Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-10
From the Hub.

u
Rene's Daughter" Honeymoon and
Twelfth Night" The newspaper criticisms
upon her acting have been very droll, re-
minding one Of the honest Professor in Daniel
Deronda, who, when pressed for an opinion,
replied that it was always agreeable to see
Miss Harleth sing. The critics, less evasive.
have spoken Of bad acting. bad voice, man
nerisms and Alterations, but have been al
most unanimous in agreeing that
Tito her share some female errors fall.
Leok on her face and yoa II forget them ALL
can scarcely imagine anything more hu-
initiating to an artist who loved her art and
believ ed herself capable Of high things in it,
than the remark Of a morning paper that the
performance of the evening before showed
the power ofbeauty to hold an audience: this
being followed by the intimation that Mrs
Siddon- had little else to recommend her.
This seemed to me little severe till ! saw
her a. Lady Teazle in ''School for Scandal. !"
Then the only wonder became that they had
been so lenient in their criticisms. 1t Is an
old saying that one woman cannot judge Of
hardly do for me TO say that / do not think
her beautiful. However, her delicate fea-
tures and dark eyes are familiar to so many
who have heard her read that can leave you
to the peaceful enjoyment of your own opin-
ion on that point. But her acting was a
dreadful disappointment.
She has a pretty face, and she usually
dresses we'll. but her voice is TOO light for
the stage she rants and over acts in endeav-
oring TO express passion, and her acting
throughout is affected and ungraceful. The
famous quarrel scene in Act II between Sir
Peter and Lady Teazle, which has found an
honored place in school readers from time
immemorial. was simply spoiled by Mrs.
SjtIdons. have heard many school girl
give the lines with more spirit and apprecia-
ton Indeed, only once during the whole
play did she ever forget Mrs. Scott Siddons
long enough to do any really effective act
ing. That was at the end of Act Nv, when
in her confession to Sir Peter and her evil
dent contrition for her fault, she was per-
fectly charming. In Act ii. she was very
droll in her mimicry Of the fat dowager on
horseback, but otherwise seemed to fail en-
tirely in bringing out the humor Of the part.
Mr.. Harry PcarsOn's Sir Peter was excel
lent, careful, consistent throughout, and
showing thorough conception of the char
acter. Lnigi Lablache looked every inch the
handsome young scapegrace. Charles Surface.
Indeed I heard n young lady say she didn't
blame Maria for falling in love with so
charming a fellow. He dressed the part to
perfection, wearing coat. waistcoat and knee
breeches Of pale blue satin, with silver
trimmings, pale blue silk stockings and low
shoes: deep ruffies Of rich lace were at wrist
and throat and lace handkerchief hung neg
ligcntly from his pocket. His acting. too,
was very good indeed, and his rendering of
the song Here's to the Maiden etc, as
cribed in the text to Sir Harry was very ac-
ceptable. The other costumes. especially of
the ladies, were fine throughout and verv at
tractive to admirers of the quaint fashions of
that time, as who is not? Mrs. Siddons has
teen accused of cutting and slashing the text
of her PLAYS to quite an extent, but the omis-
sion of scenes first and second from the last
act was decided Improvement on the origi-
nal.
know of a gentleman, an inveterate thea
tres ocr, who says that when some silly soci-
ETY. drama or modern comedy is having a
run" he experiences the same feeling OF
relief that he does on opening the morning
paper TO find two pages taken up with Audi
tors reports or the dongs of the Common
not feel in duty bound to read. The .senti-
mcnt can be echoed by many another | think,
for it does really seem duty we owe to our
selves to hear and see the best in music and
the drama. as means of education.
Those who have that belief have been kept
we'll supplied with good things this season
but they can surely take vacation next
week, with Joshua Whitcomb" at the Bos-
ton. 1.-THE Guv'nor' at the Museum, ''Oliv-
cite" at the Gaiety and Park, and Genevieve
Ward in "Forget-me-not' at the Globe. In
the whole list there is nothing one would
really care to see. Although 1.-The Guv'no
has already had a run of ten weeks it is a
very trifiing thing. the motif being the mis-
understanding and complications that very
deaf old man falls into because of his deaf
ness. 1t would do very well as farce; but
come to spread this slender plot out over the
dimensions of a fve-act comedy and it be-
comes quite another matter. However, as
Mr.. Lincoln used to say, ''if you like that
sort Of thing, why it's just the sort of thing
You'll like" And that people do like it, wit
ness the conversation Of two ladies who sat
behind me in the car the other day.
No. I'm going to the Theatre next
week"
No. 2-'sAre you? What will you see:"
splendid 1t keeps you screaming from the
minute it begins till it ends
No. 2-''I want to know. Well I should
think it would be nice
I saw quite an elaborate article not long
since which was intended to prove that the
| success of 'Pinaforc' in this country was
! owing to the hard times which had preceded
its appearance among us. In the reaction
from the depression and mental strain Incl
dent to the struggle with the panic, men turn
ed eagerly to the light music and nonsensical
words Of the opera bouffe as perfect relic,
and relaxation. The PIRATES Of Pen
zance,'' by the same authors and OF
the same general tone followed. but
was not nearly popular as Pinafore
This think goes far to prove the position
taken, that the latter had its mission among
US for time, and when this was accomplished
il had to yield its place to other things. But
to one who believes that the stage should TAX,
its place with the press and our common
| schools Is an educator for the masses. it is q
constant source of regret that the modern ant
ePhemeral should so often exclude the stan
the public itself it is true, but the theatre
managers are partly to blame. Surely it ha.
been demonstrated that merely fair repre-
sentation of Shakespeare. Knowles, Sheridan
Bulwer, or Goldsmith will meet with read,
recognition.
Perhaps it is hardly fair to cite Salvini a,
proof of this statement. he is so exception
ally fine. but the receipts from his eight per
formanccs were enormous. The off cial re
turns were as follows: