New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-26
Academy of Music.

The management acted Judiciously IN re-
peatiug, last evening, the '.Rapparee' and
the ''Benecia Boy" WITH which the engage
nent OF Dominick Murray began. The
pieces gained hy the second performance.
particularly the drama. for the somewhat
complicated plot becomes clearer on repeti-
ton, adding greatly to the enjoyment which,
on the first performance, arose from the ex-
cellencc OF the acting.
The second performance o. the "Rappa-
ree' strengthens tie impression made by
the first, that Dominick Murray approaches
nearer to Tyrone Power than any other
delineator Of Irish character and humor
" ho has ever trod the boards. And those
among US who remember Power will hold
it as the highest euconlium that could be
conferred on any successful impersonator OF
irish character to say that he approached
nearly to Power. EUt n Dominick Muir
| rays case, We feel justified in going some
steps further, and saving that lis perfor
nance in Iiody was equal to any OF Powers
| best efforts, for we can hardly conceive of
anything more perfect and more natural
| than the portrayal of the Irish outlaw as
| the character was portrayed by Murray
| but driven to desperate resistance against
| the laws because they had been enacted
| solely for his political suppression. Driven
| from the pale OF the law-;lbiding, like David
when hiding in the cave Of Adullum. gath
| ering around him all wbb were discontented
and frowned on by fortune; and becoming
| captain over them. Resistance 10 law be-
| gets Generalization. however evil the law
| NAV be: hence the outlaw becomes entan-
! gled in schemes that his better nature can
| not approve. The deeper ne is drawn in.
| the more potent the evil influence which
seems 20 have obtained complete mastery
over him. the more his conscience smites
| him and impels him 10 resist the diabolical
| schemer and man of evil .Iuaginings and
bad resolves. At length. with desperate
! effort that shows the strong nature. warped,
indeed, by evil impulses, but still alive 10
| the promptings of honor, ne determines 70
sacrifice himself rather than to bring ruin
TO innocence and virtue. Without detail
] ing the pot or pursuing II to the denoue-
| ment, this is the general idea Of the char
acter peuonated by Mr.. Murray as the
Rappaiee
Ia the opening Of the piece, lis keen per-
ception Of the fun, hiding from view the
| deceit he was practising: as the plot
| thickened, his dawning perception .of the
nature of his actions; his horror OF the
| schemer, leading him 10 perceive how lar
ne, himself. had departed from the good,
! the bursts OF remorse which even at their
height could pot entirely extinguish a keen
! sense of the humorous all these are rem
| dare3 with III effect that even the most I'M
discerning must perceive is true 10 nature,
! espeeiallv Irish nature. Although the
| character Of Rody is strongly sensational,
| o-e Great merit in Mr.. Murray's renderings
! is that he does not overdo it; and in this
respect he greatly resembles Power.
How far this sterling actor may sustain
himself in the characters OF Irish gentlemen,
Sir Patrick OPetipo for instance. we do
rot venture to say ; but we.are inclined TO
augur favorably from the diversity he
showed in the character Of Benjcnain Bob
bin. Tonight he extends his role by ap-
pearing in tie exciting drama o1 ALLEN
Aroon," as Lanty OLedry.