The New York herald., 1869-04-06
A M q s E II E N I S.

FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE-FREScH oPERA-The
genial John Brougham and his Irish comedies and
American extravaganzas have given place at this
house to Fisk, Bergleld and opera 6Oilce or French
opera. The transformation was signalized last
night by the performance Of "La Perchole," with
Irma, Auac and the other celebrities OF the Grand
opera House cast returned again. It was idea Of
Fisk, Jr, that this Fifrh avenue bandbox was the
very thing for the bouge, and for Irna ana Tostee
ard all tue light sparkling and airy nonsense OF
Onenbach ana company, and the first experiment
has proved that FISK in this neat operatic notion,
hit the nail on the head. The house was
crash, and the rush was kept up dur
though early in The morning all the seats
were gone And 1t was stylish house, reminding
upon time, made the old Astor Place house 80
beautiful under the gaslight For this little estab-
lshment there was a pretty good audience IN the
aises lobbles and doorways The experiment OF
the bOuBe here, popular attraction Is IA ht-a
palpabe hlt," and in regard to the O0'LDe singers 1t
Is a great Improvement on the immense expanse OF
the Eighth avenue house, in which much Of their
music and by-play was lost Here everything that
is spoken or sung is heard distinctly, and everything
that s done in Illustration OF the several characters
and OF the story Is distinctly seen by the Whole
house. The house sees ITSELF likewise in full relief,
with the aid OF the mirr0red walls on the sides,
that the intervals between the acts can be protaby
employed by the ladies in studying the fashions and
comparing notes.
AS to the performances by Irma, Aujac and COM
pany 1t Will suffice to say that, never having ap-
peared under such advantages, they never appeared
In better voice or training than last night Calls
before the curtain, great baskets and bouquets OF
flowers and a rattling fire OF applause at every
opening in the score werO the order OF the night.
Altogether tfs reopening was brilliant One the only
evidences OF recent tour OF hard work by the troupe
being I'm some OF the choruses, which lacked some
representation. This evening Tostee reappears as
the Grande Duchesse, and every evening for the
week there Is TO be change OF the bill The
Grand Duchesse will be particularly grand at her
new headquarters.
NIBLo's GARDEN.-Mr. Farnie has proved himself
more skifuI reconstructionist than the Solons at
washington, If we may accept the testimony OF the
crowded and fashionable audience that last night
witnessed the reconstruction Of the Forty Thieves.
1t is plain that our audiences are becoming more
familiar with the puns bon nsots, epigrams and
double meanings which constitute the peculiar
strength OF burlesque writing, for frequent and loud
applause greeted the old hits as well as the new,
which Mr.. Farnie has so successfully introduced.
Realizing that the large stage and auditorium Of
Niblo's initiates against the close and Intimate
contact between the audience and the actor, which
IN smaller theatres enables the play OF feature the
changing accent OF words, the puns and the light
hits OF burlesque to produce such telling effect he
has introduced no small portion OF the pantomime
and the spectacular in the new portions OF the
"Forty Thieves" and these changes were all well
received by the audience. They are too numerous
to specify in the limited space we can devote
good things from .ixion' and 'Ernani,v as.
for instance, ''rabby was a welshman," Miss
Lydia's sparkling song, up n a balloon and
Nonsense Rhymes Yankee DooIen was very
effectively introduced. The dresses are all new and
much improved and the scenery is greatly remod-
eed. The only change in the cast Is the transfer OF
Miss Kelsey TO the role OF the Fairy Queen and the
introduction of Miss Clara Thompson, the sep-sister
OF Miss LYDIA, In the part OF Amber. This young
lady made good impression and will prove favor
ite she has fine presence, good delivery aud grace
and spirit In action. The only fault we have
to ind with the reconstruction is that it ran too
slowly from an evident want Of rehearsal little
Judicious pruning oi some oil tte longer dialogues
Will also help This on the whole, Mr.. Farnie has
made another nit, which he may add to the now es-
tablished favorites from his pen: the "Forty
Thieves and pluto" and the Lydia Thompson
troupe have taken new lease of their hold upon the
public favor. IL would seem that they never get
enough OF the charming and graceful Lydia and the
ever comic and grotesque Beckett.
BROADWAY TnEATRE.-Last evening Mr.. and Mrs.
Barney Williams, the old ana well known favorltes
reappeared at the Broadway theatre for the first
time since their triumphant success m Philadelphia
The reception was most cordial. wei filed house
greeted the old favortes and seemed 10 take even
more pleasure than ever In the Emerald Ring"
The piece was admirably put upon the stage. Inc
sparkling dialogue was well recited; Mr.. and Mrs.
Williams excelled themselves, and Mr.. JacS, as the
wiley attorney seemed to euter into the spirit Of
the piece more heartily than we have seen him.
The representation last night was quite success,
and the manager had every reason To take encour-
agement and go on.
ACADEMY or MUsIc-JANAUscHEK.-The recent
riot OF burlesque and spectacle must have extended
its demoralizing influence In matters OF theatrical
taste among our German fellow citizens, else this
great actress would certainly have been greeted last
evening by much larger house than assembled to
do honor to her NTH farewell performance The
sion the presentation for the first time in this
country. and indeed, we believe for nearly two de-
cades anywhere, of Victor Hugo's drama
of "Thisbe: or, Angelo the Tyrant OF Padua," with
Janauschek In the title rUte. The piece is one
Offering full opportunity for the exhibition
OF those high qualities OF histr1onIc ability
which this artist possesses In an eminent degree
being o story OF love- jealousy and murder OF the
sixteenth century. The audience, although SIN all,
was critical ana appreciative and gave frequent eX
hDiton Of their high admiration OF tue artists Efforts
No more truly great actress than Jan auschek has
ever appeared before an Ameri can audience. Her
several interpretations all life picturcs-strong
and bold sketches-wIth the calm power OF genius,
artistic renderinps, not where art Il applied to
conceal the art but were II " toned down and ex :
erted with such to be free from rant or over
acting Her Thlsbe IL not behind any character she
has before appeared In In these qualities OF excel
lence.
STADr THEArRE-SHyLoCK.-Th has not been
dramatic actor OF emnence since the time OF Shak-
speare who has not tried his powers IN the charac-
ter OF shylock. There just such mixture OF the
religious fanatic, the avaricious miser, OF the loving
parent and OF bloodthIrsty revenge, concentrated
In the person OF the Jew OF Venice, and the court
scene IN the last act, where the apparent triumph OF
oil the passions OF the revengefui Jew are suddenly
turped 10 complete discontinue and his own debase-