The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-16
"PRINCE CARLOS, AT THE VARI-
ETIES THEATER.

ET1ES THEAIEks
The play Of "Prince Carlos" presented by the
New Histrionics last Thursday night at thea
Varieties Theater, attracted large and enlhusi-
astic house, was felcltously rendered in the
main, and awakened especial interest for two
reasons. 1t is the composition of young Leu
sianian, and, his first challenge to the public,
merits consideration for its courage, wholesome
motive, Conference and mellow diction. We are
inclined, indeed, to say, as did Hamlet OF the
play which he strove to recall to the Actor, an
excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set
down with as much mOdesty as cunning,
an honest method as wholesome as sweet" One
or two scenes might perhaps be commended to
the barber with Poloniuss beard, but q stalwart
purpose stalks Gin the armor OF pure intent"
through his lines with an elastic iambic step,
and if it halts OF falters IN few instances, it
does not hobble; the energy is not convulsiye,
but well husbanded to the last.
The play, while clearly original, reveals q
Madrid that is an Opaque suggestion Of Elsinore.
Carlos is new Hamlet, sore distraught, relies
upon Posa as his Horatio, mourns q father, dead
to him while yet living, steals upon him at mid
night as Hamlet sought the praying Claudius,
though with no wicked aim and, finally, falls as
did the Dane, victim of villainy and with the
tidings of Queen-mOther's death in his ears.
Domingo is in part PoloGius and in part a
Joseph, whom Alva as Richelieu Ito thu extent
motion in the church. Alva is likewise not I'M
like De Baradas in some respects, and in yet
others Claudius, to whom Carlos is disturb
ance and impeachment.
We make this hasty analysis to Indicate with
what care the young author has dgested his
reading OF tho masters of drama, and assinli-
lated such traits as might aid his general pur-
pose.
The second especial reason for the public iu-
terest in the performance is one to which the
no mt a n
the assistance rendered by Miss Isabel Freeman
as Princess Eboli. This lady-well known here
as having been leading lady at the Varieties
Theater some years since, and as star in the
Northern and Western cities-has consented to
reinforce the New Histrionics and Orleans ANA
'eurs in their several dramatic ventures during
the summer.
Combining an apt intuition, severe professional
discipline, youth, beauty and facility to interpret
character she made her part, though stinted in
the structure OF the play, its most conspicuous
purpose. The authors sculpture OF the charac-
ter, so to speak, is, while in taste, incomplete 10
development; the figure is not, as yet, wholly re-
leased from its marble-block and allowed just
scope, yet the lady to whom the part was con-
fded resolntely broke away from this hindrance.
We admit that the significance OF role cannot
be measured by its number OF lines as by tape
line. MercutiO reels from the threshold OF the
| third act Ct Romeo and Juliet" staunching a
| fatal sword thrust, yet his CHASTITY smile glim-
mers through all the later SORROWS that befall the
Veronese lovers; and as we behold them in death
we cannot forbear to marvel where amid the
neighboring tombs sleeps he who had predicted
he should be "a grave men, when We asked for
| him on the morrow.
In two acts he projects himself through five,
and the art which the player Shakespeare thus
lodged in the lines of the playwright Shakes
Deare, the author of Princess Eboli finds, doubt
| less to his grateful SURPRISE 80 contributed to
the exposition OF tpat character by Miss Free
man to recognize her as joint author with him
| in it's distinct emphasis ana elaboration.
The characters of Mercutio and Eboli partake
in no whit, Of course, Of the came spur or pur-
pose, but nc ,ertaeless depend largely upon that
adroit dramatic tact, which an uGdertow to
| the text the young author of "Carlos' has in
| his ineXperience not sbeen able to command go
| far as to disdan the succor of proficient inter-
prefer beyond the compass he may himself have
conceived for his Dortraiture OF the Princess
| Ebol
'The lady shall say her mind freely, or the
blank verse shall halt for t" promised the Dane
aud doubtless our young author will now feel
impelled to the game pledge, and newly "ses
down and insert o speech" here and there for the
Princess, by way OF supplement She is not a
mere statue by any means. Her intellectual
arteries foroid that opinion; but as the Pyg-
malion who wrought her, he has been diverted
perhaps, by the procession % the other figures
| In hi. play. Let him caress her anew, invest heI
in fresh verbal raiment, consistently multipl,
her indictments, deck her with new jewels, and
he will discover, as did his ancient prototype
that the image will GLOW with warmth and fully
requite his anxious labor.
This we'll meant suggestion involves, too, not
only that approximate poise between the sexes
| which is thres-quartt rs a canon in moder'
dramatic art but also the authors better credi,
in maturing his conception OF woman, who IT,
doubtless, to himself sweeter and more gra
cious woman, quickened with deeper incentives
and enuobled to fuller partnership in his theme
now that the text with which he charged her lipi
has been pronounced in "the fine pants ant
trembes of the line and illustrated in pulse aut
color by such a coadiutor as Miss Freeman. She
inferred it's affirm alive qualities in large measure
and lent them great thumps OF heart" We
shall hope, during the summer. to see the lady IL
parts that may even better reveal her known
dramatic fervors, and especially in that breezJ
lhumor which is her signal gift, and which ma.
mitigate the temperature of tropical night in
/ New Orleans theater.
We confess to preference during the sum
mer- solstice for light muslin on the stage t.
velvet nantes and ermine; the former refriger
ates the auditor the latter virtually swathes hin
till he swelters with the performer. Despite the
fact that one or two OF the amateurs seemed dis
posed under Bottoms suggestion "to signif,
wall" you did remarkably well, Messieurs New
Histrionics, but next time give us light, genia
comedy, q cool, savory, intellectual lemonade
In which We may thrust an impalpable straw ant
refresh ourselves even to the mental marrow
the pomp and buster Of Novembers than gentl
Aprils or lght-hearted Junes. We congratulate
M. Williams upon his Yeil-earned succ ess.
LOUISIANA BENEVOLENT LIVE STOCK INsURANC
|CoMPANY.-This organization is not an expert
Iment, neither is it visionary, impracticabl
lscheme. Based, as it is, upon the English