The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-01-20
AMusEMENrs LAsr EvENINo.


Mrs McElroy, Miss Frelingh huyson, Miss
Harding, Miss Sharp and Miss Maury,occu'
pied tho left-hand lower boxes, and those
opposite were occupied by several represen-
tatives of tho Diplomatic Corps, the Rus.
sian, Italian and German Ministers and
ladies.
In the auditorium were, among other
uOtables, Senator Hampton, Senator Butler,
Senator Williams, Senator and Mrs Vest,
ex-s6cretary and Mrs Boutwell,, Senior
Valera, the Spanish Minister, aud many of
the attaches of the foreign legations; Rep
resentative and Mrs. HiscOck, Commissioner
and Mrs. Edmonds, Mr.. aud Mrs. SevellOn
A. Brown, Horatio &. King and Represents
tives Reed, Hart, Cannon and Ermen-
front.
Every portion Of the immense auditorium
was crowded and the faces of prominent per-
sons were everywhere conspicuous. The play
was well set in every respect The scenery
was appropriate and effective, the costumes
historically correct and prepared with the
greatest care and regard for detail. The
properties were suitable, ond historically
as well as dramatically the representation
was unusually accurate and rendered
throughout with strict regard for the har-
monies.
1t was cold and critical audience that
assembled at Albaugh's Grand Opera House
last evening 1t was an audience not easily
disposed to enthusiasm, chary of applause,
and yet appreciativc of everything meri-
torious presented. 1t was just such an
audience that an actor fears to face, yot
aspires to conquer. 1t was an audience to
control VIII ich was no easy task, but was a
most agreeable one to play to when once
gained. SO many conflicting reports had
come of Nine. Ristori's achievements since
her return to this country that the audi
ence had evidently come with Judgment
unbiased and mind undetermined to form
its own opinions regardless Of cynics or
fattorers. WhCd such an audience
pIonOunces in favor Of an actress,
she can, with reason, feel proud.
That Nine. Rstoiis performance of Eliza
BETH" the English Queen, was most
intelligent and scholarly effort, was the
unanimous opinion Of the gathering. 1t
was not performance that excited
"bravos" of enthusiasm, but it was one
that appealed to the hearers deeper and
less easily stirred feelings 1t was a per-
fofmance that gave TO the audience q clear
glimpse Of the tragedienne's conception. 1t
was conception that everyone felt to be
historically correct. SO perfect, so natural
was it that for the time Nine. Ristori was
forgotten and England's Virgin Queen,
capIicious, stubborn, loving, tickle, proud
Little pieces of by.play now and then
flashed out these phases of her character,
and while the intellectual and appreciative
mind warmed respOnsively to them, the
enthusiasm did not kindle. 1t was too
profound for enthusiasm. But there is
nothing in the character of Elisabeth to
excite enthusiasm. That is much more
easily aroused by the fiery words and inn
pulsive actions OF young, Essec, her hot
headed lover
1t is in 10 sense derogatory to say that
the opera-house did not ring with shouts
ON Rstori's exit from the stage, OF after she
had rendered some particularly striking
passage. Like a true artistic, she disdained
the tricks of the histrionic charlatan to
gain the sweet.sounding applause of the
galleries. Her success was none the less
certain. Her conception and creation of
the part must rank among the masterpieces
of the stage, and speaking people
can congratulate themselves upon the fact
that Nine. Ristori can open for them what
was before to them the unsealed book of
her dramatic conceptions, with q perform
ance so full of excellences it would be hard
to particularize. The Virgin Queens sus-
ceptibility to llattery and her yielding dis
position, when properly approached, wore
faithfully portrayed in the scene whore
permission was entreated, and at length
gained, to present Shakspeares Henry
VIII" The little love passage with Esser,
in the second act, was very artistically
rendered. Her struggle between pride and
love, in the fourth act, and her grief upon
the death of Esser, was piece of acting Of
which the great tragedienne could well be
proud, All through the play she showed q
most scholarly conception of her part. Her
realization was triumph Of histrionic
skill.
In speaking of minor details, it might
be said that Mme Ristori speaks English
remarkably well, her words being much
moro intelligible than those Of Mile. Rhea.
Her voice is clear and penetrating, aud her
lowest tones can be plainly heard In any
part of the house. Her emphasis is we'll
placed and in this respect differs from that
Of some of her support, who conventionally
in some cases put the emphasis on the least
important words.
ThcsuppOrt was far above the average. Mr..
Edmund Tearle, as Esser, was especially
cOmmendable; Mr. Ivan Shirley, as james
w., and Mr.. John A. Lane, as Lord HOUard,
were worthy of particular mention. Mrs.
Foster, as Lady Howard, and Miss Clifton,
as Lddy Bu}eigh, deserve praise.
May Blossom" was produced at the
National Theatre last evening by the
Madison Square Theatre Company. The
cast is good one as whole, but rather
weak in spots. The play dragged some
what. The waits between the acts were so
long as to be almost objectionable. The
changes of scenery for the different acts
were by no means elaborate, certainly not
sufficiently so to keep the audience waiting
so long. The play is very fair one.
There is not a. single Objectionable line in
it. Many of the situations possess striking
qualities, but none Of them arc unusually
strong.
The play might be called semi-melo-
DIANA. The scene of the story is Hamp-
ton, Va, but anyone familiar with that
village could recognize nothing familiar in
any Of the stage settings. Miss Georgia Cay
van assumed the part Of Nay Blossom, the
heroine of the play, She is pretty aud
very clever little actress She was remark
ably strong in the emotional scenes, aud as
there is great deal of the emotional in
what May blossom passes through her
powers were thoroughly and most satisfac-
tOTily tested.
She was by far the strongest character in
the cast. Next to her was Mr.. Benjamin
Mckinley, as Tom BiOssO@ the old fisher
man and father of lfay His was very
good piece Of character acting. Mr.. w. H.
Crompton, as Uncle BaHleH, the village
preacher, acquitted himself very well. Toe
humor OF tho play, of which there is not
very much, rests to considerable extent
in his bands. Mrs. Mary Henderson, as
Deborah, May blossoms aunt, did very we'll
Some of the scenes between her and Uncle
bartlett were very enjoyable. The Richard
AdcroH of Mr., Robinson and the Sterc HQr.
land Of Mr.. Wheelock were good, but
neither fully rose TO his part. MAY
Blossom" will be on the boards at the Ma
/ ~ l.. 4 L