New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-08
MISS CHARLOTTE THOMPSON.
Close Of Her Eugssement,

The touching and beautiful love story of
Romeo and Juliet" which, notwithstand'
ing its comparative antiquity, condition
factiti0usly obtained by repeated represen-
tations, is one of the most exquisite gems OF
eentimentality in the ieweled crown OF
Shakespeare's impsssiored conceptions, was
given last night with az eClat worthy OF the
past achievements of Charlotte Thompson.
Sweet as she looks in the photographs, q
souvenir of memory. IL the character OF
juliet she glanced upon Us, more ike
vision of loneliness, as she appeared in the
window, and broke upon Romeo so like the
sun he thought it was 1.-THE East Her
whole impersopation was chaste; we might
say unaffected, but for the fact that We nave
so often com nented on her naturalness, we
fear we might be guilty Of tautology.
Most of the ,Tuliets we have seen are very
like the Opdeii0s. They mistake tender
sentiment for maudlin passion, and rush
into fanatic extremes. Many Juliets hang
upon the poor, submissive Romeo, as the
ivy is additionally and illustratively said
to cling to the sturdier oak; but Miss Thomp.
son iDfuses moderation into her ideas, and
while she does not dampen the ardor of the
love she fosters for Romeo, she neither
plays amorous antics nor throws her heart
and eoul recklessly into the bargain. There
IS modesty, dignity, reserve, we apprehend,
II Charlotte Thompsons unprofeseionsl
character, and so her reuditions are but the
the reaex of her manifold virtues indiYidu-
ally.
In the melo dramatic parts of the play,
as 1t were. where the course of true love
runx comparatively 'smcoth.' barring
those little hindrances, which, we are told,
give impetus to the passion and augment
its glow, Miss Thompson is subdued, cor
rect and impressive. As the plo. thickens
she becomes likewise intensified, and when
it merges into the tragical. her intuitive and
grasping genius, catching the inspiration
more directly and becoming more and more
enthused. rises gradually, but grandly, to
the highest reaches of histrionic art and
eliminates in many bursts of splendid elc.
cution. But all her distinct renditions have
been severally eminent, and it is needless to
specialize any.
This evening we are to have work which
has only necessarily suffered ii the transla.
ton, from the younger Dumas-a French
play, and, by the by, one of the most sue.
cessful ever put upon the stage. About ten
years ago, this identical Miss Charlotte
Thompson played Camille here, being her
first appearance in that character, under the
John Owens regime. IN it she has reaped
scattered the seed OF the goodly drama from
her own fair hands. In Philadelphia she
created a perfect furore. Playing as stock
actress at the Arch Street Theatre, she made
such marked and decisive hit, that about
two months after she was transferred as
gagged for week, her Camille was such a
performance. the manager
quickly continued her, and she paid him
back in brilliant success. For four con.
seCutive weeks Camille was pers0nated there
BY Charlotte Thompson; and what is still
more significant and telling, other stars
were bought of, that the bright, particular
one might have the heavens to Itself.
Tonight is Miss Thompson's benefit.
She has selected Camille We will not
insult the popular taste and appreciation,
by bespeaking fer her crowded house.
We need furnish them no other card than
the fact that Miss Charlotte Thompson has
achieved more splendid success in Co
mile, than IN any other character IN which
she has appeared. Tomorrow IS her last
appearance this season