Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-08
New Memphi. Theater.

| new MBmDmls Inehters
| II is we'll known to all play-goers and
our citizens generally that Messrs Spal-
ding, Bidwell 4 McDonough are the
present lessees Of the New Memphis
Theaier. Nothing, probably, could give
a better idea of the manner in which these
eminently popular and successful amuse-
ment caterers intend to conduct the New
Memphis Theater during the next season,
than the following criiique Of the opening
might Of the Olympic, which we copy
from the ST. Louis Republican Of the 18th
inst. The same programme will be pre-
scented at the New Memphis at the open
ing night, on the 9th. The RepubH-
can says: The season at the Olympic
was opened last evening under the most
favorable auspices imagiuable-a good
company, good play, and good audi
snce. Messrs. Spalding, Bidwell & Nc
Donough deserve the thanks of this COM
munity for introducing first class stock
company, as good as ever played on the
St. Louis boards, if not the very best.
The entire audience last evening recog.
nized this fact, and the response came in
the most spontaneous delight. There
was but one opinion on this point, the
evidence in support oft came like rev.
citation, and its expression amounted to
an ovation.
The play-Boucicault's drama Of the
Long Strike-was entirely new to this
community, although its fame was famil-
lar to newspaper readers, However high
the degree Of expectancy regarding it
might have been, we feel assured it could
not have equalled the realization of it's
production last evening. 1t is in plot
one of the most skllfully contrived
dramas we have ever seen. The subject
itself of necessity is very near the people;
the story is natural in every step of its
development, the various incidents are
1
language is pruned down to the last de-
gree of precision and laconic point. The
interest never flags for m moment, and
the startling situations in which the
drama abounds, work up most thrilling
climax at the close. The situations at
the end of the third, fourth and fifth acts
are all exceedingly fine.
No man living understands stage eff
fects better than Boucicault, and this
play is signal instance of his art in pro-
ducing them. The pathetic predomin-
ates in the story, and the applause of
sympathizing hearts and moist eyes is
truer than that of voice and hands, though
there was plenty of the latter to stimu-
late the actors through their perform
ance. OF the actors themselves we can.
not speak at present as they deserve to be
noticed We would rather not particu-
larize, for the whole company appears to
have been selected with special reference
to the play, making uniform excellence
in the cast; but we cannot refrain from
mentioning few of the most important
characters. Mr.. W. ]. Cogswell as "Jem
Starkle proved himself an excel
lent actor. The character is essentially
heroic, vital with heroism entirely
free from any faint of bravado. Frank
Bosworth as "Noah Learoyd"-the old
man-was consnmmate piece of acting.
Harry Ellis as "Rsdley was unexcep-
tionably good. johnny Reilly" an
Irish sailor, was one of the finest parts
in the piece. John Davis, as +" Money
penny" the lawyer, and Mrs. Dan Myron
as "Jsne Learoyd," were thrice called
before curtain in acknowledgment of the
admiration they elected in their scenes
at the end of the third and fourth acts.
Moneypenny is serio-comic part on
which much of the effect of the play de-
ponds, and those who saw it last evening
will bear US ont in the assertion that il
created sensation. The pathos of Mrs.
Myron in the heroine received deeper
though less demonstrative acknowledge
mert. The play is well put on the stage
in mechanical point of view, and the
scene representing the mills of Msnches-
ter is especially worthy of note. We shall
give no hint of the plot, as we would not
rob single auditor of tie sanctions Of
pleasure be must experience in finding
it all out for himself
Suffice it to say, that the Long
Strike" and the company of the Olympic
constitute grand success. They have
made sensation, and the triumph of last
night cannot fail to be FOLLOWED up by q
succession o, increasingly crowded
houses. 81. Louis has not had such an
attraction within her borders for many q
day, and the people will find it out. That
was our verdict, and that of the audience
last evening at the fall Of the curtain on
the Long Strike.
LOOK TO Your HEALTH "A diseased
liver being the seat Of nearly all sickness,