The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-10-31 00:00:00

itbYAL AMPHITHEAYitt

•, , •
V
. MR. BARR, SULLIVAN AS MACBETH.
We. confess to a feeling of Considerable disappoint-
ment with this highly talented gentleman's performance
of Macbeth on Monday evening. We have no fault to
find with his recitation of the part—it was singegrl
well studied; and, as a great elocutional effort, it
probably unapproachable by few living tragedians. Ent
it struck us repeatedly that there was a want of reality
observable in the gifted actor's manner, mode,
and style of acting throughout, electing, perhaps,
towards the closing scene of the tragedy, which latter
Is* dilestionably a very great theatrical triumph.
You wild 1114 easily layyour finger on even a single
isolated blemish in Mr. Barry Sullivan's representation
of this, in many respects, peculiarly difficult character—
difficult as well as perplexing, &Of cianrately to conceive,
' and accurately to pourtray; but there Ntia marlifest a
painfully conspicuous absence of life. of anim#tioni of
esprit in his perfoOnance of the talk which he had
undertaken, which detracted far more than he seemed to
be aware of, from the intetest his performance
was otherwise entitled to secure. IT4tdly on any
one, occasion did the actor succeed in banisning bis own
individuality from the part he was playing. 'You were
rarely arldWed to forget for a moment that it was Mr.
Barry Sullivan„net the ,ambitious Thane of Glamis,
cnoontstchieengceu.islityrikThanenKe
itinfg
of sedoro,o4nnodt, hwehsouccessful b
was
before
you ; and if he had not warmed towards the finish,
which was, as we have said, quite a irinmph so far as
acting was concerned, we should really have eiperienced
no little difficulty in recognising his claims to the
histrionic rank to which he aspires.
The defect to which we have thus drawn attention
was, in our view, a very serious drawback, to what
in other respects, as we have said, a most meritorious
attempt to realise one of Shakspere's very greatest
creations; but the defect is one which time, practice,
and increased confidence in that large measure of his-
irlonic'talent and power which Mr. B. Sullivan possesses—
and which',, let add, is far far from being exhausted,—
will go a veil long vi,ay rothody and cause to disap-
pear. We have, as Usifal, again to oin/A our favourite
Liverpool tragedian for severde.neW dud improved read-
ings and arrangements of the Play. tieseall bear testi-
mony to much and careful study of the writings of the
immortal bard, and of his profession. They are merits
to which we most gladly offer our tribute, and of which
no criticism on his acting, even were it tenfoldd more
sharp' than anything we have here said, can deprive
him.

•
Mfg. J. Walton`, as Lay Macbeth, fully merited the ap-
proVaT Fier acting it Mat cha'rac'ter, which was accorded
to it'by the aildiefiee: We' tend not say that 111aedaf
found a most able and energetic•representative in Mr. J.
C. CoWper. The other parts ni'so Were aIT sustained in a
more or less praiseworthy manner. The. music and cho-
ruses, which contributed a separate treat of themselves,
went extremely well, and the interview of .3fact;frth vtith
the Witches and its accompaniments, was very effectively
and sttecessfully managed. As for the scenic and other
arraagements under which the play was put on the
stage, they all regected, as they invariably do in this
theatre and the Royal, the greatest credit on the enter-
prising management.
Last night Mr. Barry Sullivan payed King Lear to,
as usual, an excellent house ; and he Nlasf as usual,
most warmly received. We have only room to add that
his performance of the part, which is a very trying one
to enact, gives him fresh claims on our admiration, and
will unfailingly add to his popularity.