New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-10
ADJUSTMENTS.

Last night, on the occasion Of NJ. Hourde g
benefit, the attendance was much better
than is usual on Monday evenings. The
beneficiary appeared to good advantage,
ing duet was most happily given by Mile.
Moisset and NJ: Lourde, the acting Of both
artists being of the highest etyle of comedy.
Tonight will be presented Meyerbesr's
grand opera Robert lie Diable." At the
matinee on Thursday Auber's grand opera
LA Muetts de Portici' will be sung. On
Thursday evening Captain III. DucaJel. the
popular controller of the opera, will receive
benefit. We hardly deem it necessary to
speak in behalf of this gentleman,
for he is we'll known in this COM
munlty, and is not in need of any
Endorsement from any source. Still it is q
pleasure to us to attest to his uniform cour
tesy, his ability and great merits as q man
ager, and to urge upon the public his claims
upon their regard. The arduOus duties de-
vOlving upon the Office Of controller are but
little understood by the outside public and
therefore are but slightly appreciated. Bus
we can confidently assert tina. much of the
success Of an operate season is due to the
tact and urbanity Of the presiding genius of
the box office.
For Captain Ducatel's benefit will be pro-
duced the grand opera "L'Afrcaine," M.
Devoyod appearing as Nelusko. Nine.
kur6Cl-M aOler as toetthU, anu H. Uaullne as
TascO de Cana.
We note as underlined in preparation the
new grand opera Hamlet"
st. Charles Theatre.
Grip Van Winkle," adapted by Mr..
Robert McWade, who acts the title role,
holds the boards at this theatre, and the
houses of Sunday and last night showed an
improvement in numbers present. MIR.
McWade is certainly fine comedian, and
in his own way makes a complete character
of Rip Van Winkle. There are those who
denonnce his play as plagiarism and name
his acting imitation. His work is open to
that charge; but we must look beyond the
construction of Mr. Jefferson's version for
the original, for Mr.. Hackett was acting Rip
Van Wrinkle thirty years ago, before the
prince of plagiarists, Dion BOucicault, was
called upon to weave the Irving legend into
form and setting congenial to the genius
of Jefferson. The play appeals to the
finer qualities of human nature; it is full
of pathos aid poetry, eloquent in the
cause of temperance, and altogether too
good to be controlled by a single actor.
These are reasons why Mr.. McWade should
play Rip, and that he plays it SO well is
sufficient inducement why people should
sse and hear him. 1t is play in sense
above criticism, for the mirror held up is
one in which we see as much of dreamland
as reality. Mr.. McWade takes the dog
Snyder with him to the mountains, and ties
him to bush by the waysde; after twenty
years. sleep the bush has grown to q tree,
and Snyder's bones are represented dan
Cling intact, suspended by chain at
tached to branch. At first thought we
are disposed to laugh at the strange articu-
lating of canine bones: but the absurdity of
realism is no more inconsistent than
the preservation Of Rips body. and
we accept it all as a delightful
story of lmagi patton, created by our great
romancer, whose home was bv the Hudson.
There are reasons. too. why Rip should not
speak alone in broken Dutch dialect, while
his family, and all of his companions, use
plain modern English. His queer speeches,
however, make the character more anus
ing. and for that we may forgive the actor.
rip Van Winkle' is unexceptionably
well cast and played at the st. Charles.
Mr.. John Davis plays knickerbocker in
good old continental style, and Miss Amelia
vigorous Characterization she gives the wife,
called Eda in this version. The little Misses
Lizzie and Mary Wood go through the bust
ness allotted them, acting the children in
the first act with charming neatness Of
speech and manner, gracefully adding effect
to the piece. The grown up Steente, In the
last act, falls to Miss Minnie Doyle, o young
actress always paiuSldhluk ctnu COIItCt, anu
the cast in that respect could scarcely be
improved. Grip Van Wrinkle will be re-
peated until further notice.
Grunewald Hall.
This hall last night was the scene of an
elegant concert entertainment, given for
the benefit of the Asylum of the Immacu-
late Conception. Although not largely at
tended the audience appeared well pleased,
and greatly enjoyed the music rendered by
such artists as Misses Leblanc, Helen Lee
Roux and +. l.. Buckingham, and Messrs.
+. w. Bremen, Professor c. L. Frey, l..
Grunewald, and the talented young violin
list, Mr.. Marks Kaiser.
Church S0cinbles.
On Wednesday and Thursday evenings
of this week sociables will be held at the
Felicity Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
These semi-concert and social entertain
ments have always proved sourceof great
pleasure to those attending in the past, and
efforts are being made to render those to
come quite as attractive and agreeable.
Refreshments for guests will be provided,
and the good things for eating will be sand
wiched with the best of music suitable Tor
the occasion. Mrs. Elliott and Mrs. Pearce,
and Messrs Cooper and Keith will sing,
assisted by the performances of Mr..
Schafter, orgauist.