The New York herald., 1872-11-19
ANU S EMEN rs.
Miss Nelson's First APpearance-Her
Juliet 1T Booths.

- -. : -
Miss Nelson's First APpearancc-faer
!. Juliet 1t Booths.
Sstss Nelson, the distinguished English actress,
made>S Sker first appearance In this country at
Booths Theatre last night In her principal lmpey
sonation or juliet In Shakspeare's love tragedy.
Her reception was an extremely cordial one, and
her success may be considered az assured
Whether she nulflled the expectations which
had been formed Of her is an entirely different
matter. The diffcult task she attempted,
whether she willed 1t or not, was to
show that the stage had found not only new but
great Juliet. In this ambitious effort her sue
cess though marked by many excellent character
stics was not sufficient to stamp her conception
Of the part with the impress OF genius She is sin
gularly lacking In tragic force and her Juliet is
ranting rather than love-sick maiden; but even
these qualities must not be overlooked in an
actress who would represent the daughter OF
the Capulets; for "ROmeO and Juetn though it
Is called love tragedy, Is not a really
pathetic piece OF dramatic writing. 1t appeals
to the imagination rather than to the heart and
there IL something exquisItely absurd in the
passion as well as in the misOrtunes OF the lovers.
Miss Nelson's want OF very strong feeling enables
her to portray this ideal to perfection, and her
Juliet is in consequence, not woman who sin.
cerely loves but woman who thinks that she IS in
love. Even in the comedy parts OF the play, where
she is much more admirable than in the
tragic scenes this want Of the representa-
tion OF genuine passion was everywhere apparent,
notably so in the first act, where Romeo appears at
the pali OF the Capulets, % Southern poet has it,
"wtnout an inyits.pon." There is no sufficient
and the @ f.. young people falling in love at all,
%u nar e .,ure to display real emotion at the de-
~. .fe Of Romeo lrom the masquerade when she
..ies, .s-.-
go ask his name, If he be married
My grave Is like to be my wedding bcdn
would have been a delightful bit OF acting if the
arama sIe na1 In 9ge9 Fl ns gaTlssSge psssG Of love
denying that Miss Nelson is possessed of much
she approved herself an actress of unusual merit.
picture Her great personal O'ieMt beauty, SO 90
wonderfully suited to the moon light Which
1 Vay the suraSaa,nss ss na with %scs M
Booths taste, dressed the garden of the Capulets
FOR his own wooings adds much to the effective
ness OF the parleyings OF the lovers Mr.. Wheel0ck,
as Romeo. did nothing in the way Of aiding her to
show her power, but she lifted herself up and be-
dor entirely her own. It was the gem gem Of Spt the
performance, and is in itself sunicient to fll
the house till the end o. Miss NELSON'S
In the fourth act was ON the whole, disap
pointment the want of purpose and earnest
ness being only too apparent. but in the earlier
sist In her intrigue with the young Montague, and
asks for news of Romeo she was so FAR superior to
add PROOF to proof of what we have already said of
ner-namely, that she Is much better comedy than
tragic actress. or Mr.. Wheeock's Romeo very
little need be said. He was unequal to the part,
but not unconscious OF his want OF experience. This
is much to his credit, for 1t showed that he under
took the part which Mr. Booth had made retrospect
tion this theatre without any spirit OF boastful-
ness, and he improved as the play progressed.
After few more representations ne will play 1t
passaby well, and with study and care he may
n a fhn at n ntoh lu
Mr.. James w. Wallack, as MercutiO, was admirable.
Though lacking som ewhat in the elegance we ex-
mlrthiulness was excellent and the death scene ne
was piece OF acting which c0mmends itself as
great. Miss Mary Wells Nurse was characterized
tress, and Mr.. Waller's Friar ana Mr.. SOL Smiths
Apothecary were not unworthy OF each other,
rus %aSa asns sasg great nom deal oass for He
found nothing worthy Of analysis in
the cast, but on the whole the performance was
easy and even, though Oftener below than above
mediocrty except in the instances to which we
have called particular attention. "Romeo and
the matinee &C on Saturday Miss Nelson 'S win nl play
R0salnd IN "As You Like lt.'
The Italian Opera.
"Don Giovanni was given last night at the
Academy. tits needless to say that Madame Lucca as
Zerlina was the chief attraction, and that we
puzzled whether to praise most the excellence Of
her acting or the sweetness of her singing. The
way in which she sang the "Batti Batti'
was simply exquisite Ronconi, as MassettO, sup
ported Madame Lucca as few artists could.
The LeporellO OF janet is first rate piece
OF acting. This artist always sings consci-
entiously, and, though he Is not SO much
ognized favorite with the audience. We have
already expressed our opinion that Donna Anna is
100 heavy , roe for Miss Kellogg She noweyer
night was finished and earned for her more than
one recall Signor Morami was in good voice and
and dramatic power. Signor vzzan appeared as
Don Octavo and Mile. Clara Doria as Elvira.
Opening OF the Terrace Garden Theatre.
There was quite an excitement in German circles
last evening on occasion OF the opening or Mr..
John Kochs new theatre, which occupies the
greater part OF the block bounded by Fifty-eighth
and Fifty ninth streets, Third and Lexington
avenues. The theatre looked fresh, radiant
and pretty; was lighted in manner that
made IL more cheerful and more OF the ballroom
than what one is accustomed TO see In a theatre,
and showed the hand OF an artist in all its details
The initial performance showed notable lack of
musical judgmenI in the selection of purely Italian
opera, which sung in any other language can
not achieve a success. In German, particularly,
with the spirit of the composer. The cast was the
following :-Leonora, Nine. Lichtmay; Azucena,
Miss Clara Perl; Manrco, Mr.. Horn; Count di Luna,
Mr. DE la Fontaine. The ladies made a genuine
hit and repeated the success which crowned their
efforts for season at the Stadt Theatre. Miss Perl
Is one OF bne DeSU representatives OI tHe Rypsy
mother we have on the boards at present, and her
pure contralto voice Will always be heard with
pleasure. Nine. Lichtmays abilities as dramatic
singer have been spoken OF at length before in
these columns The new tenor cannot be c0nsid-
cred as success as his method leads him to shout
ing, a very dangerous style of singing when the
voice is naturally coarse. The representative of Di
Luna is passo, and therefore 1t was necessary to
transpose much OF his music. The "T Balcn" was
set down minor third from the original key In
other respects Mr.. De la Fontaine gave considera-
BILE satisfaction as his voice is Of good nJe and is
well cultivated. The chorus Is small in number,
to suit the stage, but is Well selected. The
orchestra had the valuable services of Mr..
Carl Bergman as conductor and many threatened