Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-10-29
ADJUSTMENTS.


After a long surfeit Of sensations, bur-
lesques and comedies of the fimsiest
character, Shakespeare was revived at
the Memphis Theater last night on the
occasion of the first appearance of Miss
Jane CoOmbs, supported by Mr.. Charles
pope. The tragedy Of Romeo and Juliet
was selected for the occasion. Miss
4 Coombs has enjoyed a good reputation
among the theater-gOers Of the East and
West, and now South to try her
fortunes, selecting Memphis rs her first
stopping place. She has a fine stage
presence, a full, yet expressive face and
a rich, well-modulated voice. Her con-
ception of the character of outlet" is
widely different from that Of many Of
the leading tragediennes who have
gIided across the boards within the last
two decades in this country. Her
stage business is really very fine,
but her voice, though pleasing
TO the ear, seems to have very little soul
in it, and in what has Eve been known
as the famous balcony scene" she
evinced a listlesness and even careless
ness that even took away all interest in
what is one Of the most interesting
scenes Of the play; and the audience,
which by the way was somewhat
meagre, amused themselves in a man
ner that was highly r~eprehensible, by
getting up quiet conversational parties.
Miss Coombs, with the utmost sang
frojl, brought out a chair to the bal
cony, sat quietly down and listened to
q Romeo rant with 8 GOODNESS that
was truly refreshing. 1t has often been
a mooted question what really is the
turning pointI in "Julia's" life when
she bursts out Of leading-strings and be-
comes the woman and the wife. Miss
Coombs, like Miss Fanny Kemble
makes the turning point when the
/" Nurse counsels her to marry " Paris.n
When the wicked counsel was given by
her who had ever been her friend Miss
Coombs slowly dropped her head, and
in sepulchral tones she calculated
F" Amen, y "Amen-D This was followed
by the first bit of acting of the entire
tragedy as she forever abjured her
former protector, and it well deserved
the spontaneous rounds Of applause
with which she was greeted. In the
celebrated fourth act she worked up the
chamber scene with consummate force,
and although all must have acknowl-
edged the greatness Of the dTtiste, still
it failed to thrill the audience to their very
souls as Eliza Logan, Avonia Jones, Mary
Gladstone and many others were wont
TO do in days gone by. Nj. Pope's
Romeo may be described as excel
lent, and now and then he seemed to
fairly distinguish himself. Occasionally,
however, he was a little heavy, but as a
whole he was really acceptable through
out. MI. Rand's "Mercutio" was a
burlesque on the greatest of Shake
speare's comedy characters. He read
the speeches set down for him in a can
ter, so that they were frequently unin-
telligible. He teethed every word, and
his voice is totally devoid Of ~inhexion,
and ever pitched in a key that con
tinually jars upon the ear. 1t was a re-
lief when "Tybolt" gave him his finish
ing touch and "Benvolion dragged his
hfeless corpse off the stage. Mr.. Shiels's
personation Of "Friar Laurence p
was very superior, and his "make
up" careful and correct. Miss Anna
Hathaway appeared as the Nurse and
her rendering of the character was very
fine. She was 'letter perfect, " and de-
ivered her lines with a di~stinctness that
was very pleasing. She is one of the
best "NUrses" we have seen for many a
day. The other parts were fairly filed,
but call for 10 special notice. Tonight
Miss Coombs will appear in her great
and favorite character of Lady Gayu
in the ever-popular comedy Of London
assurance, with Mr.. Pope al Dazzle"
The east is an excellent one throughout,
the bill a capital one, and therefore the
house ought to be crowded.
The Grand O~peFahOuse.
Mr.. Barrett appeared at this house
last night in his Compromised perform
Of "Hamlet.n He was greeted by
an audience that in Numbers and re-
spectability be could not otherwise inter-
pref than as very complimentary.
The piece was mounted with all
the care possible to the man.
agement and the costumes, save that
worn by the slouchy, slovenly-looking
king, worthily sustained the impress
sions we had received from the papers
abroad. We a dismiss the company
Ia q few words, and will do it before
touching the fine rendition Of "Ham-
LET, . by Barrett. Robinson as
the "Ghost' was capital, and
as "Laertes'i was good,
save a tendency to melo-dra-
matte rant, which time perhaps will
Miss Jane elgnoius, as eDphe-
ia was the only one Of the support at
all worthy OF the artist. For the
rest we have little short OF execration.
isRoseneranz'i and 1Uuildenstern"
were given to Miss Mary Rob
IRIS and Miss G. Reignold,
y "Hamletv that Is new, but
10 one point that could be
united without uaarring the eff
e~ctiveDess Of a conception that Is
accordance with Shakespeare's
md into worse or poorer hands they
.ould not well have been committed.
The King, and the {" Queen were
lot even passable. Poorer support, Ia
as a whole, We have seldom seen
"a any stage. For Barrettis share
n the performance, IL We take the ap-
,lause with which he was greeted Is cur
.ulde, We have only words of praise.
there is much IL his rendition