The New York herald., 1878-02-05

again. II comes 10 Broadway as if to show thai
neither speech nor dressing. In action nor utcfance
Its CHIEF interpreters nad any conception of the paru
assumed by them. By no slaring divergence do tho1
depart from beaten paths In the "business" oi tht
Stage, nhey seem 10 asOcs bn, nrs content TO 5.
weak inIitators Of average traditions when they az
not lapse into nero ''stcks" rhere we're amongstn
numerous company engaged IN the play some w,
crediiaby performed the work assigned 10 them, ou
thcr efforts only partially served to relieve the gen.
era dulness the representation. The scenery was
quito good and was generously applauded as were the
dramatic portions OF tho play: he farce, "Dodsinl
for wife," which preceded The drama, evoked good
LYcEUM THEArRE-"RoMEo AND JULIET
THE COUNT JoANNEs
Why Mr.. George Jones' Or, as he prefers 10 call
himself the Count Joannes, chooses 10 subject him.
self 10 public rldlculs as an Interpreter of Shake
spearean tragedies, and why, with similar result hs
introduces his pupil, Miss Avonia Fairbanks,
only contenting himself by occasionally walking
down TO the foolIigh.s aud. when no can make him.
sef heard defending her IRON the gibcs and laughter
OF the audience, arc questions which nocd not bs
answered here. But they are suggestive. Recently
these two actors performed at the Bowery.
The houses were crowded, the iun furious
and tho profits 10 the management are
said have bcen large. Last night Mr.
Jones and Mss Fairbanks appeared at the Lyceum
rheairo: aud. while the attendance was couaiderbly
smaller that oil The East side, II served to nearly
I'LL the coscy place and well rewarded by tho en-
tertainment Turec hours of genuine hilarity, born
of the spontaneous humor That Is always
to be found in intelligent American
audicncc--and this by the way was largely composed
OF lawyers-have never more rewarded the efforts OF
best comedians, and few persons left tho theatre
without a sense OF fatigue from sheer merriment-
aching sides and weary daphragms that resulted from
an Involuntary run OF the samut OF laughter from
gentle ic-he 10 an abomiEabo eruption oil ma, IA, mas
1t Is not To be inferred from the foregoing remsrks
that the Count Joannes Is not passaby good actor.
played wih him twenty-five and thirty years
ago. He reads wen, ut times eloquently,
and considering his years. with volce
just on the part vi the public to be always ON the
watch Tor the weak points that may attach to his per.
sonai idosyncracics Ia order TO make little fun at
The expense ol an old man who has as much right 10
endeavor To make u living by his legitimate pro-
LESSON as amy of those who SIT IN front
part OF au American audience to "guy'' u woman as
was done last night, to degree that calls Tor any.
| thing but pleasant comment. II was not alone Mss
| Fairbanks, but Miss Alice Gray and Miss Florence
| vinccnt, who in the respective parts OF Juliet,
| pclled to Withstand a storm OF jeers and
JOKES calculated TO try tho strongest nerves. From
were tho fire of blazing battery OF ridcule:
That the management mounted 1t consclentously and
to lis m iaii tue sudionce seemed determined
havo nothing but right royal sport Wnh but lew ex.
ceptons the people went there Tor this purp0Sonno
| they got Their moneys worth When Romeo kissed
juliet. the house echoed with one prolonged oscul4-
| toriai symphony and q yell "Brace up old boy
| DO 1t somo more" When Romeo appeared in his
| robe, an irreverent voice exclaimod "Gcorge, pull
down your ulster" When Juliet patheticaiiy IN.
Quired .'Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou komeo?l
| bad young lawyer suggested "Writc 10 the Sum-"
Then IL was tnat the Count stepped Indignantly
| TO the front OF the stage and said, ''lt
| there no policemen here, there ought
| to be- NV contract with this iheatrc involves the
preservation OF perfect order, and ask 1t muct
for my sake as that oi She lady who now on tht
stage"
the answer to this was ahowl ''Go for her Gcorgo.'
Stand on soap box ""Take some seltzer," "Tra-la
la.la, &c
Ono OF the best actors OF the evening was Mr.: X.
Johnston, who personated the part OF Frar Law.
renee. The audience attempted to 'guy'' him like.
wise, but, in manly way, he also walked down
to tho iootlighss, and ,mpressivsy said
an actor for thirty years, and never beore
have been treated like q clown. am reading the
lines OF Shakespeare to the best OF my ability, and
you will let me alone will go on; not, my sense Of
received with applause, and tho Friar was not
thereafter specially molested.
The foregoing will give the reader Nh idea OF the
style Of chan that prevailed during tho evening, and
farce could equal IT. Nevertheless, as hs
bcon said before, II Is sorry spectacle In
hard times like these TO sensible people IN q
theatre selecting actors and actresses who have becn
employed to perform certain parts, and who under
other circumstances wouu be thoroughly respected,
made the objects OF dersion, ana almost driven IRON
the stage A decent acknowledgment OF their endea
vors certainly due to those who thus aim TO please
Tonight Miss Francesca Walberg will appear ut the
Lyceum IN original drama IRON the French, entt
lied 'Two Husbands" supported by Mr. WI. Fem.
ing, tomorrow night the Count personates Rich.
ard Ill.