The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-20
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.


lively little actress now performing at the Arch
should be popular She is so pretty and childish
ooking, so vivacious, so kittenish in all her
ways, that she carries the sympathies of her
audience with her. in spite of the fact that her
capers cannot properly be considered as acting
In any ackno wledged sense Of the word. Lotta's
strong point is kicking her heels, and when she
kicks her heels she always brings down the
house. What would be vulgar in another actress
Is in her case laughabie and amusing; she caa
smoke q cigar, play on the banjo, beat the drum,
dance breakdown, sing little, aud is proficient
In divers other accomplishments too numerous
TO mention, but when it comes to stamping one
of her red-laced boots the stage with an air o.
command or defiance, or cutting pigeon wing,
which she does some dozen or two times, more
or less, in every act, she is in her glory ant
her audience is happy. The question might
rea' onably be asked, Why should this gay,
dashing little woman trouble herself about art,
when she Is sure of pleasing the public and fill.
ing the theatre night after night with the non
sensical antics she is such perfect mistress of?
And yet we would like to see Lotta seriously
attempt come good part, and play it as well as
she Is able for we believe that she has capabih
ties which as yet aIe undeveloped, aud we do
not believe that her popularity would be dimin
ished In the least If she would endeavor to do
something really artistic.
Mr.. Edmund Falconer's drama of Firefy
which was produced last night, is an adaptation
of "Ouida's" novel of under Two Flags" AMI
we have sufficiently characterized it when we
say that the play is every way as ABSURD as the
story. The dramatIst, however, has accom-
plIshed his object in giving Lotta part In
which she has ample opportunities TO show off
her peculiar fasciDations, and which keeps her
almost constantly before the audience. The plot
is very slight, and not very important, although
the dramatist has managed to stretch out to Eve
acts what might easily have been told in three
at the most. An English gentleman of noble
family, Harold Cecil" is uniustly suspected of
the crime of forgery aud to escape from isgrace
he leaves his own country and goes to Algers,
where he enlsts as a private in the French
army. For some reason, not clearly explained,
he manages TO incur the hatred OF the colonel of
his regiment and he also wins the
affections of "Fire fly" the vivandiere.
Harold" however, loves noble English
lady, who discovers him in his disguise, and as
she reciprocates his affection, the poor little
vivandiere, OF course, is in a very bad way about
1t. "Haroldn falls into trap set for him by the
"Colonel," and is sentenced to be shot for
breach of discipline; aud "Fire.fy" exerts
himself to save him and obtains pardon. She
arrives with the important document just as
"Harold" Is about to be executed, and throw
herself between him and the muskets levelled at
his breast. She receives the bullets in her own
heart, and dies at his feet. This tragic ending,
to our mind, spoils the piece, and we think it
would be more satisfactory, and every way as
effective, if "Fire-hy" could be permitted to save
her own life and her friends, too, by very
aI;~ T.. nvo
The play, in spite of its faults, is lively, with
plenty of action aud any amount of broadsword
combats, musketry discharges, and other ex-
citing incidents of like character. Some of the
tableaux are very effective, and as it is well
acted and well placed upon the stage 1t goes off
with much spirit and amid the heartiest applause.
The house was Gro Wded TO its utmost capacity
last evening, and the performance was decided
success, inasmuch as everybo seemed pleased.
Iotta's performance did not present any new
features, and as 'Fire-Ay" she was essentially
the same as she is in everything else. In the
sentimental passages she did not appear to the
same advantage as she did in those where she
could give free rein TO her spirit of fun and
frolic lust as her "Lttle Nell" is inferior to
her I'M Marchioness." The last named she could
make a really fine part If she would study
Dickens, try to act 1t, and try to forget Lolita.
Tn at she will do this, and endeavcr to made an
artist of herself, we doubt; but we do not doubt
that she would advance her reputation thereby,
and make her performances every way more
worthy of applause. The el6sh creation Of
Dickens is in every way suited to her abilities,
and 1t is worthy of her best efforts. Mr..
Broughams dramatization, however, is not the
best that might be made, and not the least Of
its faults is that it encourages rather than
restrains, Lottas extravagances. We feel
sincere interest in this little actress, and say
thus much because we would like to have her
make her mark in way that would entitle her
to the best praises we have to bestow.
n. l.. Davenport as "HamIet."
Mr.. E. L. Davenport received a very cordial
welcome at the Walnut Street Theatre last
evening, and he gave an unusually fine person
alton OF Hamlet" MIR. Davenport is certainly
one OF the most versatile and accom-
plished actors on the American stage.
In tragedy, comedy, and melo drama he is
equally at home, and whatever character he
undertakes he gives it an individuality which
marks it as o work of refined and intellectual
art. We have been astonished at times to see
how Mr.. Davenport will sink his own indivldu-
ality. and become absorbed in the character
he undertakes TO represent, and appearing as he
does sometimes in two entirely different roles in
\ the same evening, he contrlyes to change his
n whole personal appearance and facial express
i sion so as TO sink the actor completely. There
are some performers on the stage who have this
/ mower in a limited degree, and In one or two
A nor,s tbev are pre. .eminent; but with Mr..