The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-13
MR.. ~. T. DAVENPORT.


The DRAMA, more than any other form of art,
appeals directly to the tastes and sympsthies
of all classes in the community, cultured as
well as uncultured. A picture OF a statue can
never inspire the same powerful emotions
that great tragedy does, If it is adequately
represented, and if the effects of the drama
are more evanescent than those of the other
arts, they are at the same time more vivid and
impressive for the time being, and are un-
derstood and appreciated by much larger
number of persons. The Importance of the
drama, therefore, merely considered as moral
agent, and without regard to its influence on
general culture, cannot be overestimatsd,
and any intelligent and conscientious effort
to raise the standard of dramatic art is worthy
of the most cordial encouragement. The
success of the Chestnut Street Theatre under
its present management is a matter in which
the general public are largely interested, for
if Mr.. Davenport does achieve a permanent
success in the line which he has marked out
for himself, the benefits will not accrue
merely to a comparatively small number of
habitusl plsygoers, but will extend them
selves to an indefinite extent through society
at large.
MIR. Davenport has for many years been
acknowledged by the most competent judges
as the most accomplished actor upon the
American stage. He does not equal Mr.. For
rest in the grandeur which make some por-
tions of that gentleman's performances un-
approachable; he does not equal Mr.. Booth
iu his faculty for inventing new and attrac-
tive stsge-busness, or in his exquisite taste
in costume, and.he may fall below other actors
in some special points. There is no per-
former upon the American stage, however,
who is SO thoroughly an artist in all the
essentials of his art, or who can
approach him in his wonderful
versatility. MIR. Forrest and Mr.. Booth can
not play comedy at all, and Mr.. Murdoch,
who is most delightful comedian, is more
of an elocutionist than an actor when he at
tempts tragedy; but Mr.. Davenport can play
tragedy end comedy, melodrama and farce, in
all varieties, with equal facility, and that his
tragedy is up to the highest mark of high art
his recent performance of the part of 'Sir
Giles Overreach" has sufficiently demon
strated. Mr.. Davenport is not only great
actor, but he is gentlemen of unblemished
reputation, and the assurance which he made
at the beginning of his season at the
Chestnut, that no immoral performances will
be given under his management, will most
undoubtedly be kept; and if the support of
the public is what it should be, plays of the
highest class will alone be produced. Mr..
Davenport has already accomplished the
heaviest portion of his task in removing the
prejudices which number of seasons of bad
management had excited against the Chestnut
Street Theatre, and although he commenced
his career ss a manager under n variety
of Disadvantages, he has achieved a
success that is as gratifying as it
was unexpected to even his warmest ad-
mirers. II MIR. Davenport has health and
strength to go on with his work, the future
of the Chestnut Street Theatre cannot be
doubtful, and the citizens of Philedel phia
will not only have cause for congr atulation in
the fact that the standard drama will have
permanent home here, but that the most
beautiful of our theatres will be presided
over by the most accomplished of American
| actors,