The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-19

As we had anticipated, the past week has
proven The most brilliant of the present theatrical
season. At the Varieties Jeherson's impersona-
tion of Rip Van WinAle has steadily drawn
crowded houses, encouraging the management to
withhold, temporarily, " Our American Cousin"
which was TO have been produced tomorrow
evening, and TO put Rip Van Winkle' upon q
second weeks run. The piece can well bear this
increased demand upon the patronage of the
public.
At the st. Charles, too, there have been large
audiences. Mr.: Forrest opened on Monday even
ing with Richelieu," and successfully played
nightly thereafter the characters of Vrginius,
Othelio, and Richard III. An unfortunate attack
OF hvarseness, resulting from cold, temporarily,
but abruptly terminated his weeks performances.
deferriDg the impersonation of Jack Cdde to
Monday evening. .lal go
Mr.. Barton Hill, in the supporting characters Of
De Moupl'dt, Icilius. Idgo aud Richmond has
favor Of the audiences. without his support, it
is not too much TO say, Mr.. Forests characters
would Lave wanted much of the vigor and power
impaired by the combination of two, both of
whom are so distinguished upon the stage.
And Miss Lie-we are glad OF the opportunity
to allude TO her winning artless manner, and her
uoeonsciously graceful acting. She was loving
Desdernond, docile, flial Vrginid, a timorsus
yet constant Julie de Mortimer, q noble Lady
Anne. Her support, too, is invaluable to Mr..
Forrest.
We could wish that there were some method
devisable by which audiences could be taught
Ol
which intelligence could be occasionally infused
into the upper tiers. During the most thrilling
parts Of Mr.. Forests acting, when his eager,
rapid uttersnces denote only mind overburdened
wi,h passion, or racked to despair, what possible
pretext have those unhappy, benighted creatures
who indulge in boisterous laughter and low
outlaws, as if farce or burlesque were beng
enacted before them? II entirely shocks any in
tegent spectator and sadly interrupts the thread
of interest In the performance.
The attendance at Mr.. Perce's beneft last
evening was slim, and we are sorry for it, for the
beneficiary is conscientious, reliable actor al
ways prompt aud useful. The "Colleen Bawnn
was played and the farce of the I" Dutchman in
Difficulty" Manager Baker appearing in the
former in his specially. Myles Ma C0ppdleen, in
which. four years since, he made great hit at
| the Varieties.
Mr.. Forrest will resume his playing tomorrow
| evening, appearing as Jack Cdde. We regard
Virginius as by far his best character yet offered
| the public.
Business at the Academy has been quite dull up
| to last evening, when the tide turned, aud the
house was filed by the production Of a buriesque
| entitled the /" Black and Tan Convention" the
best local hit which we have ever seen produced
upon the Academy stage. John E. Durivage,
Esq, the author, took prominent character in
the piece, smusinRly supported by Ryman and the
| other artists Of the establishment. By curious
coincidence, the real convention, now In session
| at Mechanics Institute, has Just voted to hold
night sessions. II is safe TO infer from glance
the audience last evening that those sessions
| stage.box was fed with delegates, who appeared
tn enjoy. as heartily as any, this travestie upon
| their legislation, and scattered here and there
| through the house were others who daily devote
| themselves TO their unwonted task Of framing
| Constitution for Louisiana.
The piece itself is remarkably true to the life,
| and we propLesy for it q successful run, equal
| almost to that Of the " Tale of EBchantment"
The Olympic still draws nightly its fair share
Of public patronage. IL is standard place of re-
sort, and is always certain to be found holding its
| own. Here, also, one may find q hit on the con-
| vention, entitled Delegate to the Convention"
Sweatnam and Johnny Redden, both old favor
ties, are also among the performers on the 0lym-
| pic stage. er- ew
| We subjoin q brief notice of the attractions
| offered to amusement seekers this evening:
VARrETIts.-" Bip Van Wrinkle "-Mr Jefferson
| in his great speciality.
| ct. CHARLEs.-Bsston Hill in the " "Corsican
| Brotbers,n and Ben DeBsr in Z" Robert Mscaire."
AcADEMY.-The " Black and Tan Convention"
| and an olio performance embracing the Macos,
| Leah and Miss st. Clair in the cast.
OLYMPIC. Thompson, Redden. Susie Starr and
| SweaiDam in songs, dances and burlesques.
CRESCENT CRY MUsEUM-Ten thousand curl
osites, including the Scottish Queen, the armless
wonder, and the famous Bohemian glass blower.