New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-13
s.Rosedalc" at the Varieties.

If the management, enterprise, and en-
ergy of the Varieties should fail to enforce
the liberal support of the people-a reward
at least deserved-the varied succession Of
plays presented to the public should COM
mand a generous patronage. We have had
in regular progression and consecutive or
der all the phases Of the drama from the
sensational to the tragical, without ever yet
trenching on that broad, bald burlesque
which partakes of the character of vulgar
delineation. Within the honored limits of
this temple, which with its dedication to
Thespis was simultaneously consecrated to
all the proprieties of the stage, nothing but
what is comparatively legitimate, or has
received the signet impress OF high histri-
onic sanction, is permitted to enter, and
hence the Varieties has always been a
nucleus of attraction to those who, appre-
ciating the intriusically genuine and stand
ard, gather about the shrine of the true
divinties of the drama to pay the tribute
of their homage and respect.
Without recapitulating the series of rem
ditions given at this theatre, or recountin g
the calibre Of the stars that have illumlned
its horizon, enough for us to know that no
brighter lights than Owens, Adams, Jetfer-
son and Barrett have appeared IN their re-
spective specialties, with lustre particu-
larly their own. We have felt the genial
touches OF Dickens in the inimitable person
alton of Caleb Pummer, laughed over the
originalities and eccentricities of Scion
Single We have revisited, in retrospective
fancies, Irving's famed SLEEPY Hollow
from which, like an incarnate spirit of humor
and pathos, the good-natured Rip Van
Winkle emerged and dreamed with Tenuy-
son those beautiful visions Of poesy, illus
trated by such immortal characterizations
as Enoch arden. We have seen the curtain
drop, with all innate sense of regret and re-
luctance on these to hail with increased
graduation and delight the more exalted
creations of dramatic genius, while listening
to the "wise saws and modern instances
Of Hamlet, the strange importunacies and
severe exactions of Shylock, the lnordinate
demands of. the ambitious Richard, and the
ministerial plottings of the willy Richelie"
And now, as a relief to the sterner Incl
dents of the recent tragedies, we are per
mitted to enjoy melo-dramatic interlude
in the shape of Lester Wallack's spirited
comedy of .'Rosedale.' We will not fore
stall the popular anticipation of the pleas
ure to be derived from 'ROsedale" by re
citing its stirring and absorbing details.
Put upon the stage with all the accessories
of scenic display, costumegy and approprl-
ate casts, it il destined to run successful
round and intensity the general interest felt
in the Varieties presentations. In the whole
range of Mr.. Barrett's repertoire Elliot
GREY may be reckoned among his best per
sonations, and the support accorded him
tallies with the unqualified excellency OF
the performance. The tableaux are all
striking and effective, the acting far above
the ordinary level, and the piece itself,
veined with dashes of hemely sentiment
and pictorial sketching, worthy Of the te-
licitous conception and artistic execution OF
the author. If hypercritical public should
in one of its carping freaks, begrudge to
| the performance the attributes with which
we have invested it, the hero of the play, it
! is but fair TO concede, has in himself genius
| enough to excite admiration and centre ap-
| plauSe.