this bursting Of chrysas
in all pantomime. IL will be seen that the Miser OF bag
dad" conforms TO the old custom Thus paired tness
personages enter upon their ovia career OF pracues
Jokes and exubeant mischief Many tricks ace eGecuIsd:
some old, some new; all go0d, ana al wen uone. 10
firing of Harlequin from the mortar Is one OF Tue nost
fectye disclosed the htherIo & d @ reco1nt
tricks. They bear seeing better than they "ouo
Doeere which ia managed exceedingly well, and which
has comic effect. For children this Pant0mme Is pos.
readers far too we'll know for the belief that bus
children Of larger growth There was aige huu,enco
present Yesterday afternoon and there should oe large
audience continually The cast OF parts IA 1he roo
mime shoud, by the way be recorded III IS as IVoN LOVE
afterward Corn Mr.. Nat AUSTIN Omar, Mr. r. Rivers;
FdiimG Mr.. T. sagno; Zeiima, Mile Nlro FsE1ahlai
Beside the Christmas PantOmime the present circus en-
erranment includes eight miscellaneous acts OF yaed
and Uncommon merit one OF these IL an extraordinary
Tear OF Juggling performed horseback by MT john
Henry true artist OF his kind, sklful strong, anus
bod and picturesque rider. Mile. Henrietta continues
10 partcpate in the performance, and charms her au
dience by the ease, deoacy and daring hat DenH ia nee
eouostrignisln and make it no less unique tnan IN
sTiriting The Runnelps Family are still here, preseht
inc groups of living statuary at once surprising anu
al MIR ~ III Lester may be seen In an amusing state
OF muscular oontorton aud Little Georgy Ducrow MAJ
he admired and ughed at as he guides MS ponies
tLe ring or drops with funny precipitation oetHoenh
their shaggy names. The city affords many oppore' s
tss Of amusement Just now but IL oilers hone uiOIe
eSune than that which can be found every AFTERNOON