New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-20
THEATRICAL AND OPERATIC.


The theatrical season in this city can
now be said to be in full operation. The
Academy, as usual, led the other theatres
by six or seven weeks, and was followed by
the St. Charles. On the eighth instant the
Varieties opened its doors, and the last to
commence was the New Opera House, On
! Thursday last, with! Halevy's grand opera
of "The Jewess" From what we have al
ready witnessed, the indications are in favor
! of our theatre managers, who display in the
| aggregate better talent than during preced-
| ing years. The only building that has un-
| dergone any important improvement this
| year is the old St. Charles, whose proprietor,
! after long period of regrettable procrasti-
nation, has finally indulged in some ex-
| pense toward the accommodation of its
| patrons, and tho result is that the Old
Drury now contains the most comfortable
| auditorium and is able to seat more specta
| tors than any other theatre in the city. Tn
| fortunately, the protracted existence of
! yellow fever had retarded the infiuss Of
strangers into the city, and the return to
their home Of a large number OF our resi-
dent population The consequence
has been thin houses everywhere,
with the exception of the Academy
of Music, whose proprietors possess
the tact OF constantly renewing their at
fractions and a Iberality and science in ad-
vertising, which might be initiated by
| others. For who has not admired the costly
illustrated posters issued periodically from
| this theatre to announce the advent of
new company or new stars. Mediocrity
sometimes follow these flaming posters, but
the object has been attained. The first
nights find the auditorium well filed: the
outlay is returned in round dollars, and if,
during the balance of the engagement"
the house is not crowded nightly, it still
pays handsome profit.
During the week that has just closed the
Academy has invested in the legitimate with
success. The production of the comedy of
The Lancers'' has introduced to our public
company of English performers, whose
| delivery and styleOf acting was somewhat
foreign to these parts, and there was marked
hesitation at becoming accustomed to them.
! Still the theatre did a fine business for this
hesitation was influenced in great part by
| individual criticism and no little coterie. A
second hearing of the Academy's troupe
| dispels all prejudice. The merits of The
Lancers rests principally upon ITS
second act, which is rich in witty
repartee. exquisite situations running
through--a well written dialogue evidently
| originating in the brain of d Frenchman;
! and withal. entirely devoid of attempts at
effect or the least Objectionable expression
! or motion. There is a dash and poitencss
| in this act Which brings back pleasant mem
ores of the choicest gems of the French
and English repertoire, with all their finely
drawn emotional and comcai characters
| ties. The play is exceedingly well inter
| preted 10y Misses Louisa Moore, Johnson
and Burr. and Messrs. Charles Wyrdham,
| Fitzpatrick. Edgar and Ryan, all Of whom
| have seemingly well studied their respective
parts, and play with the pride Of genuine act
| ors. BlUster and ranting are banished from
their method, and the performance is ac-
| complished in delightful conversational
| STYLE spoken generally in good English
| These artists seem also to fully appreciate
| the charms of hy-play. and dispense pro
| fusion of this estimable accessory while per
| forming The Lancers.' We regret how
| ever, that We should have to find the greater
| faults in the leading members of the
company. Miss Moore and Mr.. Wyndham.
Nature has not been liberal with them
in the matter OF voice. In the ordinary dia-
logue Miss Moores voice is peculiar but not
disagreeable; it is even pleasant at times,
owing to it's childish character; but when
ever a display ot power or emotion is re-
quired her voice becomes refractory, and
its infections blend with much difficulty.
Add to this too little attention to distinct
articulation. These deficiencies are still
more apparent when she sings. Mr.. Nynd-
ham can also reproach Dame Nature for his
defects of voice, and, besides. has the bad
habit of speaking very often too fasJ. We
advise these good artists to beware OF the
betrayais OF nature that may be overcome
by close attention. The managers of the
Academy have exhibited in The Lancers' y
no little enterprise. by introducing in the
drawing room act one of the finest sets of
rosewood furniture to be found in the city.
We now pass. to the st. Charles. The
Zayistowskis close their engagement to-
night. II their present season has been as
profitable as it should, considering the
numerous friends OF Christine, Emeline
and Alice in this city, and their established
reputation as three Of the most versatile
and protean artists in the country, the
managers have to blame themselves alone.
The Zavstowskis opened with their favorite
business, the burlesque, and but for the
shameful assistance given them, would
have done {. thriving business for the st.
Charles. With the exception of Miss Kate
Singleton, that portion OF the 81. Charles
stock that undertook 10 perform in
the burlesCue was a dead failure,
and never were endeavors to make people
laugh SO ridiculous, with probably the ex
eeption of Mr.. DAILY, when he tried to play
Marx Med0lc at the Varieties a few even
ings ago. The sisters have eventually ap-
peared III the "Ticket-of- Leave Man.
Dick Turpin and Tom King" and the
pretty afterpiece of 1.-The Water Witches"
and new play, Found on a Door STEP"
written expressly for the Zavistowskis, a
kind of melo drama possessing the merit of
being played by these ladies and atfording
an opportunity to Emeline TO display her
qualities as an inyfnue and q coquctte. In
the two first named pieces they have received !