The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-27
Maggie Mitchell as Fanchon.v

The Opera House was filled to repletion
last evening at the appearance of the favor
ito actress, Maggie Mitchell. in her great
speciality of " Fanchon, the Cricket" So
rare is it that we greet so accomplished
and so famous an artist upon our own
boards here at home, that the treat is duly
appreciated by our citizens, as was fully
demonstrated last night. Nearly every
one who has visited our city theatres for
the past fifteen or twenty years has seen or,
at least, heard of Maggie Mitchell, and all
who have seen her on the stage have recog-
nized her great abilities and longcd to see
her again. The audience last evening,
which was made up of our most intelligent
population, were mostly familiar with her
representation, while large number were
warm admirers of hers and were rejoiced
to accept of this opportunity to testify
their high appreciation of her labors before
the public and of her virtue and worth as
true woman and hgh-minded lady. She
is one of many who love the stage and play
from choice, ready TO accept the desires
of the public and exhibit her artistic
abilities in legitimate drama, in which she
only plays, and to the rendition of which
she has given Il life of unexcelled faith
funess and laborious effort. Would that
there were more such among the hosts of
actors who appear before us may the
world still continue to cherish them in
their appreciation and favor while they are
willing TO give their labors for our delight.
There is something peculiarly fascinating
in the character of "Fanchon," as played
throws around that Maynard, elf-likc child
an irresistible charm which all recognize,
and which none can justly describe There
is such a complete Identification of the
actress with the character that the lndvid-
uality of this great and charming artist is
lost in the sayings and dolngs of little
"Fanchon." We forget that Maggie Mitch
ell is anyone but "Fanchon the Cricket"
and her every movement gives foundation
to the thought. The wierd, witch-like ac-
tons of ''lhe Cricket" in the first scene
Immediately take hold upon the af-
fectons and sympathes of the audience,
and the feeling is not lost, but it rather
grows stronger as the play proceeds. Every
gesture, every word, every burst of laugh
ter and every tear touches some sympathetic
chord in the heart of all, and every sense
combines to catch the slightest movement
of the actress. Then, too, she has so con-
ceived the character that she hardly seems
to act tit comes so natural to her.
The support given by the company last
evening, was very good and in some in
stances particularly fine. Especially was
this the case in tie personation of old
Mother Fadet by Miss Marion p. Clifton.
The character is the most difficult of all to
play satisfactorily, but in it Miss Clifton
achieved rich success. The ugliness and
witchery connected with the character was
never lost sight of for an instant, while in
the more powerful passages, in the scene
between her and Father Barbeaud especi-
ally, she showed abilities of very high
order and was warmly received throughout
Mr. VIM. Harris, who assumed the part OF
the lover, Landry, is an actor of consider
able merit and filled we'll the somewhat I'M
grateful role. Mr.. George ii. Griffiths
made gruff, tyrannical old Father Barbe-
aud, and was fitted for all its requirements.
Mr.. T. i Jackson who reformed the part
of Didier is one of the best comedians,
aside from Warren andone and two others
in this country, and was very happy in his
personation last evening, though it gave
but little scope for display of his really
fine powers as an actor. The characters
of Mother Barbeaud and Madelon were well
taken and the entire play was given with
an evident familiarity with its every situa-
ton.
Maggie Mitchell comes back to many of
our older theatre-goers like dream of
other days. While they have grown old
and have become somewhat satiated with
the drama as presented by others, she
comes again as fresh and apparently as
young as when she first entered upon her
wonderful career. The same hearty laugh,
the same nervous action, and the same
earnestness that ever characterized her
movements arc recognized and win APP
plause and delight. Time has passed her
| by, or at least touched her with gentle
hand, while her name is known and loved
more and more every year, and her plays
become, more and more, household words
Nay she come to Rutland again and YET
again.
Tho Races To-day.