The New York herald., 1869-02-15
THEATRICAL.


In spite OF the bewildering variety ana quantity
OF theatrical attractions set before the past two
weeks by ambitious managers and presumptuous
showmen, much Ado About Nothing'' may be
safely set down as the solidy successful There
are many reasons why this should be so. Wallack's
theatre is unexceponaby located and has for years
received the gracious patronage Of our most nteli-
gent and refined people. Not particularly the par
venus and small fashionables who figure In pro-
graInme papers, doubtful reports OF fancy balls and
divorce records, but men and women distinguished
in art, letters, journalism and the higher branches
OF trade and the inevitable tram OF mediocre but
respectable nobodies which follows in the wake Of
superior intelligence !.
The play which Mr.. Lester Wallack selected to up
hold the honor OF his ancient house In this trying
hour OF Shakspearean convusion Is one renectng the
deepest distinction upon Mr.. John Wallack's ex-
qusite taste. .Much Ado has been from its earliest
representation one OF Shakspeare's most acceptable
plays. 1t was originally called ''Benedick ana
Beatrixn from its two characters, justly regarded
as the most vivacious, sprtghtly and brilliant tnat
the poet ever drew. The part OF Benedict Is one
which has ever shone out brightest on the Shak-
spearean shore and by its alurng brilliancy lured
shoals of young actors 10 wreck and ruin. proper
conception OF the part Is diliicult taxing even
the keenest intelligence. correct expires
sible Benedict combines many varied and
exacting qualities and ACCOMPLISHMENTS, de-
he NJ once a scholar, an actor and gentleman.
In these respects 1t may be safely said that Mr..
John Lester Wallack comes as near TO their true
expression as any comedian OF the present day.
Mr. J. Lester Wallack's early training as military
man affords him an easy expression OF the s0ldierly
lord OF Padua and his subsequent devotion TO the
field OF literature stamps him as eminenty scholar
in profession which, unfortunately, boasts too rev.
The toilettmg In much Ado'' Is simply superb.
md ooofv vpa n nh
rative art and with her rich and Oriental air and
look Of radiant intelligence right regally does the
Eugenie herself the original and never 10 be for
gotten contriver OF crinoine pettfcoats, beau
l as she Is ns, 10 la tr 1mpesia r,os sSlietse Sa
bered, jewelled, powdered, pulled, panniered, ruf-
fied and otherwise pedecked III all the glorious but
toilet ever looked more perfect than royal Rose
Eytinge thus encased. Few artists measure the
meaning the soul which may De .nrown inso DRESS
in Lady Macbeth, an article Of attire which the
French, who know what's what IN the way OF night
gear have such horror OF that they think 1t the
most lugubri0us thing on earth, and have phrase
"15iste CONNIE an bonnet de asuiti-meancholy as
a nightcap-as IL 1t necessarily meant to0thache,
teethlng children, Cruel and caudle lectures. That
sort of cap h fiist0ri'5. Muslin, embroidery,
mechIin wore she none; but towel, dlnner nap
Kin or table cloth, or something OF the kind, which
she twists into Scotch medieval nocturnal head
gear the bare sight OF which should drive all drO-
rans OF millinery to suicide through despair at the
Swretchedness OF their art compared with what
true artist can make OF the simplicity OF nature.
See again the conbeen OF MI. Barney Williams u
his naune must ever be entwlned III Parnassian lau-
rels More power to your elbow, Barney dear. Be-
ing archeologicaly well as astheticay accurate.
as he always is takes few yards OF the country
cloth worn by the Irish peasant towards the close OF
the last century, and drapes It into shape without
either ribbons irnges, and behold the marvellous
result. What tender pathos, what bewidering blar
ny il conveys We ardenty long for the first Of his
Greek dramas. TO the handsome. expressive, re-
fined Phoenician face and eyes nssning showers oi
minute diamonds from beneath the picturesque
headgear OF ancient Greece.
Lei II stand TO the everlasting shame OF the pro-
fessIonal members OF the American Dramatic Fund
that OF all their number who had rcaped the plea
Brady the first president OF the Fund, there were
but two OF their number who paid to his dead body
the last small &C compnennI 9, a11wnmg M yasos 20 s Ie
stood with mostened eyes and sad hearts before the
bier containing the remains Of the great lrishman
only Mr.. Florence and Mr.. Barney Williams paid In
mute sorrow the debt OF obligation w hich Brady's
labors for their profession had entaied upon the
rnismanaged, soulless, un2rateiul Dramatic Fund
Brougham has managed by force OF native intel
lect. an exqusitey set stage and delicate regard
for verbal propricty TO convene nightly within his
Charmed walls such audiences as remind one OF the
gossiping days OF good old Pepys, when wits, gay
iallants and court beauties made the playhouse
their iavorite resort The adaptation OF the Old
fay0rte, "A Bull In CHINA shop" c0nvulses the
s,pepgth Of Mr. Bronghas company for fun pure
and simple Ever desIrous OF pleasing his patrons,
..genia Johnr has conc0cted a "Shakspearean rev1-
yalii which shall thrill anew the freshly awakened
classic taste the Manhattane9e The piece selected
for the honor Of travesty by Brougnan's trenchant
pen Is Shylock. The Hebrew usurer VIII be depicted
a. a New York pawnbroker to whom comes Antonio,
alter an unlucky bout AT the ''tiger' soliciting
loan. The court scene, with Mrs. Prior as Portia,
will be closely modelled after the judicial workings
OF our city courts. Miss Efie Germon will play
Lorenzo young venetian swell IN love with Jes-
sica and introduces very pretty ana taking song
OF The early mllkman. The scenery Is being pre-
pared with unusual care, and IL Is said will exceed
IN beauty and perfection Of detail ANYTHING before
Thought heretofore 10 be fautless. There are many
shylocks many Antonios, and many Jessicas In
this restless struggling commercial city OF ours
who w1l do well TO go and their faults and lol
lies mrrored on the buskined stage. The dramatic
Review'' winds up as usual the performance, peri and and
THAI Jersey CITY would snile away her look OF pa
tient PAIN which, although the sorrowfu result, pos
Is not the sparkling expression OF prosperous happl
ness characteristic OF our little sister city.
green the burlesqners are thronging our city To-
morrow night the Elise Holt Troupe form line for the
onset. Miss Holt has played brief and rather bril-
liant engagement IN Boston, where burlesque n
hardly better understood than In those grim times
when witches roasted at the stake and the curfew
bell told the Puritan youth and maiden the trystlng
hour was over, aud beans, prayer and sleep awaited
them But the Boston nights oil the Holt troupe
were just so many excellent rehearsals, and they
take the field here In complete equipment for what
we trust will prove a triumphant campaign. Miss
Holt finds her former rival, Miss Lydia Thompson,
firmly enrenched IN the anection OF the public, Dut
the most formidable entrenchment may be carried.
ana victory or drawn light may yet Rorify the
siken banners of the piquant, petite pretty Elise
The opening burIes1ue, .Lucyetia Borgia,' ts one
which Mr.. Lewis has made famous by ms perform
ance OF the title role.
why IL not the graceful, handsome Ada Harlan
OF sIxion- fame. playing at Woods or Niblos. to
one OF which companies she belongss The stage
misses her bright presence, and IN the shady walks
OF private life her sweetness y wasted
Musical and Theatrical Notes.
"Iiumpty Dumpty,n "UQder the Gaslightr "After
Dark. - "Ihe Lancashire nass'' and Jenny Enge are
the sensations In the Crescent City.
Miss Agnes Ethel wIll personatc juliet and Mr..
r. A. Gossin Romeo for our Yankee cous In
Hartford this evening.