The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-05


The London correspondent of the New York
Herald, writing on the 9th, says:
The morning performance at the Haymarket
Theater, for the benefit of the Royal Dramatic
College. and under the patronage of the Prince
and Princess of Wales, came of yesterday with
great eclat and will assume a very prominent
place in the histrionic annals of London. The
entertainment was given at the express desire and
request of the prince, who, happening TO meet
Mr.. Sothern at hunt, said to him, " suppose
that it would be impossible TO have comedy
performed in London in which every part
should be filed by first class actors" Mr.. SOthern
replied that he had no doubt the idea could be
realized if the prince desired it, 60 should like
it very much. indeed }" answered the prince " and
If you will undertake to get up such a perform
ance, in any way you please, both the princess
and myself will be present" Mr.. Sothern then
consulted with Managers Webster and Blackstone,
and this trio selected the programme, apportioned
the parts and decided that the proceeds should be
given to the Dramatic College. The following is
the cast Of the two pieces selected:
London Assurdnce.-Sir Harcourt Courtley,
Mr.. Benjamin Webster; Max Harka way, Mr.. Z.
P. Addison; Charles Courtley, Mr.. Sothern Daz
zle, Mr.. Charles Matthews; Mark NEEDLE. Mr.. ].
l.. Toole Cool, Mr.. II. Irving; Dolly Spanker,
Mr.. Blackstone; Solomon Isaacs, Mr.. G. Vincent
Martin, Mr.. johnson; James, Mr.. James; Simp-
son, Mr.. Wetten; Lady Gay Spanker, Mrs, Chas.
Matthews; Grace Harkaway, Mss Nelly Moore;
Pert, (on this special occssion) Mrs. Kelley.
A Roland for. an OLiuer.-Sr Mark Chase, Mr..
Chippendale; Alfred Highayer, Mr.. Walter Lacy !;
SebOurne, Mr.. Fl. Neville; Fixture, Mr.. G. Bel
more; Gamekeeper, Mr.. Weathersby; MIRA,
Mrs. John Wood; Mrs. Selbourne, Miss Louisa
Moore Mrs. Fixture, Miss +. Farren.
The performances commence at half-past /, at
which hour the thester was completely crowded
by Of the most brilliant audiences ever assem-
| bled, comprising not only many noblemen and
ladies of rank. but the elite Of the theatrical pro-
| fession in England. The prince and princess OF
| Wales and the crown prince of Denmark entered
| the royal box just before the end Of the first
| act, and were received with hearty cheers, the
| whole audience rising and the orchestra playing
| the princes Hymn" The prices Of all the
seats had been doubled, aud the receipts netted
| over f4OO. Mr.. Sothern personally directed the
| performance, and Mr.. Dion Boucicauit superin-
| tended the rehearsals of his comedy.
| To show the interest taken in the affair by &C
| tors ] may mention that Mr.. TOoe studied the
part of NEEDLE expressly for the occasion, having
never played it before, and that Mr.. Ben Web
ster was at similar trouble in regard to the part
| of Sir Harcourt. The events of the day. how
ever, were the Temperance of Mrs. Kelley
after Ter long retirement from the stage, and thu
appearance Of Mrs. John Wood, who is regarded
here as an American actress, and was thus doubly
complimented by being invited TO assist at such
performance. Mrs. Kelley was enthusiastically
received and acted the little part Of Pert with al
her old spirit and success, and the Era, the Eng
lish theatrical authority, says OF Mrs. Wood tina
she :" PLAYED the character extremely well, lOOht'
remarkably handsome and sang with excellen
TASTE" So the New York stage holds It's owl
with the best London artists.
As you have often had starr performance
of London Assurance" in New York aud not
ably for John Brougham's benefit at Niblo's AM
st morning performssce at the Academy o
Music, it will interest the public to read teV
comments upon the acting yesterday. Mr. Web
ster was not perfect in the part Of Sir HARBOUR
and acted ii very stfiy and stagily. There wa
no comparison between him and such America
representatives Of the character as Mr.. Charlie
Fisher, the late Mr. Wacott or the late Mr.. Kings
land. Mr.. Addsons Max Hsrkawsy was hearty
robust and excellent-just 10 the style of Mari
Smiths Old English Gentleman. Mr.. Sothern'
| Charles Courtley was capital. have always be
lieved that no one else can play this part 80 we
as Mr.. Lester Wallack; but Mr.. S0thern adopts
the same view OF the character and most Of Nj
Wallack's business, and the result was q c0mplet
and deserved success. Mr.. Charles Matthews
the original Dazzle, acted perfectly until tn
fourth act, and then fell of through fatigue. Nj
Dion Boucicanlt, who personated Dazzle
New York. ia still without rival in this part. Nj
Toole's NEEDLE was exceedingly clever; not s
good ss BurtOnis, but quite as good as anybody
since Burton. Mr.. lrving's Cool was mediocre
Mr.. Vincent's lsaacs was below mediocrity; Nj
Buckstone's Dolly Spanker was only passsbls
Among the ladies, Mrs. Charles Matthews wa
very bad. and spoke so low as to be almost III
heard Miss Nelly Moore was pretty, but to
weak for the part of Grace. in which Miss A,
mes Robertson and the late Mary Cannon
easily eclipse her as Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Hoe
eclipsed Mrs. Charles Matthews in Lady Gay; AM