Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-01
MEMPHIS THEATRR.


The new comedy company, styled the
Moore and Wyndham combination, we're
welcomed last night by large and fash
ionable audience below. IS well as q
numerous and somewhat noisy array OF
gods above, The title Of the Lancers7
has become so familiar In the city that
every one Of course knows what the play
is called, but only those who were pres
ent could realize all the amusement
gayety. vim and real wit with which the
piece abounds, as we'll as the exquisite
talent Of the principals andithe superior
excellence. Of the other members of the
company. The plot Of the Lancers has
been before described in these columns;
it will therefore be necessary only to re-
fer to it in connection with the descrip-
ton of the successive scenes Of the play.
The first act opens on village lands
cape adjoining the Inn Of the RisingSun,
kept by one Nine Pomponne Miss Fan
ny Burt for the accommodation Of the
regiment of Sd Lancers, the exploits of
some Of whom furnish the title to the play.
Here we find the young a@d beautiful
widow Estelle Duvernay Miss Louisa
Moore) on masquerading expedition in
the disguise Of a peasant girl, accompa-
nying Jeanette miss Annie Campion)
to see a review Of the Lancers. She is
Of course troubled by the soldiers, who
express their admiration in the usual
forcible manner customary among the
military, but especially that of Ia belle
France. She is rescued from the annoy
ance by Victor de Courcy, known in the
Lancets as Jolicoeur, (Mr. Charles
Wyndham), who begins to make love to
her himself This scene between the
two artists is the beginning Of the in
terest in the play. The ad-
mirable lby-play, badinage, repartee
and coquetry exhibited on either
side, tinged with the least bit of
seriousness, was most charmingly rem
Gered, and was perfect bit of comedy
acting, which was thoroughly apprecif
ated by the audience. Miss Moore, from
this scene to the end Of the play, carried
the sympathies of the audience with
her. Her pretty and girl-like appear
ance and charming tact and naturalness
we're new revelation to those accus-
toned to the more forcible stage heroics,
so popular among leading actresses.
The merits of Mr.. Charles Wyndham
were also recognized. He is young,
good looking, possesses q natural grace
and ease on the stage, as pleasing as it
is uncommon. All that was done by
these two artists was rendered with that
entire absence of effort and striving for
effect, which is the most consummate
secret Of art, by concealing the means
which produce it, and make people won
der where the art is. The scene which
followed, where Victor explains to his
friend Eugene (Mr. Allerton) the secret
of his apparent degradation, was forci-
bly, and feelingly rendered by Mr.. Wynd-
ham. Theg gem of the play is undoubt-
eddy the second act From the rise
of, the curtain until the fall it
fairly sparkles wi4h bright gems
of wit, elegance and refined and
beautiful acting. Left entirely in the
hands of the principal artists, it is not
marred by the awkwardness and ignor-
ance of the stage extras who materially
interfere with the effect in the succeed
ing acts, At the opening of the act we
see Estelle in hertrue sphere, that of the
elegant and refined lady in a brilliant
and becoming evening toilette and we
are also introduced to the military lady
whose ideal of perfection is my brother,
the Colonel" and who has a becoming
contempt for anything and anybody civ
ilian. This part was, capitally played by
Miss Nellie johnson, who made quite n
hit. The entrance on the scene of the
three gentlemen, Victor, Eugene and the
Colonel, (Mr. Fitzpatrick), in ire
proachable evening dress, had most
pleasing effect The presence on the
stage Of number of ladies and
gentlemen with the dress, manner
and perfect breeding of the class they
represented, was a perfect novelty in
stage effect, never before witnessed here,
and rarely seen on any stage but Wal
lacks. Added to this, the piqpancy and
dialogue Of the dramatist, materially
aidsd by the introduction Of most telling
points and actions by the artists them
selves, gave a charm to the whole which
was felt by the entire audience. The
singing Of Miss Moore was loudly de-
servedly applauded. She possesses
beautiful contralto voice, well cultivated
and thoroughly puder control. The
badgering of the Colonel by the reck-
less "victof ! was shown with consum-
mate skill by Mr.. wyndham, and every
telling point hit the mark and raised a
hearty laugh. The indignation of the
9 Colonel x4s eScellently exhibited by
Mr.. Fitzpatrick, VINO is one of the best
members Of the'sompauyli Miss Moore,
as the lady beset by two suitors, who
were at times little too marked in their
attentions and disputes, displayed the
most exquisite tact coupled with the peri
feet ease and grace of the high-bred lady.
The fnesse shs Displayed in not favoring
one too much before the other; her 4
preference for Victor, which she betrays
in spite Of herself, and her fainting at the
end ofthe act,wereall fine points depend
ing Oh the aeftess Alaae fof effect, and
made the most of by her. The third and
fourth acts re-introduee the military ele-
ment and show the abnegatioa Of self
and devotion Of woman in love, the
redemption and final reward of the