The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-02-01 00:00:00

teen selected by the members of the society by vote. Why
they selected the play of Romeo and Juliet. was perhaps
known beet ti each individual voter. It was
the first of the tragedies that Shakespeare ever
wrote, and perhaps that might have decided some
In their vntes, in the belief that very likely after
hearing Mr. Brandram in this the first of Shakespeare's
tragedies they would invite him t. come again and read
before them some of the plays that were written in
Shakespeare's maturer age. That might have guided some
members in their votes, or it might have been that with •
sort of prophetic eye in regard to the very Arctic weather
that they had experienced, they should wish, for one even-
ing at least, to bask in the sunny climes of Italy; and Ito
they elected the play of Romeo and Juliet, In unser that
they might experience, in imagination at lead, • little of
the July sunshine of • foreign clime. lb that as it might,
kimeo and Juliet had been elected, and it wu now his
business, and great privilege and pleasure, to introduce to
the members of the Lecture Society and to th,ir friends,
Mr. Brandrana, who was already very well known to each
member of them. (Applause.)
Mr. BILANDRAII then commenced the play, and before
the lines- of the prologue were ended it was felt • great
treat was in store. As an elocutionist perhaps Mr. Brand'
ram ranks one of the first in England, and as a Shake,-
nerian scholar he is equally eminent. To recite one of
Shakespeare's plays without the aid of a single note is at
any time a marvellous task, but where a reader offers a
society the choice of Diem, whether the well-know
tragedies, as Macbeth, Hamlet, and Othello, or the iswa
known comedies, it instigates • memory of extaordinary
power. Asa successor to the great Bellew, as the first reader
of the day, Mr. Brandram is eminently cspable.and not only
that, but his acquaintance with Shakesperian literature
*naiad him t a • high place amongst English dramatic
scholars. The doleful story of the unfortunate loves of
RlOlOO and Juliet was giveh with much dramatic expres-
sion, and the thrilling and tragic lines were recited
with such intensity of feeling, that it was felt that
although Mr. Brandram had justly won his reputation as
• great reader. the English stage had lost • great
Shakesperisn actor. In the fifth act, in which are
led almost all the misfortunis of the play, he wog
Particularly good, giving the
supposed
utterances on
Romeo on learning of the sup death of Juliet, ant
whilst mixing on her in her living tomb, with the
tendered feeling and pathos, that it was felt that there
was truly • tale of more woe. la the earlier scenes,
which give the languishing sentiments of the loveodck
pair, he gave the lines judiciously and without undue
affectation. In the quaiut speeches of the old nurse, Mr.
Brandrsm was particularly good, and his clever imitation
caused much amusement The recitation, which lasted
about two hours and a-half, was listened to with unabated
interest throughoet, and between the acts Mr. Brandram
was loudly applauded.
Considering the success which attended Mr. Brandram's
appearance, it is hoped the committee will see their was
to another engagement at no distant period.