The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-28
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
The worrolI sisters nt the Chesnu

performed AT the Chesnut street Tneatre Dy the
Worrell Sisters and their New York Company,
has been announced as burlesque on the orlgi-
nal work. This is true 10 one sense Of the word
and not in another. buresque may be either
an amusing piece of extravaganza and exaggera-
ton, in which things not in themselves laughable
are caIicatuTed and shown up in humorous
manner or 1t may be a silly attempt to initiate
something of recognized merit without sue
cee6ing in doing go. In one case we laugh with
the actors and in the other we laugh at them,
and the quality of our mirth in the two cases is
by no means the same. The company now at
the Chesnut give a very feeble imitation of the
super-exceleut performance of Batemau's
troupe of French artists, and the most amusing
portion OF the entertainment is to see
the style in which the airs and graces
and gestures of the French actors are minicke /
by the Misses Worre and their coadjutors. 1t
is the play Of Hamlet with the part of Hamlet"
omitted for all the nicely and perfection of
detail, all the vivacity and artistic finish, are
wanting. The English version presented by the
Misses Worrell is sufficiently good for their
purpose gives all that is essential in th
original work, most of the music is retained
and with good acting and singing the piece
would be not at all an Indifferent entertainment
We have before expressed the opinion in these
columns that one great reason for the decided
success of 0fenbach's operas, independently
the merits of the works themselves, was the
very complete style in which they were pu
upon the stage, and the remarkably fine comic
acting of the principal performers. That any
American troupe following in the footsteps
of these French people should be able
to equal them in all things Is not
to be expected, and while we are disposed
to make all due allowances, we think at least
we have right to look for an approximation to
excellence. The Misses Worrell have all o {
them had ample experience In bur-
lesque acting, and with their present company
they have appeared in The Grand Duchess of
Gerolstein and other of Offenbachs operas often
enough to attain a reasonable amount of ease
and style in their performance. And yet we
only find that they give feeble imitation of the
French actors, without attempting anything in
the slightest degree original, apparently oblivi-
Gus of the fact that they have neither the educa-
tion nor experience of those that they copy
after, and that as mere imitators they must of
course appear at a disadvantage.
Miss Sophie Worrel as "The Grand Duchess"
gives some of Tostee's shrugs and shakes, but
she has nothing OF the dash and spirit which
were the most meritorious points in Tostee's per.
sonation. The best portions of the performance
last evening at the Chesnut were the Dites L,i,
which Miss Sophie sung quite nicely-much
better than she did anything else-the trio be-
tween the conspirators, and the "Can-can" dance
at the end OF the third act or the rest of the
performance we cannot speak in very high
terms of praise. Miss Jennie, as prince Paul"
gesticulated somewhat in tie style of NJ. Leduc,
but there comparison is at an end, for the real
mic eements of the character as developed by
that ca ital comedian escaped her altogether.
Miss Irene, as Wanda" was even less
successful than her sisters. Mr.. S. B. Villa, in
the part of Fritz" copies after nobody; his
style is his own, and he is law unto himself.
IT he ever saw the part performed, which we
are inclined to doubt, he has set out with
determination to scoru all precedents and to be
original or nothing He had better be nothing.
To do justice to this gentleman, he is more
vivacious than any other member OF the COM
pany, but his vivacity often comes in the wrong
place. He gesticulates, bends his body, and
.postures in most unsoldierly manner, and he
cannot even touch his hat in a salute without
giving flourish which is suggestive of the free
and-easy style of the amateur stage.
We think that the company at the Chesuut
could act better If they would make the effort
but their present style of performance Will have
entitled to marked commentator. There is now
an English burlesque company in New YORK
who, we understand, are winning their way to
public favor on their own merits, and In style
of performance in which they are at home,
This fact is worthy of attention, and the Misse
Worrell would appear 10 better advantage in
fairly. written burlesque, by an American
English author, than they do in borro we'd
plumes, which they are unable to wear grace
fully.
The City Entertainments.
AT THE WALNUT Mr.. e. l.. Davenport will
appear this evening in the new drama OF r; or,
Branded
AT THE CHEsNUr the Worrell Sisters will
appear in their English version of The Grand
Duchess
AT THE ARCH Lo!ts win per onate "Fire.hy"
this evening.
AT THE AMERICAN there will oe an attractive
miscellaneous entertainment.
THE GERMANIA ORCHESTRA will give public
rehearsal at Horticulture al Ha this afternoon.
ST CARL sENTz and Mark Hassler's 0rches-
tral Matinee, on Saturday, at Musical Fund
Hall, Mendelssobn's Reformation symphony"
will be performed. delegation of the New
York Philharmonic Socie'y will assist.
Mr. BATEMAN announces that he will give
twelve nights OF opera b0afe at the Academy OF
Music, commencing GU Monday, November 8,
when he will produce Odenoachs opera OF
Bdrbe Bieue. This work win be put upon the
stage in the best style as regards scenery, cos.
TUNES, appointments, etc., AMI the original
l.