The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-04 00:00:00

OLYMPIC THEATRE.

Mr. Gustavus V. Brooke made his debut here last
evening. This gentleman had been so outrageously
bepraised by his provincial friends, and his approach
had been heralded by so many puffs preliminary, that
we were prepared to be disappointed with him. For
once, however, we have met with a man equal to his
fame, and willing and gladly admit that Mr. G. V.
Brooke is quite worthy all the eulogiums which have
been: passed upon him. Mr. Brooke's first entrance
created an impression in his favour. He has a tall
commanding figure, and a face evidently handsome, in
spite of the disfigurement of the dark hue, which gives
somewhat of grimace to every marked movement of
Othello's countenance. His voice is of excellent
quality—deep and sonorous, and this quality is never
lost, however strong the utterance of passion. The
first two acts rather gave the notion of an eloquent
declaimer, than of a man of fire and passion. The
reading was excellent ; the voice well modulated, the
emphasis carefully adjusted. An air of commanding
dignity was spread over all this earlier portion of the
performance, and the only fear was, that the whole
would prove too quiet and measured, and at last seem
monotonous. A well conceived display of indignation
at the brawl in which Cassio is involved led to a con-
trary supposition ; but still the third act was anxiously
expected as a test. Through this great ordeal of
the third act—of the dialogue with lago—Mr. Brooke
passed most triumphantly. Here he showed that
he was a man, not only of form, but of sub-
stance. His bursts of jealous passion came down
with terrific weight, and whether he soared
on the wings of rage, or sank exhausted be-
neath its force, all was fresh, energetic, and
genial. There was nothing in his points to suggest a
reminiscence of other actors. Indeed, in the ordinary
sense of the word, he can hardly be said to have
made a " point" at all, of such a continuous, sus-
tained character was his acting. And be it remarked,
that the correctness and sound judgment which were
visible in his earlier speeches did not forsake him when
he abandoned himself to the more violent outbursts
of passion. As he preserved his voice, so likewise
did he preserve his head, however great the storm
of emotion. But if we would mark the most
striking features of Mr. Brooke's representation of
of
Othello, we would indicate those passages in which
the under-current of grief is forced up into the midst
of jealous rage. Lines, and parts of lines, which he de-
livered, were in this respect exquisitely touching, and
evidently resulted from original conception. The excla-
mation, " Damn her, lewd minx, oh damn her," when he
gave an expression of sorrow to the repetition of the
curse, is a remarkable case in point. Indeed, all the
mournful side of Othello s position he had conceived
with great delicacy. The break of the voice into
weeping at the words " Othello s occupation 's gone,"
and, above all, the deep anguish when he said, " Fool,
fool, fool," after the discovery of the villany that had
been practised upon him, were touches of the deepest
pathos. In Mr. Brooke we possess what we have long
wanted on the stage, a gentleman of power, of
taste, and of elocution, who has an ear to appre-
ciate the rythin of blank verse, and who de-
claims beautifully not in the hop, step, and jump,
and pause. style in which " great tragedians"
have
of late years chanted the poetry of Shakspere,
lle is intense without mannerism, and can be impas-
sioned without going through a series of poses
plastiques. He was admirably supported by Stuart,
whose lago ;is the best on the stage, and by Miss
Stuart, who made a most interesting Desdemona.
Mr. Brooke was called for at the conclusion, and re-
ceived with the greatest enthusiasm. Such a success
has not been achieved for years. The house was
crowded.

DEATH OF THE DOWAGER COUNTESS OF CLAN..
CARTY.—We regret to announce the death of the Dow-
ager Countess of Clancarty, which occurred on Thursday,
at Garbally, near Ballinasloe.
DEATH OF MRS. HASTIE.—We are sorry to notice
in our obituary to- day, the death of Mrs. hustle, the
venerable parent of the Member for the town. Mrs.
Hastie's family was the Steuarts of Alderston, in the
county of Haddington, and she was aunt to the late Mr.
Robert Steuart, fur two or three Parliaments represen-
tative for the Haddington Burghs, and one of the Lords
of the Treasury.— Glasgow Saturday Post.
HARMONIC HALL, SOUTHWARK BRIDG
Several benefits have recently been taken at this unique
place of entertainment by local philanthropic societies,
for the distribution of bread, coals, &c., to the de-
serving poor, during the winter months, and it is satis-
factory to add, they have been productive of great
advantages. Last evening a new pantomimic repre-
sentation, called the Devil in London, was produced by
the manager, Mr. W. Warde, and the several hits at
the follies of the day elicited much applause from a
crowded auditory 1 as also did the effective singing of
mr. Pearce, in Dibdin's naval melodies, and Mr. Temple
in some characteristic country songs.