New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-30
varietie. Theatre-s.The aunchback."

L
This play, James Sheridan Knowles
greatest work, was produced at this theatre
last night ''The Hunchback" was first
performed on the fifth of April, 1882, at the
Covent Garden Theatre, London, and its
production marked an era in the history of
English dramatic literature. 1t did much
to restore taste for theatrical entertain
meiits of an elevated character, both in
England and the United States, and to ST.
lence the cry of those critical croakers, the
continual burden of whose lamentwas ''the
decline of the drama" A freshness and
frankness in the spirit, a heartinesS in the
tone, and manly, muscular energy in the
language of this admirable play calls to
mind the dramatists of the day of Eliza
| beth.
And vet Knowles is no imitator. His
style is singularly original. Indeed, it is
sometimes a little too literally garnished
| with absolute Knowlesisms, as where he at
tains conciseness Of expression at the price
of obscurity, or, by the convOlution of his
sentences, conceals without invigorating his
| sentiment.
The scene of the "Hunchback" is laid
about the time of Charles l.. The story is
| that Of father who. in consequence OF his
personal deformity, imagines, that his
| daughter will be wanting in flial affection,
| and so brings her up in ignorance of their
| true relationship. She knows him only as
| Master Walter, her kind friend and guardian
| He proves in the end to be the rightful pos
SCISSOR of the peerage Of Rochdale, but
before this is discovered, he has found in
the person of Sir Thomas CLIFFORD suitor
for his daughter.
Julia, while yet simple country maiden,
accepts this suitor; but, on being tried by
the gaieties of city life, she enters into
them SO heartily as to make her lover ques-
ton the sincerity of her attachment to him
self. She takes offense at his inonitions,
and, while her pride is stung and her resent
ment aroused, consents-s'only to show him
that she can wed above him"-to receive the
addresses of the supposed Earl of Rochdale.
But no sooner is her word passed than she
bitterly repents of her precipitancy. When
she learns that adversity has overtaken
Clifford the generosity Of her nature is beau
tifully portrayed, and the scenes in which
she thenceforward appears are wrought up
to an intensity Of interest.
Such are some Of the principal Incidents
upon which the plot turns. There are some
condities and obscurities in the construc.
ton, but an audience will generally be too
much interested in julia to pay regard to
these subordinate questions of the play.
The cast last night was as follows:
Charlotte Thompson as Julia, George
Clarke as Sir Thomas Clifford, George
Ryer as Master Waller, Augustus Pit0u a.
Lord T,scl, Frank MurdOck as Mo7us
Stuart Robson as F0th0na, j. Brown AZ
| Master Wlfoyd, T. j. Hind as Master Ho0rt
,Ccu, H. B. Bradley as Gaylore, Shepard ai
Thomas, George Holland as Stephen, A
| Bruce as Simpson, T. Greer as Williams
$ T. Smith az HoldlreN, r. BrelsfOrd as Ser
rant Miss Alice Grey "a Helen.
OfMiss Thompson's Julia we can not say
that her performance coincided with oul
idea of the manner in which the par
should be played. Miss Thompson ID rather
too lachrymose, and her speech as well a
action lacked force and vigor. Mr. Clark
: was excellent. Mr.. Ryer as Mcstsr Waite
gave an unexceptionably good portrayal
and the rest of the cast were fully mp to tn
, requirements Of their various parts. To
morrow night, the LADY of Lyons" witt
Mr.. Frank Murdock a Claude Messetfe.