The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-14

appearance OF miss Fanny u. Price ana tne pro-
duction Of "After Dark" at the st. Charles. IL
has, moreover, witnessed decided decrease in |
the attendance at all three Of the theaters. The
one may properly be considered the corolary Of |
the other for people are daily, 1t would appear,
becoming more Unsuitable In their cravings for
novelty and will, st present rates Of progress, be
soon content with nothing less than new first
class sensation drama nightly.
Now, there was one really crowded house this
last week and it was at the Varieties, on the occa-
sion of Mr. Floyd's benefit as Elliot Grey, in
"Rosedale." on Friday night. Mr.. Floyd is de-
servedly popular, and certainly does his best to
stem the sensation torrent and steer his dramatic
bark on close parallel with the legitimate. But
our qualification at the highly complimentary at
tendance on that occasion arises not only from
regard for the deserving manager, but from the
accompanying assurance therein given by the pub
lie that good standard comedy has not yet lost its
claims upon favor. or fallen into disrepute and
conceslment beneath the rank growth Of sensa-
ton or spectacular performances.
The reaction is certain to come. Blue and red
fire, shspely extremities, gorgeous colorings
intensified to summer mondays brancy by
the calcium, elaborate mechanism throwing into
temporary oblivion the God-given talent by its
side, may all endure for day, but cannot be per-
manent. We must sooner or later return to first
principles, and learn to be content with that
which lie the true germ Of ell dramatic interests
truthful delineaton of human nature in all its
phases. Let the scenery be but the plain gold
setting about the precious stone; let not an eab-
crate adornment inclose vaueless pebble.
The dramatzstion Of Tennyson's Dora
claims our admiration in this respect, and its
representation was glimpse Of sunshine on our
STAGE 1t relies, in its simplicity of DETAIL solely
upon the merits of those who perform It, 1t does
not appeal 10 the eye, but to the heart-to those
feelings of human nature which make Us all akin.
Ard yet 1t had no protrscted run at either theater.
and was soon withdrawn for fresh novelties. Yet
in the reception given to Rosedale." one Of the
most glorious OF plays, and in the announce
ment Of its repetition We find faint though grail
| flying assurance that people begin to weary oil
| that fippant style Of drama to which the stage
seems TO have been almost irremediably given
over of late, and to long for the return OF those
days when the "School for Scandal" the
"Rivals,n London Assurance" or any Of the
| standard comedies, if well played, could be pre-
sented night after night before full houses.
"After Dark," at the st. Charles, has not drawn
as well as we had anticipated and this Is the more
remarkable, not only in view of the fact that Miss
Price, who, as Eliza, is quite well supported, be-
| ran her engagement with an extremely enviable
| prestige, but that the play was advertised more
| extensively than most are on account of the in.
junction sued out in the Fifth District Court by
| Manager Floyd of the Varieties. 1t may be, and
is, we think, very probable, that the railroad
scene had been robbed of its novelty by the sue
1 L. noe1t rhf cd in
the beginning of the Varieties season.
The litigation relative to the rival plays will pro-
baby reach its climax on Wednesday next, for
which time the case is fixed by Judge Leaumont.
We shall endesvor to furnish our readers full re-
port of the proceedings in the case.
Lolita left last Wednesday for Cincinnati, accom-
panied by her agent, Mr.. Ssville. She carries
with her the satisfactory assurance that her en-
rapement of 1869 was the most brilliant she has
ever met with in the Crescent City.
Manager Floyd of the Varieties has, we are
pleased to learn, secured the lesseeship of that
theater for the next season. viz that of lS69-7Oi
To morrow at this popular little temple of Thes
pis an old time New Orleans favorite, Mrs. Mary
Gsdstana, will reappesr, after an absence OF foul
wears, TO again challenge the admiration Of oul
dramatic critics. During the previous engage
ments which she has played in this city Mrs
Glsdstane acquired high reputation; it is there
fore to be presumed that having had opportunities
for study since, that the conclusion of her presen
| stav will serve TO fix her reputation even frme
than before. She will open in the role OF Eilzd
| beth. the same character which the great italian
| Ristori. and later Mrs. Lander have rendereI
world. famous. This is q very lofty fight, 81 tn
imnersonstion Is one that demands the very high
est order of talent to successfully carry 1t through
| and that Mrs. Glsdstsne has selected it instead O
something less difficult, displays confidence il
her own powers that augurs well Tor the pies
sures which the thester-going public have In stor
for them during her engagement. In our Tue'
DAVIS edition we shall present full criticism upo
tomorrow evenings performance.
Miss Price reappesrs as Helen RoAeston
"Foul PIsyn tonight. With one exception "
think it her happiest impersonation. In the dr'
matization of Jane Eyre " we find her equal
! every requirement of even the most caption
7 critic Toward the latter part of the week, prol
ably on the occasion of her farewell benefit, sh
will bring out a new piece, written for her by NJ
/ ! Waldo. the author of Fanchon," and entitle
: "Fairy Fingers."
At the Academy " Humpty Dumpty still hoi'
1 boards,
| | oxded matinees. The remark good Tor en-
,, dren may be frequently heard concerning it, y
7 we observe that children from fifty years down
: twenty are invariably in the majority among u
audiences, and that the juveniles Of larger grow
: enjoy the comicalities of Tony Denier or Il
. beauties of the really superb ballet just as hearti
8 az the little ones do. Tomorrow night the pie
q will be presented in reconstructed form, rende
y ing IT almost as good as a new one. 1t is pro
!. ably safe for a fortnight's longer run.
g There have been three benefits during the wee
Q all Of them on Friday night, viz: Manager Floyd
= Tony Denier's and Miss Prices.
Il Next week we are 10 have Miss Fanny Janar
l. chek, whose fame as a tragedienne has proceed
n her. and who will play two weeks engageme
q at Mr.. DeBar's theater.
lie The Academy matinee yesterday was sight
z behold. The attendance was immense, and VIII
" the crowd came pouring out from the building
10 the close of the performance, one wonder
r where on earth all that number OF people cor