Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-12-22
.John MeCul,oush n. Richelieu.

~
last night, on the occasion Of his own
benefit, John Mccullough was most
grandly Richelieu. A mere passing the
atrical notice of this benefit We should
feel an injustice to the sentiment Of u
community, ven more than to the Cali
fornis Theatrical Company, which now
for nineteen nights, has so highly hon
ored itself, that our people have not yet
given the troupe a single failure IN o
house. We arc the more glad OF this,
because, despite the ability o. the troupe,
we feared that, considering how small
our community 10 and how tight the
times, Mr.. Piper had undertaken q ven.
turesome engagement. Tho result but
proves his sagacity, and we congratn.
late him and the people on this great
theatrical success.
Last evening cannot be justly consid-
cred by itself. Great an occasion as 1t
would have been if alone, when we con-
slider that a more than remarkable
UCamille" had preceded it, Qeaving in
our memories about what long had here
been voted t~hreadbare to the point OF
sickening, a floating, pleasing cloud OF
| originality and dramatic light the dihi,
Guilty of producing q yet more marked
feature Of pr%e.eminsnce, BY which we
shall all remember their long engage
mens was really enhanced; and yet last
evening produced it. Without saeariag
or shading Charlotte Thompson's tran.
scendeut i~mpersonatien in "Csmille,'"
the grandeur and magnifcencs OF Mccall.
lough's "Richelisu" will be remembered
the rather rs the great feature Q! the
engagement. Yet it will be 4 memory
a. Of massive g~raudsur-as it were OF
a mGgnifcently solid appearing castle
in the realm OF dreGm-whilo Miss
Thompson's "Camille" will be borne
in mind as a portrayal OF deeply impas'
stoned pathos, blent with touching deli
cacy-as it were an evergreen vine,
that might fttingly clothe while climb
ing on q more massive ideal creation.
With no intended slight to the mere
than excellent rendition Of all minor
parts last evenisg by the omission OF
individual mention, while our magma
ton still glows with n sense Of all the
power and majesty alike Of the play,
and ofits amazing "Richolieu," il we're
folly to attempt description Of the per-
Torrance itself. A worthy description
could DO realized as just by no one who
wa, absent. One written TO suit the
notions Of the absent would seem feeble
and unworthy to those present. To
avoid the appearance either OF feebleness,
or a worse, fulsomeness, we shnll allude
TO the marvellous impress Of the per-
formance upon the whole vast smoth-
ering audience. AS If it we're one being,
the house covered, swayed or swcllsd,
just as deep emotion or surprise gained
the %ascendancy over perpetual ndmira-
tion-silence to sclemnity, as if FROM
awe, was tho utterauce Of emotion,
while irrepressible bursts Of applause
were the expression Of surprise and
admiration. Nothing but an appearance
twice before the curtain could even
measursably sppen,s the feelings of the
immense audience, made up as it was OF
the most intelligent and critical Of our
patrons Of the drama. At the second
appearance, despite the vile ventilation
Of the house, which often m%ortifyiugly
puts the susceptible to sleep, as it keeps
snd) drives many from the house MS soon
as they can make nm excuse to leave, q
speech WAS called tor, which, as nearly
as we can recollect, was as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Frequently, upon
occasions similar to this, have / bsen called
to this spot, but never with q deeper sense
Of your great kindness and favor than now,
and you will not deem it weakness for me to
confess this to be one Of the proudcst mo-
mcnts Of my life; and while you so highly
honor one who ever till his latest day must
even more highly honor you, it becomes me
to make deeply grateful and public acknow!-
edgmsnts to Miss Thompson for having con-
sented on this occasion to assume a part 90
far below the scope of her rare abilities, and
to acknowledge also the excellence Of support
by others rendered. This audience is, OF
itself, more than gratifying, for no vendors
Of tickets have gone through your streets.
Il is free and spontaneous, assembled by
those who / am proud to call my friends,
and all Of whom ! thank. l could not in
this connection DO justice to my own feelings
should | fail to call attention to the fact that
on Thursday evening Harry Edwards, a fin.
ished, pains.taking and elegant artist, to
praise whom to you would be supcrluous,
will take \ benefit, md I do most earnestly
trust you will then equally with now prac.i-
cally attest your satisfaction with the at.
tempts Of all our company to minister to
your refined qualification, while at the same
time practically endorsing the liberality OF
the proprietors of this house. Once more,
ladic, and gentlemen, l thank you.