New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-14
Varieties Theatre-Julius Caesar.

One Of the largest houses OF the season
atten led the production, Friday night, of
Shahespeare's magnificent tragedy, which
was presented with the most accurate de-
tail il every respect. The scenery was
mostly new, and prepared expressly for the
piece. The first scene of the third act,
representing the Forum, was a chef dGuvre
of scenic display.
The play of Julius Cesar is a living
panorama of the times of the great Roman,
unro..ed before US, with the groups, pa
geants. assemblies and councils of that en-
pire city OF antiquity. Extending over
wide ground, and dealing with scattered
interests and multitudcs of people, it can
not Claim the unity and concentration of
the plays OF invention, like "Othello" and
"MacOeth" where the material is sub or
dinated to the authors treatment. Here
history leads the way, and the author fol-
lows
In Julius Caesar" as in other dramas of
that kind, our ideas of human, natural and
actual history are happily and completely
recOnciied. as ii the marble remains OF
Brutas. A,.tony, Cassius. Portia and their
compan .ons were suddenly kindled into
life, and seen walking among us with TIE
ewes and motions of fellOw-citizens, still
with the hue and features of men of the
olGen time.
The acting of the play last night deserves
the greatest praise, Mr.. Lawrence Barretts
Cassi,ts being most scholarly and thorough
personation of the character: and we can
onlr add our appreciation to the eniosiuins
that Mr. Barrett received at New orh for
his performances at Booths Theatre.
Mr. Frank Murdoch, as Mare Antony.
gave a spirited Interpretation. The Grafton
over The dead body of Cesar was delivered
with the most thrilling effect. Mr.. Muir
docks .intony may well be considered one
of the very best of his many excellent per-
sonations this season.
Miss lone Burke as Calphurnia looked as
Miss Burke does erything) unexceptlon-
ably well.
The same may be said of Miss Murdoch.
who, as Seyrtms, made all that could be
made out of a small part
MI. George Holland as the Soohisayer had
verv little to do, but did that well and i'm
pressively.
Mr.. George Clarke's Brutus also deserves
the most favorable mention.
NJ Auyustus PitOu as Octacius C0esar
PLAYED the part admirably. His speeches
In the last act were spoken with character
istic excellence, showing keen and truth
like appreciation of the text.
Mr.. John Howson, the favorite young
actor. who has during the season shown his
seeming endless versatility by appearing IN
low comedy, character, juvenile anu claiect
parts, had an opportunity last evening 10
exhibit his talents as a tragedlan. ne
p.ayed J,,iius Cesar, and we can saieiy
assert that Mr.. Howson's portraiture OF the
ambitious Roman" was one OF the most
artistic renditions of the evenings PEI fJrM-
ance. Can not the management give this
young gentleman an opportunity to appear
as a I5emi.r danseuSe? We believe that
is the only line of bushes connected with
the theatre that Mr.. Howson has not yet
appeared in.
We regret to add that the harmony
of the assassination scene was COZ
siderably marred by the obtruslveness
OF an over-anXious citizen, whose ter
Nor az the outrage was both ludlcrous ana
offensive. This party howled and shrlekea y.
himself hoarse when the little difficulty
between Cesar and the conspirators was In
action. He cried loud; he yelled; he
screamed; he screeched, and so long did he
do this, that the audience would have been
more than pleased had the daggers OF B,'"-
tbs, Cassius and the rest been directed 10
the silencing of this worthy's tongue then
and there. and thus prevented his reappear-
ance al the speech-makinS OF Brnt"s ana
Mare .iHi0uy in the fourth act.
We are told that this gentleman was none
other than Stuart Robson. we nope NOT
and we do not believe 1t.
Julius Cesar" were repeated yesteday at
the matinee, and also in the evening. 1he
houses were crowded of course.
To-morrow evening Mr.. Lorraine Rogers
takes his benefit, when the streets OF Ne"
York will be performed, and we nope u
see an OVERCOMING auditorium