New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-07
AMCSE MENTS.
st. Charles Theatre.

Mr.. Frank E. Aiken will close his engage.
| ment at this theatre tonight. Tomorrow
evening Mr.. E. l.. Davenport will make his
| appearance for the first time in many years
| in New Orleans. His acting will be a rare
treat to those who still have a love for the
legitimate drama, of which he is SO able an
exponent. He ia Of school of acting Of
which too few actors are left. 1t is but
simple truth to say that Z. l.. Davenport is
the greatest living American actor, taking a
broad view OF the profession and applying
the art of acting to tragedy, melodrama
and comedy. Compared with Edwin Booth
he is an actor, while Mr.. Booth
may be considered specially per-
former, an artist who has confined
MS talents to a few parts. In appearance
there is fascination about Mr.. Booths
impression, and it will be found that the
effect is produced by the face of the man
more than by his genius. His features have
strange beauty, which attracts and holds
attention; there is sadness about him
which is not all acting. lie is as if nature
made him for Hamlet, and he lives the
character. Mr. Davenport is master of his
art in all its phases. He is rare Shakes
pearean actor, and his Hamlet, as a study of
character and reading, has not been ex-
celled by any na' i've actor. As for Macbeth,
Richard III. OMello, Iago, Bratus. Shyiock,
Woolsey, Benedict or. Mercutio, it would be
difficult to say in what character he is best.
or which of our actors is super ior to him in
either. In the standard drama his
repertoire embraces d long list of charac.
tiers sketched by Massinger, Lovel, Sheri.
dan, White, Knowles, Bulwer and many
other authors, showing an unequaled versa
tiity of personations His Sir Giles Orer-
reach, in New Way to Pay Old Debts"
which he plays tomorrow evening, is one
OF the most subtle and artistic character
lzations known to the stage. 1t was in this
piece that he made his debut when a boy,
playing Passion VIII to the Sir Giles of the
elder Booth. This was at little theatre
IN Providence many years ago. His career
since then has been a succession Of artistic
trinmphs in the line of legitimate acting
In 1917 he visited England, supporting the
then popular Southern actress, Anna Cora
Mowatt, and became SO great favoIite
that he was engaged to support Macready
in his farewell engag ement. Even the
Rev. Talmage acknowl edges him to be
great actor, and the preacher and
player publicly exchanged compliments at
Brooklyn, the one speaking in sermon
from his pulpit, and the other defending his
profession and brother and sister artists in
speech on his benefit night. Bat Mr.
Davenport has done more than all this for
the American stage. He brought to this
country Fanny Vining, now Mrs. f. L.
Davenport, aud he is the father of Fanny,
whom We all know, and Of Blanche, who
will yet be heard in opera. The distin-
guished actor should play good engage
ment.
Varieties Theatre.
Miss Jane Coombs closed her two weeks
engagement last night. The coming week
will be filled out by Mr. John E. Owens, in
a succession of the pathetic and comic ere
ations identified with his name, opening on
ANcNudN uIS III Will otll III WDlCn he Will
play John Unit. The comedy Is a satire on
society, where many truth is told in joke !,
but there are many touches of nature in
Unit, character which calls for the genial
and tender phases of MIR. Owens acting.
Thus it will be seen the play -goers are well
provided for.
Academy Of Music.
Tomorrow evening, at this theatre, a new
star, Mr.. S. c. France, will appear in |
highly sensational, musical and effective |
drama, called ''Marked for Life" Mr.. !
France will play for one week.
The Opera House.
On Monday and Wednesday evenings |
Nile. lima De Murska will appear as Lcon-
'ra in the opera of al Trovatore," which !
act will crafty the desire OF the music
owing public to see her in character other
han Lucia. Her success is assured.