The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-04
AM USEHENTS.
The Academy of orMusic-saturday Night.

The mixed bill at tho Academy OF Music on
Saturday night failed to attract a numerous au-
dence; chiefly, perhaps, because it is the habit
in Charleston to run after plays which nave
continental reputation, and to neglect those
| which arc still on probation, or have no merit
beyond giving certain performer the opportu-
nifty of proving his proficiency In particular
line OF action. One OF this last named class
ais she mad?n headed the bill. winning before
the curtain fell the noisy applause OF the galleries
| as we'll as the less uproarlous approval or
the dress circle and parquette. The plot Of
the play il this: ~ English baronet, Sir Ber-
nartl Harleigh (Mr. Mordaunt,l whose young and
beautiful wife, Lady Viola Miss heene,) appears
to be constantly pursued by an attractive swell or
the period, Lord Brandon (Mr. Otis,l becomes fu'
riously Jealous without any good reason, quarrels
with Brandon, and throws him into the sen.
Preyed upon by remorse, the oaronet becomes q
monomaniac. Putting the case pardoXically, lie
believes, when apparently sane, that his vile IS
deranged, and, when under the influence of his
mania, thinks that his wife Is faithless, and Is
eager to drive her from his sight. Sending for an
old friend, DR.. Pungent Mr. Wallis,) he imparts
to him his secret. DR.. Pungent Is misled Tor
6 momert, but soon discovers that it is the
baronet, and not his wife, who Is mad. cousin
OF the baronet, Maunder (Mr. Hawk,) forces hls
way into the house, and sees enough to convince
him that his kinsman is deran2ed That COM
mission of lunacy may issue, and the control OF
his Cousins property pass into his hands, he in
troduces, as witness, Lord Brandon, who is at
once recognized by Lady Viola as the exquisite
who was supposed to be murdered. Only terri
m
Hareigh. His mind is carefully prepared, and
he is confronted with Brandon, who Is, in truth.
the husband of Amabel CIiss Anderson,l the
ward of Harleigh. Following her from place to
place, he caused 1t to be believed that he WAS I'll:
lover OF Lady Viola. Everything is cleared up.
The cloud passes away, and the drandttS perSonR
promise each other an unlimited amount OF stage
happiness.
The whole play Is arranged so as to afford full
scope for the acting OF Mr.. Mordaunt (Harlelgh,l
whose vivid portrayal Of the changing moods OF
the madman produced q striking effect. In his
moments Of dependency, when the brain Is
dazed and he "cannot remember" In his bursts
OF passion, when the doting wife Is driven from
his presence; In the moments OF frenzy, when the
murderous handkerchief Is before his eyes and
will not hence; In the calmer intervals when the
cure OF his rnad wife engrosses his thoughts
Mr.. Mordaunt was admirable. In appearance,
gesture, tone aad thorough consistency, 1t was
the most striking bit or acting which this gentle.
man has given US.
Mis-. Keene, the agonized wife, conscious OF her
husbands insanity and her own innocence, played
with her usual graceful yivacity. Mr.. Wallis was
painstaking and effective as Dr.. Pungent, and as
+ for hTIcu Ind 4 lfoo ,al
Mr.. Otis (Brandsn.) and Mr.. Hawk (Maunder)
The piece was loudly applauded, and the per-
formers were called out when the curtain fell.
"An actress by Daylight Is a bare thread OF
story which gives Miss Laura Keene an occasion
of showing her versatility, and her power of
changing instantly from the defamation OF the
"tragedy queen" 20 the hard common sense of an
''unattractiye curlpapered old Woman," who iias
neither 'talent, beauty nor heart" All this Is
done for the dsenchantment OF Adophus Down.
right (Mr. Otis,) who has fallen in love with
famous actress, who as the request of his father,
Invites him to call on her, and, disguised rs the
female already mentioned, succeeds In convlnc
ing him that actresses are very matter.of-fact
semebodles and make pathos as carpenter makes
stool. In the process the actress ia herself smit
ten and the end Of 1t all is that Adolphus Is called
back, the father gives his consent the wrinkles
and false plaits vanish, and the famous actress
and nascept poet join hands In earnest. Sketches
of this class always 60 dewn well. The public Is
born turt-hunter, and the feeling which causes
the "last young man" to be anxieus for intima-
cy with concert singer, baetdancer, hack
driver or the presiding spirit Of an engine roon,
leads the mass Of spectators to enjoy hearing AL
actress say on the stage,that her first thought on
treadlng the boards Is "to look how much money
there Is in the house." and to be told, after bit
OF thrilling defamation, leach time do that
make two dollars and seventy-1ve cents"
The audience applaud because these smart
common-paces sound natural, and appear to
give them an idea OF the private life OF An actress
They do not pause to think that all this us acting
just as much as the thrilling pathos OF Merry Leigh
or the brusquerie Of Naomi Tighe.
Hr. Otis (Adolphus) made the most OF the little
he had to do, and Mr.. Hawkwas capital Lawyer
Downright.
The last piece was Toodlea. This, to our taste,
Is always stupid enough, and was particularly un.
pleasant on Saturday night, because OF the zes:
with which the here gave himself up to t de.
lights OF q stage drunk. A drunken man, of the
stage is bad enough and on the stage heis revolt
ing just as the representation Is true to life. 1t
may sometimes be necessary, for stage purposes,
to Include m inebriate in tho caste, but In the
case OF Toodles IL seems to have no other object
or excuse than to draw suflaw from q few un
fortunates who ought to Know better. At the
Academy OF Music this drunken business fell Gaty
enough, and will not, we hope, be repeated.
The stage arrangements OF the evening were
very good. Tie different characters were we'll
dressed, and above all-well gloved and well
shod.
Frou Frou Tonight.
This evening the much.talked Of and popular
work OF Meilhac and Halevy, bearing the sound
born and mysterious name OF "Frou Frou,"
which has achieved so signal q success in Paris
and is now oil the rage in New York, will be pre-
sented at the Academy, with entirely new scene
ry, properties and costumes. Everybody is going,
to find out what Frou Frou means, and from
what We can hear, the play will be splendid
success.
Magical Entertainments.
Sig. Rubini, who hos large experience as ma
glclan and professor the black art has arrived In
this city and will give series Of entertainments at
the ulbernian Hall. In addition to the wonderful
tricks performed. there viii be free distribution
OF prizes at the close Of the entertainment. The