The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-02
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
MRS. scott. .siddOns as "JuIIet."


Last evening Mrs Scott-Slddons appeared
es Juliet" and acted the part very decidedly
better than any we nave yet seen her unuer,
opinion we had formed Of ner abillLtes Mrs..
efddons' very faulty elocu lion Will detract
from the effect of her best efforts, aud we can
not too earnestly recommend her to correct
her deficiencies la this respect as soon aS pos
sfble. Las. evening she did not sing her SEN
tonces as much as on former occasions,
but throughout the play she spoKe 100
summate artist would have delivered so as TO
reveal all the inner meaning OF the poe ~ were
slurTed over In manner lnas deprived ,aeda taem
many good points, she isto be commended Tor
giving an earnest, tnoushtful. and impassioned
personatiOn of q very d fficult character. A5in
the caSe of her "Rosalind" and "BeatrIoe."
she seemed TO be, to "a certain extent, unable 30
give adequate expression TO her owu ideal,
but we can copscenliousy say that no actress
who has played "Juliet' on the Phtladel-
pn1s ssasG LOT near onE ne tne
Standard. Tho balcony scene In the second
ect. where "Julier' coufesses her love for "Ro-
meo," was chermingly performed, and through
ont all the subsequent portions of the play she
noted with grace. feeling, and real power that
in the m ain we'll delivered, although In these
Mrs. Siddons showed too much disposition to
declaim rather than aot, aud sought To be en-
phatic by fourishing her arms aud striking at.
Ltudes rather than uy speaking her lines with
Rreinme. however. to which we feel inciined to
lake serious exception was "Julets" soliloquy
previous to drinking "Friar Lswrence's" sleep
ing potion. Much OF This was pure rant; and the
words,
"oh. lcokl metbinks see my cousln's ghost
Seeking ont Romeo. that did spit ms hosy
was accompanied by a start and scream, and
pointing OF the finger, as II sho actually
treating from IL, sbe staggered mp the stage TO
her bed. and pl cling the vial to ner lips, ex-
claimed, Romeo. come! Tnis do dTiuk To
thee u Mrs. Siddons was rewarded Dy round
OF applause for this; but II was IN excessive uai
taste, nd we advise her to study out the passage
anew, and see II she cannot develop better
meaning from 1t.
MRS. Siddons will conclude her engagement
here this evening, and in bidding her farewell
we cannot refrain from expressing nope that
we shall see her again. We have given fair,
honest, and candid opinions about her acting,
and we feel conscious that we have done her
no injustice by commenting on her deicieu'
cies. Fair criticism never damaged any artist
OF real merit, and real merit Mrs Siddons uu.
doubtedIy possesses. She has all the ad van
tages of youth, great beauty and very engaging
and ladyltke manners aud II she will consent,
as we believer she will. to TAX into consideration
we'll meant hints from before the curtain,
there is nothing that we can see in the way OF
of the dsy. We believe that, with all ner defects,
she would have made q nit at one OF the reg ular
theatres; and we earnestly recommend her, II
she visits this locality again. to avoid the
Academy of Music, as one OF the worst places In
the country for purely dramatic exhibitions,
and where artists of greater popularity. culture
and ability than herself have tailed 10 achieve
the success that was due to their talents.
Last evening Mr.. j. G. Dunu played the part
of "Mercutio" in q very creditabe manner.
and Mrs. Marie wilkins made good repressn.
tative of the Nurse" Mr.. Harkins has done
nothing in this city equal TO his "Benedick"
in Much Ado About Nothing. and ne can
That MIR. Harkins could perform the par
better we believe, but an insuperable obstacle
to his success last evening was tnat he d did not
credit for trying to make something of the
small part Of peter" and his byplay during
the con terence between the Nurse" aud
'Romt o" in the street showed that there was
some fun In him.