The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-07

THEATRE.--Ih play of "Expation''
was again enacted at the Theatre last night.
Mrs. +. S. Chanlrau rendering the dual part
OF lady lsabeln and MADAM Mutton. -
with that artistic ability which characterize
all her performances. After a critical OBJ
scryation OF this lady in ''Chrstie john
stone" AID "Alatiam NiQlton," we can ap-
precate and concur in Fecliter's criticism
upon her that in her roles she was the best
actress on the American stage. beautiful
in face, handsome in figure, easy. graceful
and always natural in movement, with q
full, rich, mel0dious voice, whose sympa-
thetic notes arouses our better nature, She
achieves success i'll emotional parts une-
gualled by any actress we have ever seen.
excepting, only, the great Ristori, whose di-
vine genius Illuminated all it touched. In
deed, to us, there are many notes in the
voice of Mrs. Chanfrau that constantly re-
call the gifted daughtero of Italy. Last eve
ming, IN the deep, heart-moving pathos of
her performance did she frequently bring
wildly before us the pathetic inspiration Of
some scenes in Ristor's MARE Antoi-
nette.n
Expiation is a charming play, and does
great credit to the talented, graceful and
poetical mind of Mr.. Tayleure. II is in
part an adaptation OF the French play.
based on ''East Lynne" and partially
Mr.. Taylcure's own production. The
third act, which is replete with poetic
beauty, is entirely his own. We think it
a much more scholarly production than Mr..
It's first dramatization of Mrs. Woods
novel; bat we cannot resist the conviction
that in the excision Of Sir Francis Leyison
and the salient individuality of Cornic
Carlyle, he has made an error. The
action Of EXpiation is not quick enough,
and so consummate a playwright as Mr.
Tayleure could have enhanced it to COM
plete success, with these two important sui
salaries. AS the play stands, it is too
talky for the characters introduced in the
first two acts, and hence little prosaic.
The third and last act is model OF drama
tic composition and delightful in poetic
conception.
Mr.. Noyes was passable as Archibald
Carlyle, with his natural advantages ofvoice,
manner, and stage presence he should be
better actor. He is an actor of the Forest
school, and has some of the worst vices of
that great tragedan. Instance the effected
heavy roll of voice in articulation, and the
facial grimace Of drawing the lips back over
the teeth, with the eyes staring directly at
you and not in the slightest degree partici-
pating in the operation going on below. lie
is also constantly inattentive to the busine
Of the stage. As last night, in the fearful
scene between Lady Isabel and Barbara, he
stood at the centre entrance with his legs
crossed and arm akimbo leaning against the
illustrating the languor of good
ton, but not showing the slightest
interest in the terrible throes of
the two women agonized before
him. This was simply objectionable.
We think, too, that in modern parts like
Lord Ipsdon and Archibald CARLYLE he
should pay more attention to dressing. A
change of dress would relieve the mo-
notony, and impart pleasing feature to
his renditions. We would say to Mr..
Noyes, ride Charles Matthews and Lester
Wallack.
Mrs. Noyes gave satisfactory delinea-
ton of Barbara. She should snbdue her
voice more, and not give way to those vo-
cal gushes. When they occur there is too
much occasion to apply the criticism 'de-
clamation roars, while passion slceps.O
In view of the splendid abilities of Mrs.
Chanirau, the small house of last night
was disgrace to Richmond.