New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-23
ORLEANS THURSDAY
Mrs. Marie wilkins

ton, since the "legltImate drama seemed
to pail upon the public taste, and the hab-
itues Of the auditorium, like the Athenians
OF old. turned to look for some new thing.
The new thing appeared in the shape of
melo-dramatic and terpsichOrean sensation,
involving ample display of feminine physi-
cal proportions. We are not prepared to
say that this also has had its day, built has
occupied the stage SO long that a par
tial reaction in favor of the sterling old
drama is beginning to take place, and a
large proportion OF those who view the
drama as means of not immoral recreation
wish to see the comedy and farce Of former
years return, not wholly to absorb the
stage, but to share it, to some extent, with
the style Of attraction that belongs to the
sensual rather than the intellectual.
1t has been asserted as reason for the
declension OF the drama as it existed in the
palmy days of the kembles, OF SiddOns, of
Coleman. Sheridan, Dibdin, that fashions
and manners change, and hence the plays
that pleased in the days of George the
Third. the days of flap waistcoats, knee
breeches, bob wigs, shoe buckles and dress
swords. are not adapted to the tastes that
belong to the aye Of chignons, plug hats,
mustachiOs and revolvers.
We do not, however, think that this is so.
The poets and noveiists of a past generation
are as much read and appreciated i'll the
present day as they ever were. and the plays
OF Shakespeare belonging to an age diamet-
rically the opposite of this in manners and
social ideas, yet keep their place upon the
stage and in the public mind. Besides.
though fashions and ideas constantly change,
such change seems to no in the nature OF a
cycle. Even now We can trace partial re-
turn to the ideas OF former period. A por-
ton of female costumes initiates the mode
of several generations ago, while the dispo-
sition to carry weapons smacks of the time
when every man. hand had to keep his head.
or to quote Major Dugald Dal.etty. when a
mans head was safer in steel cap than in
a marble palace.
We believe, then, that the sterling plays
of the last two generations. the Turnpike
Gate" the "Rivals." the Heir at Law
">he Stoops. to Conquer, or belonging to
our own time, the Love Chase. of Sheridan
Knowles, or the Lady of Lyons" by Bull
ver. would prove as attractive now as they
were wears ago. We regret therefore thai
one OF the best actresses. i'll her peculiar line,
that ever rraced the l.nslish or American
stage is about to depart from us without
havin. lad an opportunity to appear in the
characters which have made her celebrated,
no. onv in London, where she first ap-
oearei. but In various Northern critics,
Washington, Baltimore. New York and
elsewhere. Mrs. Marie Wilkins made her
debut some time abou. the year 1851, at the
Haymarhet Theatre. London, as Wid>pr
Green. in Sheridan Knowles Love Chase ,
She seems to have at once taken possession
OF til, boards in ii round of characters that
are part Of the staple in our very best dra-
matte productions. Wito,r Green, Mrs.
Uuricostjc Mrs. Woloprop.
Tn. London press appears to have been
unanimous in according to Mrs. Wilkins the
first rank rs an impersonator OF charac-
tevs Of this type: and on her arrival IN
America the press. wherever she has ap-
peared. have indorsed the dicta of the Lon
don critics.
In New Orleans, owing 70 the unfortunate
burning of the Varieties Theatre, Mrs. VIII
kns has had little opportunity for the dis
play of her eminent talent; but there has
been sufficient to convince us that IN the
lavish praise accorded her by the English
and American press, sac has received but
simple justice.
We hope that, in the ensuing season,
Mrs wilkins will again appear on the stage
of New Orleans. and that we will have an
opportunity OF witnessing her impcrsona-
ton of Mrs. Md'aprop and the round OF
characters that have given her such high
standing in the dramatic profession.