The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-26
Thentrfcnle.

Mr.. Jefferson, at the Varieties, and Mr. Forrest
at the St. Charles, have been drawing good houses
during the week past. In saying this. however,
we make some reservation regarding the last two
nights "Wednesday and Thursday upon which
"0ur American Cousin - was played at the former
theater. The character Of asa Trenchdyd does
not appeal to any sense Of national pride. We are
unwilling TO admit TO ourselves that any such
shreWd, plain spoken rustic should go abroad as
the representative Of our American character
though his face be beaming with goodness and his
heart oyerfOwing with benevoence. There may
be, and we are quite certain that there are, Ia
sUme New England villages individuals quite SINH
lar TO Asa, and as taken from these the character
is not overdrawn. But they are the exceptions,
and the awkward asa 1reactdrd can, iu his ad-
ventures abroad, in nOwise elicit our sympathy on
any grounds of common nationality. This,
however, is the fault Of the author, not of the
actcr.
peroDation oil the life and interest of which it s
capable. Ten years ago, when the piece was first
produced at Laura KeeDe's, in New y FORK, MIR.
Jefierson's Asa TTenchdrd ELECTED such general
remark that the papers were full of commendl-
ton, and the New York Times even devoted
leading editorial to its description. Aud then
what an admirable support he had 4; each seemed
peculiarly educated to bis part. SOthern wes
there as the now famous DurldredTy, and Coul-
dock played Abel MiTcoH, the drunkard. so
powerfully that his audiences were IN tears over
his acting. Laura Keene was a charming Flor
ence IfeRchdrd, and Miss Stevens as Mary Mere
But, take away these, and the piece is rely
interesting. II introduces some pleasant sketches
of English social life, represents our British
cousins as wofully ignorant of all es-Atlantc
geography or customs, and makes our American
citizens something of a similar character to those
described by Dickens 10 Martin Chuzzlewit.
AS Bob Acres. Mr.. Jefferson is superb. So
certain is the public of this fact that the standard
comedy of "The Rivalsn reaches its third presea-
tatiOD this evening, which we defy it to have done
attbe Varieties without Mr. JenersOn's assistance.
At the st. Charles, we have not been gratifed
at the taste evnCed by the public in selecting the
performance OF "Metamora" or Jack Cade"
as occasions for crowdng the house, while the
superior attractions offered by Mr.. Forests
impersonations Of Shakspearean characters have
been comparatively neglected. And we cannot
TegIet too deeply the very shabby attendance last
evening the occasion of Barton Hills benefit.
The play was the "Streets of New York. and
tle part assumed by the beneficiary that of
Badger, the returned Californian. The plot re-
minds us somewhat in its early stages of Charles
Reade's novel "Very Hard Cash." It is rather
sensational, but very interesting throughout and
Mr.. Hills appearance in its principal character
should have called together brilliant house. 1t
was as Dan, the fireman, that Chanfrau made his
great hit IN New York theatrical circles.
Mr.. Forrest will play for five nights more, twice
in the Gladiator and as Jack Cdde, MetdnaOrG
and HO1ntet. He opens the week with the first
mentioned character tomorrow evening.
We are TO have the German opera at the Ma
| tionsl Theater, and it will be good deal of a
| heat-fOr who ever knew lovers Of good music
disappointed in going TO hear first-rate German
opera troupe? The season will open on the 9Th
pToXimo, and will include twelve operas. Signor
| LOtti will be the iInpressGrto.
The Academy continues to enjoy its fair share
| of theatrical patronage. The company has been
strengthened curing the last week by the ac-
cessiUn Of the Cnetop sisters, danseuses, and OF
Emerson and Parker, Ethiopian comedians. The
latter good in their line, in fact rather better
than most; but we DO heartily wish that burrs
cork entertainments might be replaced bv some
fresh novelty. They have held the stage now,
here and elsewhere, for twenty years or 80. ever
since George Christy ma de name for his troupe.
and IL would be difficult to imagine any phase of
Etbiopisn bumor which during the subsequent
period hos not been harped upon until it is thread
bsre.
Still there are very many who think differently,
and as at the AeeGemy. so at the Olympic, there
are rOaTs TO be heard nightly over come peculiarly
uuny, daTky buIlesque.
But the travestie from real life, the Black
end Tan Convention" now playing at the
Academy, does really appeal TO every ones
sense of the ridiculous. Our word for it, the
semblance between the original simOn-pure door
keeper at Mechanics Institute. and the burlesque
one at the Academy is a striking one.
This evening at the various theaters the attrac-
tons will be as follows:
Jefferson plays Bob Acres in the " Rivals. ;" aud
Hugh de Brass in A Regular Fix" at the Varie.
ties.
At the St. Charles, that meritorious actress aud
lady, Mrs. Sarsh Perrin, has a benefit, appearing
ss LucretlG BOTgtd IN the Tragedy OF that name.
Mr.. pe Bar will also assist in rendering the
son attractive by appearing as ali Bdba in The
Forty Thieves"
At the Academy, the "Blsck and Tan Conven.
ton" is to-be repeated, together with the usual
olio performances.
At the Olympic, a medley OF songs, dances and
farces is to be played.
The Crescent City Museum will be open as usual
to visitors.
TIE following IS the maiden effort OF Youthful