Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-04-07
AMUSEMENTS.

| son OF many pleasures NOtWlLnSJand-
/ ing that, too often, the Theater has been
closed for weeks at time, we have been
permitted to enjoy performances by most
| of the great stars and many of the best
| companies, combinations and trOupes in
| the country. The Rankin Comedy Com
pany, the Wyndham Troupe, and the
almost equally good company that dur
| ing the past week has so well and so ad-
mirably supported Mr.. Sothern, are
among the best we have had in the dra-
matte line. The first twowere so nearly
alike in weight of talent and the eharac-
ter of the plays they offered, that, except
| in the case Of Mr.. Wyndham and Mr.
Parselle. they might be regarded as dupli-
Gates. The latter were entirely different,
| Just as the pieces they performed differed
widely from those which the Wyndham's
have heretO6Ore presented and will play
next week. Succeeding Dlaadred7g in a
comedy that proposes to lay bare the pc
culiarities OF American fashionable life
at the Baden Baden of this continent,
1 they can only wear equal hOnors by
unusual eXertiOn. A host in himself
| Mr.. Sothern yet owes very much to the
members of a company he bas the
| credit of bringing together with special
view to the performance of the pieces
/ that make up his repertoire in a
way that would best subserve the inter-
ests of his art, satisfy the public and
| increase its taste and appetite for better
things to come. Mr.. Wyndham, the
handsome and talented young comedian,
was the first to essay this task in this
part of the world, and it is due to him to
say that he succeeded so well land be-
cause, too, he follows SOthern) he con-
siders il necessary to make, ON the Occa-
sion of his second visit to Memphis this
season, beginning on Tuesday next,
an extraordinary effort. To that
end he has brought together
all his forces, and beside him.
self, is to have Mr.. Parselle, Mr.. Ryan,
MIR Allerton, Mr.. Fitzpatrick, Mr.. Gid
dens, Miss Rignold, and Miss Sidney
COwel, all of whom are very properly
classed, as among the best in their sew
eral departments, to be found in the
country. Beside these, all but Miss Rig
mold, being well and favorably known
to our people, there are others whose
talents have secured them association
as part and parcel of the Wyndhams in
less prominent positions. This unusual
combination of dramatic talent viii
make full display of its powers in Sara
tOg0, which, when first produced in
New York, had a run of several weeks.
There is in it role that will fit the ca
dacity OF. Mr.. Wyndham, without doubt
the best light comedian in the country,
and we expect something from him in
the way of pOrtraiture that viii be as
perfect, of its kind, as the ''Dundreary,"
which to-day fills the mind of
Memphis as an extraordinary car
ricature upon that caricature of hui
manity, the spoiled child of fashion, the
lisping, halting, suffering enemy of
mOthers-in-law; the "widdle" that can
not be solved. We never can forget
"Dundreary," nor will we soon forget
"Garrick, F" the performance which sat
isfied all play-goers thatMr. .SOthern is not
dependant upon the one character with
which his name viii ever be linked, to
sustain himself in the highest position
in the dramatic world. Complimented
by crowded house ON Friday night, it
was not so much so last night, upon the
occasion of the great artists benefit, as
we could wish. A full house on Satur-
day night would be too much of a nov
city in Memphis, and perhaps it is too
much to expect. IL was due to the pO-
sition Mr.. Sothern occupies that he
should have been honored by one. AS
it is, we are able TO record the fact that
he had the best house we have seen the
last night of the week in many seasons.
But the matinee, upon which Fashion
has set the seal of appreciation, compen-
sated him fully. There was an immense
cOncourse of people, ladies, as usual,
predominating. On this occasion
the bill was Dss1dreayy. Inspired
by the presence of so large and brilliant
ly-beautiful an audience, Mr.. Sothern
sustained his great reputation, and was,
as usual, well supported by the COM
pany. Mr., Bishop as "Asa Trenchard," +"
Is not excelled by any actor that we
have ever seen in that character, and he
can bear away the assurance that such
is the verdict of Memphis. As "Ingot,"
| In Dqpid GdgTick, he was also, we
! thought, very happy. His physique, to
which he owes so much as 'eIrenchard," "
served him well as the burly plebean
Alderman, whose vision was bounded
/ by pounds, shillings and pence. We
| take our leave of Sothern and his COM
pany with regret. They have afforded
us unailoyed pleasure, and we
hope the generous patronage Of the
Memphis public, evidenced in crowded
houses at every performance but one,
/ and that in spite OF most miserable
weather, viii induce him and them to
return early next season, and in a stay
of at least two weeks we may be per-
mitted to enjoy a variety Of plays kim
dred to DlaadreaTy and Ddvid Gar
rick. And thus "off with the old love,
we are on with the new" Having
taken our leave of Sothern, we are pre-
pared to give a hearty welcome to
| Wyndham and his company Of come
dians. We wait for Saratoga, and
from the we'll known ability of those
who are to present it IN series Of living
pictures, we count largely on a great