The New York herald., 1869-01-17
THEATRICAL.

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THEATRICAL.
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|. .Iives OF great men az remind US we can make
our lives sublime,n and seemingly inspired by those
glowing lines Mr. James Fisk Jr., weary Of the tame
gories Of Erie" conquests ana successful cor
ners has charged boldly into the sacred realms OF
art Holding already In one hand the drama, he has
reached forth and grasped nom Mr.. Bateman the
dominion OF opera b0tsDe. In vaulting ambition Mr.,
Fisk towers among men Of the present era like the
Colossus OF Rhodes-as he u OF railroads. The care
ful student or history win that at epoch OF the
worlds existence has II been without at least one
great man. one massive character which stands out
ike towering lighthouse to beacon tagging human
ity on to fame. From Mahomet, that grand old
prophet OF the barbaric East; Alexander, the con-
querer OF the world; Julius Cesar master OF seven
hilled Rome Napoleon Bonaparte, the pale Corslcan
who played with thrones, down TO Joseph
Smith, the immortal exp0under OF p0lyRamy and
Mormonism, there has always lived grand type OF
manhood for our emulation; but even they had their
specinlties. Mr.. Fisk seems to be as unlimited az
boundless space itself In his vast and arseeing aims
and aspirations. Already the proud proprietor Of
the most magnificent opera house In the world-the
most exquisely finished little theatre in the world.
besides innumerable subsidiary railroads. steam
boats and lawsuits-he quietly and unexpectedly
absorbs an opera 00uDs company as calmly as q
right whale sucks down shoal OF sardines. .
In many respects Mr.. Fisk is emnently fitted for
the trying and delicate duties OF an fnspresari0.
Possessed Of superb audacity, mixed with suave
courtesy and charming. 00nh0nate Of manner, which
makes him Irresistible among the ladies', he is better
fitted to cope with the idiosyncracies and pecu-
harties Of prime donne than any musical director
OF our country. We think him equal even to tenors;
n tho ooff
could olone satisfactorily settle that point
The contracts Of the opera 0osl0e company. which
has passed under the yoke Of Mr.. Flax, expire in
July. Up to the middle OF February they remain at
the Grand Opera House, under which resonant title
Messrs. Gould b Fisk have rechrlstened their gor-
geous temple; and after that Philadelphia, Boston
and Washington will be harried in turn until ne full
cation to Mr. Bateman in the future, when sitting
renely beneath the shade Of his vine and g tree
70 hs9 s u
music In general and Ofenbach In particular should
have awakened the interest and enlisted the SYM
pathes OF such wOrld-rep0wned fnanciers and rock
founded capitalists as Messrs Gould Fisk. 1t de-
wolves now upon Manager Grau TO effect lucrative
transfer Of Mines. Desclauzas. Rose Bell and the
rest Of his lovely odalsques to Commodore Wander
bilt and Henry Keep, or be disgraced for life.
the production Of the "Tempestn under direction Of
Manager Tayleure. are progressing with railroad
speed: It is not premature to state that Mr. Fech-
linewill be secured for hundred nights thirty to
be allotted to New York; II the temptation OF money
l.. Davenport o most correct, conscientious and ex-
cellent actor, has been already engaged. For
the dcuit % sSies % Of the % drama, M. Mr. Davenport
stands almost alone on the American stage, and were
his breast warmed with the dramatic fre, vital to
successful genius, there would be no need to send
abroad for artist to hold in check the stridug
ambition OF Edwin Booth. As 'leadng young man.n
to speak professionally, Mr.. Tayleure has engaged
gentleman known to provincial fame as "Frank
Mayo, the Great California Tragedian.0 We remcm-
Ss1 MI n the S Sss q
| Of the Red Plume. He burst upon our
dazed vision suddenly from secret panel amid the
and the appalling crash OF Chinese eongs. Over his
knighty head waved tall, quivering red feather
serna spanish u rapier Z Wss grand % gloomy and and
peculiar and 1t that time We thought Nj. Mayo the
greatest actor who had frerted upon the mimic stage
since the pleasant and immoral days OF Davy Gar.
rick and rare Peg wonneton. But MI. Mayo has
| changed since then. Coming East in the zenith Of
amenities Of civilization, which softened him down
from af0amng, tearing California tragedian into
ol Il a
be gratifyng accession to Nj: Tayleure's company.
los Garden, has been retained also to play the part
Of Miranda. This selection rejecting the highest
credit upon Mr.. Tayleure, who has not chosen 80
pathos ana the sentier phases Of feminine nature
o our STAGE VINO possesses % a. the same ms
any degree OF dramatic power. Her voice 10 soft and
low which high authority says is an excellent thing;
her demeanor Is refined and modest, and her hair Is
naturally bIonde-a nnal and convincing proof that
nature made her an artistic. Messrs Charles Barron,
leures and to them we win pay our respects in the
future.
should Mr.. Fechter accept the orer made him and
come to this country it wlli AFFORD an unusual oppor-
tunity 70 the student CT Shakespeare to consra the
different conceptions OF Hamlet as presented by
luffa Ia fba
| conventional Hamlet; the sophomorical Hamlet.
A meagre lean -vsaged, melancholy mailman, with
though ne ate slate pencils and drank lemon JUICE and
green tea. Fechter, on the contrary, makes him Q
neshy Prince leaves the madness me- & in doubt wears
Prince Of Denmark the really well read student Of
Shakespeare believes him to have been. Both sides
| OF critical authority wil rest with Fechter Er.
Booth has incuIcatcd the rollng-eyed blacklocked,
tie Booth family, from turbulent old Junius Brutus
down, would ever yet sink the B0otan identity for
the sake Of faithfully representing the best and
greatest character Shakespeare ever drew. II 10 q
the scholarly Edwin and the eymnastc junius
Brutus, Jr IL does not improve the drama.
Is singular truth that q great many inteligent
men fancy that they do best that winch 10 really
. good cigar James Fisk Jr, fancies he can write
| good newspaper article; "A Head" fancies he
is humorous every man fancics he can drive four
horses, shoot rine or make love to woman,
| and Lester Wallack fancies he can play Alfred
Evelyn in Buiwcr,s comedy OF Money! The
author ID known TO literature ~ Bulwer Mr.. Wallack
| puts him on the bill as Lord Lytton," tue Lord
| knows whyJ There s not much In the part worth
playing In the lrst place. and what little there Is OF
II is much ont OF Mr.. Walacx's line horseback
riding II to drygoods clerk. The artificial pathos
and suited railing of the atra-bilous hero Evelyn
| sounds always like 'chan'' Ia the mouth OF Mr.. Wal
lack. We wish Mr. WaIlack no harm, bur II he were
reduced to poverty by the loss Of that Money" the
world would be gamer.
| Providence aud the painters permitting, Mr..
| Br0ugham Will open his theatre on the 18th inst.
There has been such unparalleled rush and squab-
bic the boxes for the rst night that Mr.. Broug
ham has decided to sell them himself az auction and
i donate the surplus the Dramatic fund. This Il 4