The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-19
ORLEANS DEMOCRAT, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 49,

heart that It once had, and that the PAM
pered appetite of the play-going world must
be constantly aIlured and excited with novel
spectacles and startling sensations. We be-
lieve that these premises are utterly, abomi-
nably false, and that the real fault Is with the
profession and not with the public. We be-
Iieve that the drama owes its present degrade
tion-and that 1t Is degraded as 1t never has
been since the earliest recorded establish
ment OF the English stage cannot be denied
more to the stageitself than to the public. But,
wherever this responsibility rests, there
was never such an opportunity as Is now pre-
sented, In this community at least, for revi-
val OF the highest standard of dramatic taste
in the public and excellence In the profession.
The theatre going public OF to-day Is com
posed In the main OF a new generation, to
whom the old English drama is q revelation,
| so long has 1t been banished from the stage.
| II novelty Is the first thing a manager has to
consider in making out his programme for
the season. then he certainly cannot lose
money by any efforts he might make to re-
vive the Legitimate DRAMA There Is a
hungry and innocent public that knows moth
ing Of It, while the old timers are wearied of
the slush they have been fed upon this many
q day and are yearning for that lone touch
Of nature that makes the whole world akin,
which has not thrilled them for years.
| These remarks have been provoked by the
successful engagement of Mr.. Mccullough
at the Academy, and of Messrs. Robson and
Crane at the Varieties. At the Academy we
| have the classics only, while at the Varieties
we have had new play. it Is true but,
strange to relate, an admirable one having
| nothing in common with the modern "
drama, and rendered after the man.
ner of the genuine, wholesome old
time comedy. In real merit "Our
Bachelors" does not come up to the standard
Of "School for Scandal and that order of
comedy, yet 1t is far above the level of the
latter day substitute, In humor, wit, and,
above ALL in morals and intention. 1t has
been heartily enjoyed, and disapproved by
none, and that is great deal TO say about
q new play In these days. No higher praise
can be spokensof 1t than that 1t had aroused
a lively anxiety to see Crane and Robson In
the two Dromios, which is being presented
this week, as 1t has not been seen by this |
generation at least
Of Mr. John Mccullough q great deal that |
is critical might be said; but so grateful are
we to him for his great and classical persona |
tions, and more for the good support he has |
secured himself that If we venture to criticise |
at all 1t will be only because he Is the only |
actor we have seen lately that deserved such |
treatment. The first thing that we have to |
commend him for is his willingness to tole-
rate some other good actor than himself In |
the same cast. The curse of the latter day
stage are the stars, both male and female |
They have been fatal to the dramatic entities |
They have transformed the legend Of Sleepy |
Hollow into Rip Van Winkte, our American |
Cousin into Dundreuy the Cricket on the
Hearth into Dot or Caleb PlAn,mer, to suit |
the star, while the dramatic interest of |
Bleak House is turned on Lady Dedlock for
Janauschek and Poor Joe for London
player. Even Lawrence Barrett, unschoIarIy |
weakng as he Is, has had the audacity to at
tempt to make OF the Merchant of Venice sim
ply the play of Shylock. We have to thank
Mr.. Mccullough for lack OF this self-eon-
ceit Of the stars. He has the sagaeity to see
that his own conspicuous part In great
drama Is rendered all the more effective and |
successful by good support throughout
Without detracting at all from his merits we
can honestly thank him for having on the
stage with him such actors as Sutton. Lane
and Barron. It has been a weary time since
we have seen such actors on the stage with q
star.
We had intended to say something of Mr.
methods, but this we shall
have to defer till another time. We cannot |
help saying. however, in his commentator.
that he has scholars understanding of his
parts that Is exceptional In these degenerate
days, when actors skip up the rounds of the
ladder that leads to eminence In the profess
sion like harfequins. This Is particularly no.
ticeable Ia his delneations OF Shakespeare's
In which he constantly gives
proof OF his careful study of the great com
mentators, as well as of his respect for the
traditions of the stage. The true lover of
may differ with some of Mr.
renditions. but he shall not |
Tall OF the satisfaction of knowing that the
actor knew well what he was doing when he
gave his own Interpretation. This evidence
Of careful and conscientious study was most
5trikingly evinced In his renditions of Hamlet
and Brutus.
Mr.. McCullough's characterzations all
evince weil-defned conception of the part he
Is assuming-they are always clear-cut as a
cameo and classical to a fault. His greatest
faults are mere mannerisms, and those are
most no iceable in the handling of his voice.
What IA improvement 1t would have been
had he spoken all of Hmmtets part with the
natural simplicity in which he gave the ad-
vice to the player,
Judge J. w. MONTGOMERY q DISTINGUISHED