Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-12-16
AMuSEMnNrs.

Nell made her debut before Memphis
audience, as Fidelia, the Fire Wait.
The Theaier was crowded-parquelte,
dress circle and family circle being filled
The melodrama is highly sensational
even more so than Oliver Byron's
Across the Continent II de6es eriti'
cism aud has driven the critics Of our
morning contemporaries distracted, but
the audience ches.si, laughed and APP
plauded fry:n eight clock until halipast
eleven. Asa piece OF literary compost
ton, the Fire Waif may be mediocre;
but as presented on the stage, with
scenery and surroundings, Il takes.
The piece was no doubt written for
the purpose Of giving Little Nell room
to exhibit her protean powers as vo'
calist, danseuse, musician aud actress,
with just enough dramatic surroundings
to connect the plot by scenes, tableanx
and situations. And here the critic is
lost, because according TO the strict rule
of criticism, which is TO examine a
thing with respect to its beauties and
faults, the critic sees his art at fault
and the audience applauds that which
he is disposed TO condemn. When the
critic and the audience take opposite
ends of the string, the critic is always
in error, and the audience is instinct
lively right. Little Nell is not quite
seventeen years Of age, but she possesses
a wonderful amount Of sprightliness, vi
vacity, grace and grotesqueness. She be-
longs TO the sunbeam school of artists,
and like Lolita, eaptivates the galleries
and seduces the solemn dress circle into
smiles. The plot of the Fire Waif is
simply. "Fidelia," child, is rescued
by the boys Of the Phoenix hose com
pany. and is adopted by them, they by
vote making themselves her fathers,
who would tight aud die for her.
"Fidelia" is prosecuted by Jasper
Winch" the villain Of the play and
passes through startling scenes Of the
most sensational character, until at last
she is found by her real father, aud
marries Henry Warne," the foreman
and pride Of the Phoenix. During the
progress Of the piece Little Nell appears
in seven different characters, introducing
songs, dances, banjo playing, etc. Her
impersonations, Fdelia," The God
dess of Liberty" Ike Tower" The
Street Singer" Edward Round, Esq,
johanna Scbmitt" and Miss Mark
ham were very good; in them she dis
played versatility of talent and no little
dramatic power. In her peculiar line
one dre=n between the Lolita and Mag
gle Mitchell styles-she is bound to be-
come a favorite with audiences, let
the critics carp as they may. The tenn
per and tone of the audience last night
settled this question-that during the
week Little Nell may expect to be quoted
as a favorite. Neither the text of the
play nor the presentation of it could be
construed as either vulgar or offensive
BY the most fastidious. II can be en-
joyed by ell, from galleries to the par
quette. We would suggest that during
the week the Hidden Hand may be pro.
duced. As "Capitola" Little Nell is
without peer.
WIRES OPERA HOUSE. = Charley
White, the great head-center Of amuse-
ment. continues to crowd his opera
house 10 suHfocation every night. The
entertainments are frst-class and most
attractiYe-in fact superior to anything
in the variety line ever presented before
Memphis audience. Manager
White has strong combination of tai
ent on the boards - Mile Emeline,
Maud Lewis, Nellie Norcross, Lou Mace,
Lillian Howard, Louie Melville, Mile
Sallie, Little Popse, Mile Rosa, File
Irene Lizzie Renoir. Tonight the
wonderful artistic, FL Nino Eddie, will
appear in his specialties, having been
engaged by Manager White at heavy ex-
nenge