The New York herald., 1872-12-15
MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL NOTES.

MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL NOTES.
Only 1--WE nights remain OF Mr.. Sothern's Lord
Dundreary at Wallack's. when 1t viii be succeeded
by "Sam.n Dundreary makes so many ana such
remarkable illusions to his brother Sam, that the
feeling becomes very strong that this brother Ia
tone OF those things which no fellow can find out"
The shades OF difference In the two scions OF this
noble family, as Mr.. Sothern exhibits them, are
interesting for study as well as delicious forenter
tainment.
Miss Agnes EtheIs engagement at the Union
Square Theatre closes with the hundredth perform
ance OF "Agnes" next Saturday evening. She
takes her benefit on Friday evening. Already the
boxes for her benefit night have been sold at 500
each, and the prospect is that the house will be the
largest ever gathered In the theatre. Miss Ethel
made 80 much of her part and invested the charac-
ter of the constant and loving wife with devotion
SO pure that she compelled forgetlulness OF what s
vicious In French comedy and left to the memory
only the trustful and the good
Robert Craig the comedian, whose funeral takes
place to-day, from his late residence, 489 Pacific
street. Brooklyn, was born In this city in 1S42. He
made his debut at the old Museum, on the site OF
the HERALD building, in 1860. Soon afterward he
went to Philadelphia, and until his recent engage
ment as Prince FridOlin, In "Le ROi Carotte," at
the Grand opera House, he was principally en-
ployeu at the Arch Street Theatre, in that city.
difference with his manager led to his withdrawal
from 'King Carrot" before the close OF the piece
and he went to st. Louis, where he was seized
with the disease which ended his days. Mr. Craig
leaves wife and three children.
The feature Of next week win be the production
OF Mr. John Broughams 'Iily Of France" at
Booths Theatre, on Monday evening. 1t Is well
known that Miss Helen Temple, q new actress to
this CITY, Is to take the leading part. The first draft
of this play was produced at San Francisco some
years ago, with Miss Charlotte Thompson as Joan
Of Arc. During these representations Mr.
BrOugham conceived an entirely new view of the
character OF the heroic Maid Of Orleans. and at
once withdrew the play from the stage, to revise
and rewrite 1t according to his later ideal OF
the genius and career OF the heroine. careful
study OF everything bearing upon the strange story
Of her won4erliie assured him that he was right
In the novelty and originality Of treatment with
which he purposed investing the drama, and he
accordingly pursued and finished his plan OF fun
damentally changing the plot and dialogue Of the
play. In Miss Helen Temple report represents an
actress possessing the poetic fitness intensity and
dramatic experience necessary to personate q
character which Mr.. Brougham says unites "the
inspiration of the prophecies with the soul OF q
hero and the meekness Of martyr"
For the Christmas holidays "Round the Clock"
at the Grand Opera House. Is to be further embel-
lisheu with new scenery and costumes. Between
the third and fourth acts interlude is to be in
troduced to give the Lauri family greater oppor.
tunity for pantomme, and the closing scene,
which has always been weak and insufficient, Is to
be strengthened by new scenes and effects
Though the story hangs together by very frail
thread and the piece does not come under the cate.
CORY OF "high artn the entertainment is success
full If numbers and applause make success. But
there is really some surprisingly good acting In 1t
and no end to the gags"
The vokes family will return to this country next
SPRING probably in April, under the management
of Shook 4 Palmer OF the Union Square Theatre
They will play in Washington, Baltimore, Philade-
phia and Boston in the early part of the Summer
and In this city probably in August.
''The School for Scandal" was the best perform
ance in the way Of old English comedy which has
yet taken place at the Filth Avenue Theatre
Having had frequent occasion to condemn Mr.
Louis James mannerisms and affectatons in the
parts he has assumed this and especially in
his Dorcourt, we take pleasure In pointing out the
admirable blending of what are generally blemishes
into nearly perfect Joseph Surface. But the
part which shows the most satisfactory growth in
Lady Teazle. She is exceedingly unctuous in her
treatment Of the vexed Sir Peter, and p0rtrays
just such woman as we would expect to make
alarming progress in the school OF the slanderers
1t might be objected to her acting that she is too
hOydenish for a lady OF society, but 1t must not
be forgotten that Lady Teazle was men,
ber Of society OF which Sir Benjamin Back
bite was an ornament and that her impru-
dence partakes little of genuine refinement.
Miss Davenport's delineat0n of the character Is
strong and marked as anything we had on our
stage in q long time, and it shows thorough study
as well as rapid growth. We have before spoken
Of Mr.. Lewis Moses as an excellent piece OF eccen
trio characterization, but his utterance Is often
rapid as to mar essentially the el0cuti0n Of an
actor who can repeat the catch phrase 'undoubt-
edly so" with such rare humor. On the whole the
piece was played so well as to add new zest to the
play when il is presented at the Union square
Theatre and afford q most excellent opportunity
for judging the capabilities Of the two companies.
"Le Petit Faust" which was to have been pro-
duced at the Olympic on Monday evening, has been
postponed at the demand Of vitiated taste, and
'Ia Belle Helene'' Will be sung the first three
nights next week. "Les Cent Vierges" is In active
preparation. The scene is laid in an imaginary
Green Isle inhabited by English coonists, to whom,
in response to their petitions, ship load OF hun
dred virgins Is sent for wives. The precious cargo
goes astray and a second Is sent, among them
Gabrielle, the wife OF Anat0le, and Byzantine,
the wife of Poulardot. The husbands fol-
low and arrive just as their wives are
on the point OF being rcwedded. Find
ing It dangerous to betray their sex they assume
female attire, and are themselves assigned as the
spouses Of Plupersonn, the Governor, ana Bridi-
dick, the Secretary OF the Island. Laughable situa-
tions follow but the original cargo at last
in time not only to set matters right but to pro-
vide the public functionaries with two wives