The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-05

The ACADEMY OF MUNC.-MR. WARMERS
Observation-Disclosures last evening witnessed
another most gratifying triumph OF the legiti-
mate drama. A full though not crowded heuse
greeted Lord Lytton's play OF Rlchelieu and again
Mr.. Warner. as before, with the subtle passion Of
the royal Dane, so now beneath the proud old
Cardinals imperious will, held the eager au-
dience spell-bound. The curiously contrasted
qualities which went to make up this famous
man-the sagaoious, resolute, far.seelnS states
man treading close upon the heels OF the vain,
credulous verse. maker and would-be gallant
the omnipotent minister turning from casal
| to q saraband, and from the darkest passion
or political intrigue to bow with sooth-sayer
before the mandate Of the stars; the relentless,
vindictive, unscrupulo1s dispenser Of supreme
power, blending with his hercest impulse SUBJ
tie irony and deceying himself with confident So
phistries which, in another, would only have
evoked his contemptuous pitJ-yet, alike In his
strength and his weakness true to the master pas
sion OF his love for France and Frances glory and
prosperity, all these complex elements make the
character of Armand Richelleu one Of the most
fascinating as well as the most difficult In the
repertory Of the stage.
Of these opposing yet consistent moods Of passion
was no mean triumph. Again and again the ap-
plause of his hearers testified to his power, and,
at the close Of the fourth act he was called before
the curtain to receive the tribute Of their admra-
7 tlon.
We are sorry that we cannot accord the same
measure of approval to all the other characters OF
the play. Mr.. Warner was very feeby supported.
Miss Alexander's rendering Of Julie de Mortemar
was truthful and spirited and In the crisis OF her
role she was all that could be wished. Mr.. Woods
De Beringhen was well acted, and Mr.. O'Net was
tolerably successful as Adrien de Mauprat. Miss
Eldridge as the p age Francois had little to do
except to look charming and piquant, and she
did that to perfection. But the rest Of the COM
pany were scarcely equal to their parts. Mr..
Read (De Barradas) would have profted by
better knowledge Of his very important role;
and Mr.. Knapp as Louis was weaker even than
his weak prototype. Mr.. Parkers Joseph was
not equal to his PolonIus, and Mr.. Ryan Is bet
ter comedian than bravo.
The length Of the play as originally written
necessltates great curtailment In its presentation
on the stage The whole Of the long soiloquJ
which opens the third act was omitted last night,
somewhat to the detriment Of the harmony OF the
characters as con ceived by the author. The el.
feet OF the omissions Is to place Richelieu In
more amiable light than he perhaps deserves and
to suppress that shadowlng forth Of his more SIN
lister motives and his ereer qualities, which Is at
tempted In the written play. Thus the character
takes degree of credit due only to the situation.
To Judge the authors conception of Richelieu
fairly, and to estimate how far is consistent
with historical TRUTH the play must be read.
Tonight, we are to have shskespeare's her-
chant of Venice, with laughable afterplece.
real; ESTATE SALEs.-Mr. Hutson Lee sold