New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-21
ADJUSTMENTS, A
ST. Charles Theatre.


The stage piece Louis XI.." called h,
courtesy a great historical play, is scarcely
amenable to dramatic criticism. There il
an ultra absence Of anything like plot an(
but few incidents. 1t would appear tha,
there was simply an effort of the playwright,
to tear few leaves from history to afford
some one superior acter to reproduce a
historic figure of the past.
! Admitting the work to be thoroughly
| done, still the production of such piece
| it seems to us, would always fail to satisfy
any audience but one composed of persons
| thoroughly conversant with the historic
scenes and character attempted to be por.
| trayed. mere summary OF explanation
on the programme, will not, in this case
| suffice.
| The character of Louis XII, as painted
| by historians. is that of an ambitious, ty.
| rannical superstitious and revengeful King.
| man neither physically nor morally
brave. yet stopping at no crime to attain
| his purposes. parricide himself, his
strong love for his son is turned away at
the bare thought that he must succeed to
the throne. Revengeful, his hate feeds
upon itself, and, while he is stricken by a
| self abusing remOrse, the very recollection
OF his past crimes urges him on to further
persecnre the last innocent survivor of the
family he has wronged. Selfish and timor-
tardly soul is only sustained by marvellous
| mental resources and an almost superhu-
man physical vitality. To present such a
character truthfully requires dramatic
powers of the highest order. There must
be united profound knowledge Of human
nature with the incest discrimination of art
Mr.. CouldOck achieves in his impersona-
ton of Louis &L a notable success. His
realization of the character is almost too
perfect to please. The picture that he pre-
sents is so truthful that it is repulsive it is
hideOus in its fidelity to the historic original.
Mr.. CouldOck has a fame that no words of
ours can add to, and he brings to bear upon
the delineation of this character genius
and power that rival those of the late
Charles kean. Yet he will ever be mere
acceptable in plays that speak less to the
mind and more TO the heart
His personation of Peter Probity in the
domestic drama of THE Chimney Corner"
must have made the truth of what has lust
been written quite evident to the audience
that witnessed both plays last evening.
The honely simplicity and quaint pathos
displayed by him in this character provoke
at once smiles and tears.
1t is pleasant to note that the support ON
last evening was much better than it has
been on any previous evening during Mr..
Coulduck's engagement. The character of
the DGatphin. IN Louis XI.," was gracefully
played Dy Miss minnie Doyle. The part
does not afford much scope for acting, but
Miss Doyle made the most of it that could
be made. The tillal love and tenderness of
the prince for mis- father, who, though he
was wicked, crafty and cruel king, was
vet his father, were faithfully delneated
by Miss Doyle.
Opera House.
AT the matinee to-day will be performed
Vpr1i'S GRAND Oppra La Travj lypnrp
to English readers by the dramatic version
Camille Prior TO the opera will be per-
formed the one act comedy ''Une Mutt
d 'Octobre.'
This evening 'Rgoletto' will be repeated.
AS prelude LIE Cheveau Blanc will be
performed.
Sunday evening NJ. Fournier, one of the
best and most popular members of the
comedy company, takes a benefit. The pro-
gramme OF the evening will consist of the
opera of LA Favorite'' and the four act
drama "Latude"