, 1872-12-04

IE
tuous flavor which should characterize it, Mr.
dignity and force which denote the careful study
and thorough understanding Of its requirements,
and his slight shortcomings are lost sight ct in
the excellence of the ensemble. hr. ONeill, as
Charles Surface, is peculiarly pleasing; indeed,
rather too much so. A little less o1uberance
would better beft the character, which he looks,
dresses, and, in the main, acts admirably.
Among the gentomen Mr. ~. foTer y as J9ssRh 3s:
tree, Alr: Gray Rowley, Ar. Barron as Sir Ben
ali notably excellent. Tie weak point
Of the cast. is in the role Of Sir
ble hands than those Of Mr.. Pendleton, whose
most marked defect is his inability to simulate
anything approaching q natural laugh. Mrs.
stonean Mrs. Post, and Miss McAnister, as
Mrs. Candor, Lady Sneer1ceN, and Ma,7d, COM
p1ote the List of strong and effective adjunctsto
the performance. The ladies deserve especial
mention for the richness and elegance OF their
| costumes. Mr. McVicker has amply fulfilled
his promise to give the play an elaborate and ap-
propriate mounting. Finer stage settings are
not to be found IN any theatre, while in al re-
specta the ssSchool for Scandal " is produced aa
| it never was before in Chicago
MRS. s1DDoss' READING.
A larger audience welcomed Mrs. Scott Sid
| dons on Monday evening, On the occasion of her
first appearance as render in this city, than the
! managers of the Star Lecture Course have hith-
erto succeeded in bringing together, the seating
| capacity of the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church
q ricl ruby MORE antique. trimmed with deep
founces Of old Venetian point lace collar OF the
| same, sleeves of point lace, confined by q ruby
! satin band On her wrists she wore pair OF
and composed Of massive gold studded With gn
SO fubies and numerous diamonds. she
dts1 ded vif9 Ta5' aamoads Sls' pre!sntssd s to er
publicly in Boston. The readings consisted OF
scenes from '.Much Ado About Nothing .sThe
Death Of Constance Beverly" from - Malmion;"
Tennyson's .:Lady Clara;'' the sleep walking
scene from Macbeth Tennysons May Queen"
and scenes from '' ''School for Scandal with se-
lections on the organ by Louis falk Last even, M
the Union Park Congregational Church, on the
occasion of HRS. Siddons second and last ap-
pearance. Her selections included portions Of
shakspeare's ''As You Like It, - Lady Clara"
Wooing;n' the aleeP:wa1lking {, @ scene from 4Sa
Brought 1S fns eeed &sxs tro% =, e6sas /
to Ax;" Whittier's Barbara Frietehie,"
peare. Her choice Of readings is perfectly in
keeping with her peculiar DRAMATIC vein, IN
which sweet graceful sentiment, subdued earn
estness, and quiet force are the predomi-
nant characteristics. With no suggestion OF
| the grand impressiveness Of Charlotte Cushman,
whose domain as reader she does not venture
upon, Mrs. Siddona evidently aims rather to de-
light than to thrill her auditors, aud in this she
certainly succeeds. Her elocutlon Ii e1quisitely
neat and tasteful, her voice clear pure, and ne1-
ible, and the pleasing effect is greatly heighten-
cd bY the varying play of q face singu1arly
pressiye and attractive. Those who have tried
it say that Forests reading never produced go
fine an effect as when the listener Rat with clos
ed eyes. Precisely the reverse is true Of Mrs.
Siddons, who must be seen to be appreciated.
Though the question as to her histrionic abili-
| ties was never unanimously settled either way,
it cannot be denied that, popular reader, she
is decided SUCCESS.
THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
IA Life's Dream, the comedy presented BY
the Liugard troupe ut the Academy OF Music,
promises TO hnye successful run through the
play, but on account of the reputation Of the
company, which has not deteriorated since it last
appeared before Chicago audience. Contrary
to the usual course Of events IN plays, this
starts out with q marriage, Charles Page (aud-
SOM being Joined in the holy bonds to Lady
Mabel Chandos (A1ice Dunning Lingard). The
preceding courtship, If any. is left to the spec-
tator's Imagination. While they are at church
the Hon. Frederick Dandy, Qingham), the viii
lain of the piece, calls at the house, and OF
@ course is stricken with grief and modification
on realizing that the girl he wooed seven years
before he went to India IS q soldier, had gone
back on him, and married another. The bridal
party returns from church, when he exhibits the
dicate the feelings Of man whose heart is
bowed down for the loss Of his beloved, all Of
which every one who has experienced Q similar
bereavement can readily appellate. There is
should attend his wedding, and therefore no one
ig surprised to find that Scarlet Page, Q.ingard)
is on hand to witness the ceremony. He ls Q
country pumpkin, with fund Of 'mother-Wlt
that amuses as much as his rural manners con
trast strangely with the usageb of the polite
society into which ho happened to be thrown.
Grace Der Plat Q1iss D. Lingard) takes q
shine to Scarlet, and before the end of
the act they are engaged; ;;htht the quickest
Join BalyJuck (Ryer), aged %, comes upon the
scene also, for what purpose is not apparent,
except to show how well he can play the part.
He f1rts with Mary Sat CA1iss Eliza Hudson)
daughter Of Captain Battery SAX, an old sailor,
character. Da'aby begins to make trouble be-
tween the newly married couple, producing the
letter written by the wife in tho gushing days
Of girlhood, One Of the letters falls into the
hands Of the husband, and without any other
provocation, he turns his wife out doors without
a bonnet, although it is supposed to be raining
bucketsfEl outside. It is undoubtedly o very
cruel proceeding. Tho provocstion hardly JUS
to be so particular. Scarlet grows angry. and
lis in]uman conduct This closes the
second act. Somewhere between the second
and tQ1TQ lcL8 DcuTtek IuaFIle5 Grace, GuQ De-
comes confirmed inebriate. The third act
cures him Of bis love for drink, by putting him
in a coffin, and making him i, believe that be has
cured, but why, when, and how he descended
from his sober state in the first act to his be-
sotted condition in the third, none can tell, and
what connection there is between tho acts is in
comprehensive. The last scene makes every
thing happy the villain repents and leaves the
married couple to enjoy life in his absence
Though there f. no ta1 unity in. in the play, though
plicable, it brings out the strong points Of the
and affords them op%Pe7Stqnity E% to exhibit
| The dialogue is humorous and. enter
tanning, and some Of. the situations
utterly ludcrous: Lingard has lost
improved ur " him wonderfully, and in bis own line
be Is better than ever. In the drunken scene he
is admirable. and the fun he. causes fully
makes amends for the Interpolation of scene
has sg5ae're 'ssh tS 9Th the ay Alice
HANDSOME form with exquisite taste. She is
natural in her reading. Her voice. is OCCASION