The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-18


uonage as literally as managers have deserved,
Have you permitted Janauschek, Mrs. Siddons,
Little Lolita, Chanirau. Mrs. Gladstsne, to 60 away
unseen by you! II SO, you have heavy reckon
ing with Thesps, maid of the sock and buskin. for
she is an memorable divinity, jealous Of neglect
and exactIDg in demands.
Over at the Varieties "school" has been played
in elegant style throughout the week. but to houses
which did not come up to our expectations, that
Is, until yesterdays matinee, which was crowded.
q large number Of young folks being in the au-
dience. The comedy is a delightful one. well
played and handsomely mounted. Its little incon-
gruites II has of course, but one doesn't think Of
these when watching Miss Alice Grey as Bella.
Sheridan as Lord Beartroy, or Miss orion as
Ndomie.
Mr.. Cogswell took hs benefit last evening. The
coming week is thick with benefits, too, for on
next Saturday night the Varieties spring season
terminates, the company Is going home to Wash
ipgton. where they will appear at the National
with Mrs. Scott Siddons. The latter lady left yes
terdsy morning, BY the way, fer St. Louis, and
after a brief engagement there, viii hurry to
Washington to appear with the company ss above.
Miss George Dickson takes her benefit to-mor-
row evening, the programme being The Gentle
REVIEW OF THE sT. CHARLES SEASON.
The season of 1868 and $50 at the Old Drury is
worthy in many respects, OF being ranked among
the most brilliant in the annals of that theater.
One thing is certain, that there has been between
il and the preceding season of 1913 decided con-
trast and a marked improvement; 1t has been
battle Of the legitimate against the Sensational
battle hard fought but decisive in result, as will
be marked In following the varied phases Of sue
cess attending the performances according as one
or the other was produced.
The season opened on the 9th Of November,
when dead calm had followed the terrible ex.
elements Of the presidential campaign. The FIRST
performance was the good old comedy of the
'Rivals," with Mr.. Mark Smith as Sir An,tOny
Absolute, and Mr.. DeBar as an exceedingly
humorous Bob Acres. Mr.. Smiths engagement
lasted for ten nights, and was only toerably sue
cessfnl, Notwithstanding the fact that good sue
cession Of standard comedies were produced and
well played.
Miss Fanny B. Price followed. She has some
good points, but can hardly be considered as oc-
cupyiDg a high place among star performers.
Still, she made quite good two weeks engage
ment, bringing out two new pieces, Foul Play"
and "St. Elmo" and appearing also in "Jane
Eyre" {" Fspchon" and other dramas.
After Miss Price left came Mr. Couldock and his
daughter, the management producing that ex.
quisite dramatzation Of Dora, which, up to that
time, was the greatest hit the season had record
ed. II ran for week, the second week of Mr..
Couldock's engagement giving him opportunities
OF appearing in the " Willow Copse," the "Chim.
ney Corrern Louis XII - cold Phil's Brthdayu
and others OF bis specislties.
For awhile after bis departure the thester was
given mp TO other than dramatic uses. The "White
Fawn" ballet company held possession for three
weeks. during which time the management sue
ceeded IN sinking thousand or two. Then came
the Hsnlon combination, one Of the greatest hits
that have been made. Recollect what houses as.
sembled to see the Russian athlete Pfau leap
across the house in q succession of curves, peril.
Gus yet graceful; 10 applaud the Hanlons as they
whizzed about on their bicycles. to listen 70
Blsmphin, the harpist; Miss Thorne, the sweet
vocalist; or Mr.. and Mrs. Brennan, the parlor
comedians. For two weeks the combination re-
manned, drawing packed houses, and then came
one whose annual arrival at the st. Charles is the
invsriable signal for rush thither. We mean
little Lolita, who, coming out FIRST In the new
military drama FREELY" played q three weeks
engagement, during which, as Lille Neu, and the
Warehouses, to Mr.. DeBar's Dick Suiueter, she
Lolita went away followed by hundreds Of good
wishes, and leaving doubtless, hundreds OF bro
ken hearts, 10 be followed by Miss Price, who
returning from Texas, made Encouragement ola
fortnight, during which she brought out " After
Dark sensation drama with q railroad train
attachment, and repeated also Helen Roueston, In
"Fou Play.n
When Miss Price. at the close Of her re-engsge.
ment went hence TO Vicksburg. she was accom-
panied by the stock company Of the 81. Charles.
who were py the arrival OF Miss Fanny Janaus
cbek with her own company temporarily rem
dered de trop here: The beginning OF Janaus-
chek's engagement inaugurated an era Of heavy
tragedy which for while was pleasing in its
novelty. The great German tragedienne played
TO select but not large houses. bringing out Ella.
beth Mary Stuart, NEEDED, Deborah, and several
other characters, classical historical, during her
two weeks stay.
Then came Mrs. Lander, who In former
days es Jean Davenport, had held New
Orleans audiences spell.bound BY her dra-
matte power. Marie Antoinette was the role
in which she first appeared, and II was,
we think, the best one she played for rs.
Charlotte CO7ridy, Elizabeth, Mary Stuart and
Adrienne LecOuvrer were successfully pro-
duced during her engagements, but BY this time
the tickle popular fancy had begun TO weary Of
tragedy, and the houses were small. Mrs. Ian
der was supported by Messrs. j. II. Taylor and
Geo. Becks, beth Of whom came with her, and
the stock company which at Miss Janauschek's
departure had returned from Vicksburg.
Then came Mrs.. Scott Siddons, whose triumphs
are so fresh In our memories. She appeared 10
line Of standard comedy characters, such as
Rosdlind. Beatrice, Juliet, Julia, Pauline and
Mrs. HdIer snd rapidly won her way to favor
among the cultivated portions of our people; so
rapidly in fact that when her engagement OF two
weeks ended, II was all too soon, and many re-
GREETED her contemplated departure. Bat Mr..
DeBar had made all arrangements for bringing out
Days sensation drama, "a Flash of Lightning"
on the following evening, and was unable accord.
iDgly TO postpone thasevent. But what he could
not do popular judgment did, for the play which
bad been at first considered good for two weeks
sun, only held the boards for five nights before
slim houses, when, 10, came the welcome an
nouncement that Mrs. Scott Siddons had been re-
engaged for 3 week.
The rest we all know-the siddons benefit on
Friday evening. when she appeared as Lady
Tedzle in the "School for Scandal and afterwstd
made neat little address in verse to her audi.
ence, we have all read Of.
Then came the closing night-last night, which
was most properly sgnalized by the benefit of the
manager. Mr.. Pope, who had, as he deserved, @
crowded house. II needs no very close observa-
ton TO see that Mr.. Pope has been growing con-
etantly in popularity during his managerial ca
reer. His impersOnstion of the melancholy Dane
last evening was finished piece Of acting, fit
ting climax for his many successes throughout
the eeason.
In concluding this somewhat hHty sketch, we
congratulate Mr.. DeBar and Mr.. Pope upon the
events in II recorded, and bid the departing COM
pany kindly adieu.
Mr.. JOHN A. STEVENS.
Throughout the season at the st. Charles there
has been no more careful or invariably pleasing
delneator Of character than the gentleman whose
heads this QFtica and IN QffOrdl there