, 1873-03-23
THE DRAMA,

Tho managers OF Chicago, moro fortunate
| than their New York brethren, who arc just now
complaining OF an extremely dull state OF thinga
even for the Lenten season, have Just closed
! another highly successful week. AL have re-
| 1oicod in highly Tenunerati7e patronage, and
| In return have furnished tho public high
quality and attractive variety OF entertainment,
Tho audiences ut McVickcr's have be en- Of the
best type OF reepoctabnity and culture, though
In numbers not up to the average Of the proceed
ing veeka OF 1r. Booths remarkably successful
engagement. This falling of in attendance is
difficult to account for in vioW Of the
fact that, in point Of dramatic intensity,
"Julius Casar'' ia one Of the most interesting Of
6haksncaro's plays, and, according to tho modern
managerial estimate, it should t'draw." Then,
too Mr.. Booth has contributed much to the ar-
tistio SUCCESS Of tho piece by his alteration in the
three leading characters while Mr.. McVicker
has left lttlo to ba desired in stage mounting
and costuming. It Ia truo that, with very few
individual exceptions, " Julius Cnsar' has been
but indinorentIy acted BY tho company; but tho
eame has been true Of noarly al tho other
6hakspearean plays that hAve been presented,
and so this furnishes no solution OF tho query.
The business was BY no means poor,
but 1t ought to have been extremely good.
Tho performance deserved bottcr houses. On
AR. Booths dlarc antony nights the lawyers
and public speakers, and the young men who cul-
tiyato forensic eloquenco at the debating socie-
ties, should have boon present to hear his mag
niicent delivery OF the funeral Grafton. Hero
was model which ought to have been more e1-
tenaiyoly appropriated. Arti6tically, Mr.. Booths
Maro A,::ony is ono Of his greatest nclievo-
ments, taking equal rank with his other masteE-
pieces Of genius and culture, his Hamlet, Rich
ard III, Richelie,, in which, Chiefly, he las won
his worldwide fame, and Ere now generally re-
cei1ed es among the most notable histrionio
triumphs Of the sge. There is probably no
actor row living who could draw such
patronage to tho legitimate drama ns Mr..
Booth has dono at McVickers Theatre during
the EaEt fyc weeks, and when his engage
mcnt closes ct the end Of the present week, it
will doubtless be looked back upon horeaftor as
ono OF tho most successful On record.
At tho other places Of amusement tho nttend-
enca has been uniformly large during tho weak,
and the attractions we're of . character to war
rant it, The elegance and perfection Tith
nas n?eu tb13r raWa sbape
Of fine audiences; at tno Academy OF MUSIC, the
LYDIA Thompson Troulo have given their charm-
ing burlcs3so performances to crowded
En5SG sr,s lie AFlnSo' ano 1ooIe1 SGss1n pp
"a but few erarty benches ct E;ers Opera
House; ecd the circus, ct Nixon $ AElp}utheatre,
has tad its ehare OF patronage. Tie announce
r1cnts for this week are such aa to Indicate no
falling of i'll The general desiro to he amused
md edited by superior c!ass OF entertainments.
Eoo7.Es's o2zRA HOUSE.
Ir- HcoloT a!,:lo1luccs t.;e s1iird and last week
Of Peril !: c. Love 1T Lu:E Branch. Tho re- ]
rua1kaalo SUCCESS WHICH ka~s e:ilniaa the Iso- t