, 1872-12-24
ADJUSTMENTS,

The reporter then Withdrew.
-e-
ADJUSTMENTS.
CHARLOTTE cUsHMAN At aI'IcKERs THEATRE.
The bitter cold Of the night, with the mercury
marking IS degrees below zero at o'clock, did
| not serve to keep at home 30 many people but
that large audience assembled at AIcVicker's
| on the occasion Of the first appearance in fifteen
years Of Charlotte Cushman On the Chicago
stage. The auditorium was comfortably filed,
and, what WAS more to the purpose on such
night, it WAS comfortably warmed. Those who
can bring themselves to brave the cold on the
way thither may feel assured Of comfort after
they reach tho theatre. The. audience WAS not
of the largest, but it was Of high order Of in
telligence and appreciation, and in it there
might be perceived an unusually liberal sprnk-
ling of gray heads. It is the elderly
people, who have not forgotten how they were
thrilled and moved twenty years ago by the
great genius and maj jestic presence of Charlotte
Cushman, that turned out in the largest num-
bers to welcome her last night. THIS young folks
cannot be blamed for choosing to wait until the
weather moderates, but for their sake let it be
hoped that the atmospheric change may come
soon, else, less fortunate than their fathers and
mothers, they shall not be able, twenty years
hence, to tell their children how they saw Char
1otte Cushman during her last engagement in
this city. In tho interest Of Young Americas
future dramatic "Reminiscences, let Boreas mitigate
his rigor during the ensuing two weeks. We
need to make the most Of this opportunity,
for although frequentr visited by the worlds
dramatic celebrities, it has been Chicago's for
tune to have seen comparatively little of Char
lotte Cushman. She made her first appearance
in this city in 1854, playing an engagement at
Rce's Theatre, where she assumed the roles Of
Lady Macbeth, Meg Me71il1es, Mrs. Haller, and
Queen Catherine, to crowded houses, for she was
then at the zenith Of her fame, and her name
was enough to create perfect jurore among
theatre hu6itues. Three years later, in NoVem-
ber, 1857, soon after the opening OF McVicker's
Theatre, which occupied the present site, she
again visited Chicago, playing two-weeks' en-
gagement Of extraordinary SUCCESS. She
gave a round OF her heavy tragic
characters, among them those named
above, and besides appeared as Blanca
in '' Fazio" She occasionally "dropped into
comedy, playing Rosalind in " AS You Like IT,
Juliana in "The Honeymoon" Lady Gay
SpdnIer in "London Assurance" and Mss
Simpson in d farcical comedy called "Simpson
d Co." It was during this engagement that the
lamented. Harry Perry, playing Orlando to her
Rosalind, came on the stage in shocking state
Of inebriety, whereby the performance YVES &C.
riously hindered, and the offending actor WAS
dismissed from the company in disgrace. Char
1otte Cushman, in comedy, is inconceiyab1e to
those whose only knowledge Of her WAS gained
in her recent readings in this city, but the old
sta5ers who remember her in both affirm that
she VAS equally great in comedy and tragedy,
Now. after several years of retirement from
The ataoa and hefore The infirmitiea NJ
advancing age shall necessitate her perma-
nent Withdrawal from the mimic boards.
Miss Cushmau has Welded once more to the ur-
gent solicitations which have poured in upon
her from all parts Of America, and hiss consented
to revisit the scenes Of her former triumphs.
For her first appearance in Chicago she has
chosen the p1ay Of tGuY ATannerinc: OF. the
Gipsey's Prophecy,' which is an adaptation from
Sir Walter scott's novel Of the Same name. It
was dramatized by Daniel Terry, one Of Scott's
most intimate friends, with the assistance and
under the supervision Of the great novelist,
Who, besides arranging much Of the dialogue
contributed the Lullaby song, and one or two
others in the original vocal score, it is believed
The greater portion Of the music was by Sir H.
r. Bishop, one OF Eneland's most famous classic
composers. The play was first produced at the
Theatre Royal, Coyent Garden, London, in
the spring Of 1916, eleven years before
Sir Walter Scott publicly avowed himself as
the author of the Wayerley novels. Miss
Cushman made her first appearance as Neg
1fe,rihes at the Broadway Theatre, New York,
in 1849, supported by Messrs. Fredericks, Jor-
Miss Horn, Mrs. Loder, Miss Carman, and Airs.
Knight The original Neg 1ferri[ies at the Gov
ent Garden Theatre, In 1876, was Mrs. Yates,
Mr.. Emery appearing as Dandie Dinmoat, Alr.
a as es etc. s Tho Character rae ssfn Of s ss
MerriHes is frequently attempted by ambitious