, 1873-02-23

greatest enthusia.m, and whenever she sings the
vceroy, who very seldom comes e the theatre
80 spne % in R1essPr Parstsn" Gusuenos que %
and Tro7atore. and is to appear tonight in Isuy
Es" s in truth 1t oar 1oss ssx. to under
you, except that It is tho coinage Of some in-
terested party who fears that Madame will return to
mate. that Madame Ross succeeded better in tho
United States than anywhere else. This may be true
financially, but not arsisticAS She succeeded better
in America because there we were cur own managers
and nut our own money into the enterprise confident
that the American people would sustain any scheme
r M + sad a1 u But
sgrce with you. The salaries paid ut st. Petersburg
Cairo, London, and Paris, are much IN advance OF
London, whcrc Ahe arrived about the middle OF the
last season and her euccoss was most emphatic It
40 marked TINT she had immediate offers from St Pc
tersbur Paris sn Csiro and only accepted the latter
place because her physician assured her that the mild
climate woud be beneficial after tho excessive work Of
the American campaigns. beg Of you, therefore, to
contradict the foolish rumor, and to believe when
1 say that consider the Judgments Of an American
audience more revere than those OF European audi
enres. will go further, and say that II an artist is
accepted In the 6ate he uced not fear to anywhere
else; and, on the contrary, that many artists who
have got great position in Europe, would not be toll
e1nted In America. Respectfully, CARL Rosa.
THE DRAMA.
mr. Edwin Booth has succeeded in drawing
full houses, although coming Immediately after
a season OF opera prosperous almost beyond
precedent, and making specially Of q play less
attractive to the public than any other in his list.
We have spoken somewhat at length in regard to
Grecian and Roman plays, and their hold on
modern audiences. The points Of sympathy ara
not numerous Human nature is the same in a1
ages, but the revelations are better appreciated
when made through media familiar to the spec
tator 1t is hard to get at the kernel Of charac-
ter under the husk: Of antiquity, unless
We have the truest OF interpreters. payne's
'.Brutus" is not good play in the present ac-
ceptation Of tho term. It has not sufficient eeva-
ton of character or diaIogue to bs called Shaks-
pe1rcap it has not the elegance Of the aymrights
OF one hundred jears ago, and not sufficient i'll
cidont or Iveliness to satisfy tho requirements
OF tho strictly modern d1ama., Within limits it
e1acts Of all the subordinate actors the same
dignity Of character and elevation OF speech re-
quircd Of the principal actor. They aro all sup
posed to be noble Romans, living at q time when
to be a Roman was greater than king; when
there Was severity of manner and gravity Of
carriage mover SURPASSED in future periods Of
social history It is difficult for the ordinary
actor to drop his weeds Of everyday
wear don the tosa und the buskins, and, in tho
tvinkliug OF an eye, transfer himself to those
remote times and peculiar surroundings without
taking along something OF his native air and
inliyidualities. It is not strange, therefore,
that on the first night Of the presentation Of
ssBrutus," the actors should hare seemed as
i'll at ease as the wife Of & shoddy contractor
who appears for the first time in full dress at =
grand reception. As II from consciousness
that things we're going wrong, and needed mend-
IT, To 1nan Haf
and to be endeavoring to make up by enensy
and strenuousness Of acting that which was
elsewhere lacking. When Stimulating tho fool,
nothing could have been more thoroughly
admirable, or true to nature, than
the expression Of his face, his gestures, and his
movements But in his lucid intervals there
was superduity Of gesture and Of movement,
in him most unusual, and slightly uncomforta~
bio to the more intelligent Of his auditory. As
the play progressed he roso to it's loftiest moods
and ended with q power, passion, md fidelity to
his great ideal that won him the usual enthnsl-
astic applause. Nearly al! signs Of friction dis
Booth recovered his aplomb, and his assistants
seemed, in sllght measure, tolecoEe! from ihelr
Tuesdays TRIBUNE, were changed aud improved,
although fow trivial scenic .ta anach1on ron
Nothing, however. seemed capable OF
making The lines OF the play fit deftly the lips OF
the subordinates. They lacked snloothness 1o1
merely dec1amAtory purposes. Dir. ONeli
mouths too much, and Mr.. flanagan too little, IT
an error in the litter direction is possible Mrs.
Allen was handsome Roman matron, and AIRS
Myers pretty Roman maid, but they had the
same 1in:nal difficulties as the others. Beyond
furnishing to the scene their graceful, wonaniy
| presence, they added little to the excellence Of
| The nerformance But there was no halt in 1eci-
tation, nor breach anywhere in action, to mar
tho general nmoothness. On Friday night, and
at yeuterday's matinee. THE Merchant OF Venice
was played, with Mr. Booth as Shy|ock, and Air.
5Gcvicker as LGnnce!ot Go1oo Ihe 1t.a5'4 sup,
in many respects imperfect There is probably
| no character in which Nr. Booth renders tllm-
self moro thoroughly pleasing than in that Of the
hard-heartcd. penu1ions, strong g~ciafactered lev,
who will have merely justice and his bond. Inc
programme for the coming week has been pre-
arranged in 4 mannerto suit, as far as possible,
the popular taste. The ''Lady Of Lyons," to be
given tomorrow and Tuesday evening, will call
out all the young ladies' and gentlemen Of the
city who are given to sentiment Tn Wednes-
day night, and thereafter during the week, Mr.
Booth viii plny Be'tuccio in the "Fools
nevonsc," nearly. al OF the ~ company
/ sustaining subordinate parts. The rote
assumed BY Mr.. O'Neil will be that OF sergt1no
deW Aquild, dangerous part for him, as ne is
likely to err in the direction OF too much senti,
ment. "Richelieu will not be resched until
next week ''Hamlot" is in active preparation.
| When produced it will be with great elaboration
| Of costume and scenery.
| ACADEMY OF MUSIC
Comparatively few people have patronized the
Academy during the past week. The induce
uents to attend havo boen Miss Annie Firmin
! and Mr. John Jack, who are making their first
starring tour. The lady and gentleman have
| made whatever reputation they possess on
| the Pacific slope, which region has
| sent eastward some creditable actors,
| who have acquired fame and fortune IN the
| larger sphere OF the world. Miss Flrnln Is
lady OF agreeable appearance, graceful IN aetiGn'
and not destitute Ct q reasonable degree OF hls'
trionic ability. Mr.. Jack isa gentleman Of lnpos,
ing physical appearance, who understands nla
trade, and has certain impresslveness Of mhn-
ner and dignity Of action That viii always save
| him from absolute failure in whatever he may
undertake. Their appearance only leads us g g
renew our frequent lamentation at the too Iaplo
multiplication OF stellar lights upon the stage,
and the decay Of stock companies which ls nota.
| BILE and most sad. Miss Firmin and Mr: Jae1
have sufficient talent to become substantial
| and legitimate attractions to q gooa
resident company at frst-claas theatre, but no1
/ Frr