New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-14
Shakespeare Club.


Last evening, at the Varieties Theatre
the popular Shakespeare Club gave theil
second performance of the season. The
house was as brilliant as could be, and 50
crowded that standing room was at a pre-
MUM before the commencement of the
play.
The piece chosen for the occasion was
Dion Boucicault's five act drama entitled
''The Long Strike"
The piece, like nearly all the productions
of this author, is what might be termed an
excellent acting play. Boucicault excels in
this respect. All the situations are per.
fectly worked up, and the climax of each
act occurs just in the proper place.
1t is necessary, however, in producing his
pieces, to fully understand the stage bust
ness incidental to the scene, and unless the
| stage manager is thoroughly posted on the
various situations and points in the play, a
| great deal of effect is lost. This was the
| case, to some extent, last evening. The
| telegraph scene, in the fourth act, which
may be considered the most important and
emily done, and without any effect. The
cause was solely the want of knowledge of
| the situations and business of the charaC-
ters concerned. The rest of the play was
well done, and the scenery throughout was
good and appropriate.
Of the acting, we must accord the hOnOrs
of the evening to Mr.. B. Onorato, who, as
Noah LearOyd, was in every way excellent.
He gave the part an artistic finish that we
could hardly expect from an amateur, and
his earnest, attentive and thorough assimi-
latiOn of the character, particularly in the
scene after the murder, deserves the highest
praise.
Mr.. Mullen as Jen Starke seemed some
what out of place. The character was un-
suited to him, and lacked vigOr of express
sion.
Mr.. Cowen as Readily was very fair in
deed, and spoke his lines clearly and
forcibly.
Messrss. Given, Julio and Whitaker as
manufacturers, were good. Mr.. Wilson as
Crankshato barring his dressing as an
American, instead of as an English pelice
man, was well up in his part; and Mr.. Ohm
stead as Johnny ReiJey. the Irish sailor,
dressed properly and played very we'll. His
rendition could have been bettered, how
ever, had he been instructed properly, re-
garding the business of his scenes. This of
course, was not his fault.
Mr.. D. C. Johnston, as Moneypenny, the
erratie and eccentric lawyer, was very good
in the third act His makeup might have
been a little more characteristic, but his
acting, considering he is only an amateur,
deserves praise, and his conception of the
character was very fair. The other gentle
men creditably acquitted themselves in their
various parts. Indeed, taking the perform
ance as a whole, we must say it was unu-
sually good; and we have seen the piece
played by professional actors and not done
so well, generally speaking, as it was last
night y
Miss Isabel Freeman played Jane
Learoyd in a most artistic and excellent
manner, looking very pretty and dressing
correctly. The part is very good one, and
well suited to Miss Freeman, and we can
not recOllect ever having seen it more beau
tifully and truthfully played +
Charming little Miss I'D. "" Murdock
had but very little to do as BetSey, but her
popularity with our theatre-gOers was fully
shown by the very aattering reception she
received on her appearance. Miss Murdock
should be very proud of her standing with
the public. We never knew of an actress
who was SO highly esteemed, or one who
more thoroughly deserved the appreciation
that is so generally accorded herr and her
performance last night added lustre to the
general excellence of the entertainment
We hope the few criticisms we have given
on the performance will not be taken uD-
kindly by the gentlemen referred to. We
know that it is unusual to criticise an anna
teur performance, but as the gentlemen of
the Shakespeare Club give so many per-
and as fair, unprejudiced criti-
cism is always an assistance to an actor,
professional or otherwise, we give our
for the benefit of the gentle.
men spoken Of We fully believe that
there is talent, and that too of the high
est order, among the gentlemen of the
club, and in our opinion fair criticism will
only add to its development, and to assist
the spirit of emulation which characterizes
all good actors.