The New York herald., 1873-05-13
AMUSEMENT rs.

Miss Nelson at Boothss-"Amy Rohsart.ss
Nothing which has been produced on the New
York stage in long time has 40 thoroughly illus
trated the want OF American comedy as "Amy
Robsartn played at Booths Theatre last night for
the first time in this country. Some very good
acting and q few telling situations made the piece
q success-as the times go, an unusual success-but
much OF the piece, notably the whole OF the second
act, was not at all in sympathy with the tastes
Of the people who saw the play. Il Is unnecessary
to relate the plot for all readers Of English litera
ture know the story Of sKenilworth" by heart, and
1t Is equally unnecessary to lament the intr0duc-
tion OF Queen Elizabeth and her Court as the infe
ror characters In play where the daughter OF Sir
Hugh Robsart Is the heroine. II it were the
purpose OF such plays to ridicue monarchy and
to show that the devotion and constancy OF Z
woman's heart are preferable even to loyalty
to selfish Queen, no better plan could
be found to bring int the ,sre mmenonored In
such the tendencies OF the representation last
night. Miss Bella Pateman, as Queen Elizabeth,
which brought her art into painful contrast with the
powerful and finished conception OF Miss Nelson's
to. 70 her genius than in her rspressn;,
discarded Creature s Of Sir waiter scotts imagns
tion. In oil respects she reaches the standard OF
s nea fame IN the part In the scene with varnsy IN
vlllanies he contemplates, she exhibits the
beauty and force and strength OF true womanhoOd.
me meeting with Leicester was also admir-
ably done Tor 1t showed love and constancy with
cut degenerating into sentiment. II Amy Robsart
had been foolish and sentimental girl we should
have deplOred the lack OF 'gush" and "heart's
which Miss Nelson generally shows IN parts OF
mere sentiment as for instance, Pauline.
in 'sThe Lady OF Lyons;" but here she
had something n0Ser to wife
than her lords ambition-and 1t was n0bly por-
trayed. The interviews with the Queen In the
third act and with Leicester and varney were also
| exquisite bits OF art. Nothing could be more I'm.
passioned or suggestive than her invocation OF the
protection OF Elizabeth, the scene being SO power.
fully done rs even to elevate Miss Pateman's Queen
far above her usual level The wilely tenderness
for Leicester ana the wOmanly detestati0n OF Var
| ney were also forcibly exhibited. The closing
scene OF the play, where varney drags her from
on on the draw draw he he had d' : designed Tor for
her. was. good sensational point in drama
| where the excitement OF the audience had
been wrought sufficiently high for the fearful ct-
max. Mr.. Bangs, as the Earl OF Leicester, played
with evenness and good taste, but failed in making
srst Asn Warmers varnsy s1asss ~
a bad school Of acting, but he grew
better as the play proceeded and after few days
! the part will mellow into very good performance.
| Mr.. Robert Pateman as Nike Lamsourne, Mr.. N. w.
Smith and Mr.. S. W. Glenn as Tony Foster were all de-
serving Ofa word Of recognition. Sir Walter Raleigh
| was very amusing because nobody ever supposed
| Sir Walter could have been so awkward. and the
| ballet, though well enough In Its way, would not
Satisfy those patrons OF art who regard this as the
to have a good long run. The house was large and
enthusiastic and Miss Nelson was repeatedly