New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-24
SHAKESPEARE.

SHAKESPEARE.
Celebration of the Anniversary of the
Poets Birth at the Varieties Theatre.
Last night the Shakespeare Club celebra-
| ted the three hundred and eighth birthday
of the Immortal Bard" by q gfana-per-
formance at this beauti full theatre.
The house was probably never so bril-
liant. An immense audience, composed of
our first citizens and their families, was in at
tendance. The ladies were there in full
force, and, dressed in the new spring fash
ions, never looked SO lovely. Indeed, We
doubt if on any occasion since the inau-
gural of the theatre has the auditorium
presented more magnificent appearance.
The reputation of the members OF the
members of the club as actors is SO excel
lent that we looked forward to the occasion
with no small degree of interest, feeling
sure that we should witness artistic per-
formances by the members of the associa-
ton that would favorably compare With
the renditions of professional actors, and
this expectation, with one or two excep-
tions, we were not disappointed.
The piece selected for the occasion was q
production Of Mr.. George Ryer-the favorite
actor AID stage manager of the theatre
entitled "The Swan of Avon" The history
of the play is based on incidents of the life
and times of Shakespeare in his youth, and
the following characters were embodied in
its representation:
William Shakespeare, "the Swan of Avon"
youth aged twenty, Miss NJ. E. Gordon;
John Shakespeare, his father. WynDe Rogers;
Earl of Leicester, B. OnOratO; Lord Urban
de la Pole, G. H. Braughn; Sir Valentine de
Largesss, NJ. O'Rorke; Sir Thomas Lucy, of
Charlotte, George Rver; Jenny Catchpole,
ibis man of law, H. w. Olmstead Burbage,
manager of the Globe company of come
dian of the time, d. c. Johnston; DR..
Polyglot, censor of the drama, S. Nnllan;
Buz.ard +. A. Cowen; Oiirer Dumps, F. H.
Wilson; C,ier, N. C. FOrstall Folteacer, K.
j. Browne; Queen Elisabeth, Miss Geo.
Reynolds; Mabel, the Fair Founding of
Charlotte, Miss Alice Gray; Dame Shakse-
peare, Mrs. Shubert; Oberon, King of the
the Fairies, Miss Wilson: lords. knights,
bailiffs, beefeaters, peasants, by memb bers
of the club.
The piece was not by any means sue
cess, and, as it dragged its slow length
along, caused general disappointment to
the immense audience. The author seems
to have had no positive ideas of how many
subjects he intended to treat of in his
dramatization, or how to properly prepare
those that he did. The piece lacks both
plot and continuity, the language is slow
and prosy, the scenes much too long, and
the characters, with one or two exceptions,
indifferently drawn, and offering no oppOr.
tunity to the actors to make a successful
performance. We were very much sur
prised to find that Mr.. Ryer's long expe-
rience on the stage had not taught him how
q piece should be pritten to act well.
OF the ladies and gentlemen who were in
the cast, all did their best with their vari-
speare looked beautiful. The costume worn
was very becoming, and as correct as it could
be. Miss Gordon's artistic portrayal of an
Indifferent part deserves especial praise.
Miss Alice Grey also dressed and acted as
we'll az could be desired, looking particu-
larly handsome in the second act and in
the early scenes of the third act Miss
Georgina Reynolds as the Queen lacked
dignity, and did not seem to care any too
much about attending to her lines or music.
Mrs. Shubert did excellently as the Dame,
and dressed the part correctly.
Of the gentlemen, we must accord the
honors Of the evening to Judge G. II.
Braughn, who, as Lord Urban, showed him
self to be really fine actor. There is no
theatre in this country that would not find
his services. an acquisition. He is beauu-
full and forcible reader, his gestures are al
ways app ropriate and full Of grace, and his
knowled .ge of "stage business" would do
credit 60 any professional. Mr.. Onorata as
the F FArl of Leicester gave very fair por-
trait are, and dressed we'll and handsomely.
Mr.. D. C. Johnston, who Is an ex-
&C lent comedian, was completely buried
I nder his part of Iarleton, whom the bills
called the .'principal comedian of his time"
Tarleton did not have a funny or witty
expression in all his lines; and Mr.. Johnston
might as well have played 'heavy vii
lian," for all the chance he had to exercise
his proper talents. Mr.. ORorke as Lar
oesse. Mr.. Doll as Burbdge, and Mr.. Mullan
as DR.. Polyglot, all did remarkably well.
Mr.. Olmsted, however, by his talented
acting and make up, really managed to
make an insignificant part quite interest
ing. Mr.. Wynne Rogers as Shakespeare
] pere was good, and Messrs. Wilson, For
| stall and Cowan deserve notice for their
| careful reading and proper dressing.
Concerning the scenery, our expectations
were not realized. There was but one
scene painted for the play, that being the
exterior of Shakespeare's house at STRAIT
ford. The Kennilworth Castle scene was q