The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-07

Five or six OF these names may be familiar To
hiladelpbians These are Mrs. Siddons, Mr.
Davidge, Mr.. j. X. Mortimer, Mr.. q. 7. Pars-
sloe, Mrs. wilkins, and Uhrough the notoriety
of the Broadway Theatre homtcide) Mr.. ID. IL.
Harkins. or these six Mrs. Siddons. Mr..
Davicge, Mr. Mortimer, and Mrs. wilkins
alone showed any merit. OF the remaining
nine Of the cast, all were equal failures. With
the ex ception of the four that we have men,
toned none Of the actors gave evidence OF being
familiar with their parts. The flashes of silence
were as frequent sheet lightning; some OF
the most brilliant points were quite lost; misses
prevailed for short time, and would be
ready to swear that by the time the second act
W, over Mrs. Siddons could have wept those
lovely eyes of hers out with vexation.
AS one instance of the several good points
that were utterly lost, owing to the stupidity of
the support, the reader will be pleased to re-
collect the brilliant string of repartees which
"Lady Teszle," "Sir sPeter." "Mrs. Csndor,"
"Lady Sneerwell," )" "Sir Benz jsmin," and "Crsb-
tree" hang their tongues on in the second
scene of the second act Lady Saeerwelr
mark to "Sir Peter" that he is too phlegmatic
for jest and too peevish TO allow wit in Others
and the conversation continues tbus:-
Srr P-Ah! madam true wit is more nearly allied
Lady True. Sir Peter. 1 believe they are 80
OF kin that they can never be united.
Az IulS pOlnG the EedueE Will budL
1t is "Sir Benjamin Backbite's'" to step in
with
"Or, rather, suppose them man and wife, be-
cause one so seldom sees them together"
This caps the climax of the witticisms that
have been uttered, but the incompetent ''Sir
"Bepjamin" of Thursday evening, who, how
ever dull his memory ought TO have remem oered
such reply from Its very point and elegance
suddenly collapsed. In vain Mrs. Siddons whis
pered the words, in vain Kisses were heard
from the uppermost circle, "Sir Benz amin" re-.
mained in his state of collapse and how the
rest OF the act was proceeded with nobody
knows.
But here have been beating about the bush
of Mrs. Siddons' performance without once
making at her.
Is she good Lady Teazle"f
Why not9 Come. let us have reasons, not
vague and general dlspTalse.
Listen. True, Lady rea2le" is represente az
having been, previous To her marriage with
"Sir Peter" q country girl. But there are coun-
try girls of refinement, ana my Lady Tea
zle," previous TO her marriage, was no more
Young ladies OF to-day who reside at Germisa-
town or at Chestnut Hill. and are indistInguIsh-
able from Other a eiegsnt young ladies' % VINO % nave
The more primitive and simple HABITS OF
that period enabled her to transact duties
which have long passed ont of the curricu-
lum OF the well-bred young women of to-day.
She was used, according TO ''Sif Peters" do
gcrlptlOD, 10 slttlhB Ab nei thmbour IN pretty
figured linen gown, with q Duncn of Keys al
her side, her hair combed smooth over "a roll
and her apartment hung round with frults In
Worsted OF her own making. Her daily occu
patton. according TO her own words, was To
Inspect the dairy, superintend the poultry,
make extracts from the family receipt book,
and comb her aunt "Deborah's" lap.dog Her
evening amusements were to draw patterns for
ruffies 10 play Pope Joan with the curaJe, to
read novel TO her aunt, and To be STUCK down
10 an old spinet TO strum her fatner 10 sleep
after q fox'chase. From these tame pursuits
she was suddenly transferred into q centra
position among rank, wealth. ana fashion. For
this position she was naturally adapted, and
six months schooling in IL perfected her in all
the requirements wnion distinguish the daz
zliDg woman OF fashion.
This idea of LADY feszle" Is what Mrs. Sid
dOns did not present. III her c0aracterlz alton
lacked many of the old traditional points. IL
presented no new ones worth mentioning. Her
voice IL used too monoLOnously To express all
the graceful and varying railieries whicn heI
relationship with ''Sir Peter" calls forth. SUE
INDUCES In q numoer Of the DISAGREE ole tricks
OF the voice. Sue gives the words or the cue
whole house observes them as well ~ the acLo
fer whom they were meant. Sue HaunJs anC
nounces about the stage with hurried nervous
ness whicn Is certainly not suggestive OF ele
CANT caprice, but causes the observer To believe
that In reallty IL Is only wnat IL seems
to be, and nothing more. She makes To,
much of eyes and a mouth which sh,
has quite enough reason to believe TO be beau
tiiul IL has BEEN suggested that the sLocl
company OF either Wallack's or Booths Thea
re Is her proper sphere. II would certainll
be q better sphere than the one she now -
falsely occupies. She permits herself to b.
announced as q tragedienne, without giyln
the slightest intimaiiOn of possessing trsg
woman. trying TO do her best, but Jnat hes
will not enable her. for several years at loaSl