New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-28
St. Charles Theatre.

very serious light, that greatest of humor-
lists, manager Ben DeBar. has succeeded
in playing one Of the best jokes on the
good people of the Crescent City that has
been successfully perpetrated for many a
day.
Every person who knows anything has
heard of the "world-renowned' and the
'Story-renowned" Lydia Thompson troupe,
for the fair Miss Lydia has not travelled
without making her mark, and that, too.
with the veritable Miss Markham, who, al
though not an indispensable adjunct, is GER
tainly very essential part Of the "world-
renowned and "StOry-renowned' Lydia
Thompson troupe; and the attempt to have
Lydia Thompson troupe without either of
these famous personages is worse than the
attempt to play the tragedy of Hamlet
with the characters of Hamlet and Opheli0
omitted.
If we did not know "Ben," as he is
familiarly called, to be humorist ''Of the
first water''-we don't mean that he prefers
water to good brandy-we might suppose
that some 'jokist" had played a huge joke
by palming on him, successfully, a counter
felt Lydia Thompson Troupe. But know
ing his propensity for fun, and feeling
that-though round and chubby in appear
ance-he is really too sharp to allow the
joke to be played on him, we must conclude
that he consented to be a party to the joke
that is being played SO successfully at this
- ~ OF Of hnJ
on the people of New Orleans.
Milton, in drawing his "L'AllegrO," the
merryman must have had some such jester
as ''Ben" in view; for, Sin jest and youthful
jollity," it must be now conceded that
"Ben" comes squarely up to Milton's merry
man.
And now for the nymphs and merry-an-
drews that compose the troupe performing
at the St. Charles, and by their
"Ouips and cranks and wantOn wiles,
Mods and becks and wreathed smiles,
Such as han. Oh Hebe's cheek,
And love to live in dimple sleep"
have succeeded in drawing to that establish
ment, thus far, the fullest and most fashion
able audiences of the season. 1t must be
conceded the troupe contains quite num-
Der of females who, as 'Messieurs and
Mesdames Celestials," make quite be-
witching appearance to those who are more
fond of legs than brains. We would
not be understood as intimating
that the troupe does not possess
brains. We merely wish to say
its exhibitions consist more of legs than
brains. In tripping it ''on the light fantas
tic toe," and as the representatives Of the
characters of heather deities, the troupe
does passably well: but when its merry
andrews iattempt to retail the miserable
lampoons of others, it perpetrates not only
an outrage on the people who, by deception,
have been induced to witness the perform
ances Of the troupe, but an outrage On the
genuine Lydia Thompson Troupe. in whose
name these performances are taking place
We would advise, in friendly way, the
management of the St. Charles, and the
gentleman who has charge of the troupe
now performing there, to remedy this at
once, as the retailing such stuff is in marked
contrast with the pleasant rhymes and hap
py hits that were made by the troupe that
was here last winter.
The piece that is now being performed at
the St. Charles is called grand spectacular
burlesque extravaganza entitled Paris or,
the Apple of Discord.'' 1t must abound in
gorgeous scenery and costume to produce
the proper effect, and in this the manage
ment seems to have spared no expense.
The piece is not unlike many other pieces
performed by the Lydia Thompson Troupe,
in which heather deities are made the prin-
cipal characters.
Miss Heathcote as Jupiter, and Miss Min
ME Walton as Mercury, certainly looked a
great deal better than Mr.. Kelly as Mars,
and Miss Hattie Valee made a dashing
Cupid. But the best characters in the piece
are only ordinary mortals. These are Paris
and Ononc, personated by Miss E. Wealth
ersby and Mr.. Fisk, in the true spirit of bur-
lesque. They are both good artists.
Although the present troupe can not be
considered the genuine article that it pur-
ports to be, we are not going to now call it
a regular humbug. There is evidently
talent among these who compose this troupe,
and we are willing to accord merit where
merit is due. But as there can be no merit
in retailing the bad jokes of others, it is
but right the merry andrews that are now
performing at the St. Charles should be
confined to their legitimate business.
The preparations at the Mechanics Insti.
tute for the coming session of the Legisla-
ture, are going ON actively, and no doubt