New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-18

her own story before the guests, she Is
as unmoved as if it were in reality
some other unfortunate, but not
shameless woman of whom he SPEAKS.
lone in her privacy, the imprisoned tears
burst and sorrow flows freely; agony
escapes from the restraint of cold reserve,
and, Just as dickens describes, she tears
her hair in her remorse and anguish. There
is in this acting no narrowed repetition OF |
the dramatic lengths; the words are few, |
conveying not an iota of the sentiment. |
But the powers of the actress never tag.
1t is now glance of the eye masking pain
full interest with Indifference; it is again the |
languid walk, covering heartfelt terror in |
affected carelessness; once more the folded !
hands, which would lock up every natural
yearning of the heart and throw away the
key. At every attitude one discovers
marvellous power to tell the story OF the
soul and hold the mirror up to nature, ap-
parently without effort, but actually with
the most consammate art. Where the
proud lady throws entirely aside her lady
ship and melts down her hard politeness
into the outpourings Of mothers heart,
the scene is such as to draw tears from men
who are unused to the sway Of the gentler
emotions. The pride of Sir Leicester tor
his wife, his respect and veneration; the
| Indignation with which he casts aside
every allusion that can at all influence her
| ladyship, were as well shown last night, on
| q short acquaintance, as they are cOlOred in
the creators works.
| Hortense, the waiting maid, is, in the i'm.
personalion of Janauschek, a fiery devil,
hiding hell of temper and hot passion un-
der the stimulation of vivacity and spright-
liness She is unceasing in her efforts to be
revenged on her ladyship for discharging
her from service, and. chance throws in her
way methods by which she may truly wiring
her heart. When old TMlkinghorn lies upon
the floor dead, and the act closes upon the
assassination, cloud Of mystery hangs
about the deed, and those in the audience
who had not read the original story are
indeed in doubt as to the perpetra-
tor. Then it is the maid HortenSe sends
letter with the words LADY Ded-
lock, murderess," written within it,
and the lady takes flight. To act in two
characters so widely different, two which are
in fact opposites in everything, and to ap-
pear first in one and then in the other al
| most before the shadow of the other has
fitted away, requires more capacity than
is possessed by the run of theatrical people
Yet this was successfully done. The long
pursuit of the flying lady, who is fleeing
from her accusing conscience, is cut short
| necessarily in the drama, and likewise the
story OF the detective art as seen in lnspec-
tor Bucket. Then, again, the lady does not
die until she learns of her forgiveness by
her husband, and here the plot Of the novel
has been violated. But in both Lady Det'-
lock and Eortense the ideal OF Dickens
stands before us in the acting OF Janau-
schek. This has only been produced by a
close study Of the authors masterpiece, a
study which is evident in every gesture,
lives in every look and is displayed in every
motion.
The audience felt the inspiration Of the
actress SO deep that as in all impressive
parts rustic and slight movement seemed
out of place and something that should be
put down.
lNr. Bucket was, according to our notion
not grave enough for the occasion, nor was
the '.fat forefnger" which the creator calls
Buckets familiar Demon" called into ques
ton at all, showing the actor could not have
been acquainted with his character. Pool
DO was played well, and the youth moved
on" to the end, doubtless calling to the
minds of lookers-on many similar youth
and similar poll about our daily streets. Dir
Guppy did not have much opportunity
in the adaptation to show what his creator
wanted him to be, but gave some evidence
that he had a better idea than the adaptel
of what constituted "a young man by the
name of Guppy.' There was not soul II
the audience who did not feel, as the cur
tain went down, the truth and the terror
there is in Dickens story; and where even
the author has left it obscure, the acting Of
Janauschek sweeps away the misgivings
and the nature of the real woman (for 1t is
a true story) who bore the dreadful secret
OF her shame for over twenty years. llvet
and moves in Fanny Janauschek-Lady
Dedlock.
The Democratic State Convention.