Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-02
VISIT TO NEw-YORK.
[coNrINuED.1

T.. Forrest, an actor, who, IN the iutie spece
Of year. has acquired a degree Of fame not
often realized by those who tread the sta9s,
and pursue a vocation, which. of all others,
must be, with all its allurements, the nost
painful The play was William Tell; and Tho
mere annunciation Of the fact, that Mr.. FdF-
rest would sustain the part Of tho patriotic
Swiss, called in crowded audience, composed
of the more fashionable part Of the city, and oS
strangers, many of whom had waited New
York, merely to behold the efforts Of the great
American Tragedian. Notwithstanding be had
frequently made his appearance before New
York audience, he was, on his entrance, re-
ccived with thunders of applause, and the vac
cillating plume, as it nodded appreciation, from
the quafis of many fair one, told, in a silent
| language, that the actor, had at least the good
feelings Of the fair; whilst the clappings of the
gentlemen, assured him that Americans are ev-
er ready to patronize sterling talent and native
genius. In every scene the young actor was
perfectly at homo, and when he depicted the
! agonized feelings Of the heroic Swiss, at tho
moment he prepares to shoot the apple from
the head ofhs child, the audience sat in breath
! less anxiety, and the tear-drop was seen to
glitter in the eye of many fair one, whose
heart tremblcd lest the luckless father should
miss his aim, and destroy his boy. And when
the boy made his appearance uninjured, and
received the warm embraces Of the father, Joy
seemed to glisten in every eye, and tho than-
dcrs Of applause almost shook the edice to its
centre. moro interesting scene is not to be
| found in the whole range of the drama; and if
the play had no other merit or attra ction, this
alone, would be enough to call in all tho ad-
mrers OF the drama and of the histrionic art.
Relative TO the merits of this young actor,
there is diversity of opinion, and whilst all
are ready TO admit that he is young man Of
superior talents, and among the first actors Of
the age, some think that he is not equal to
Cooper, Conway, Hamblin or Macrcady; 9TH
crs consider him TO be superior to either; and
the Ncw-York press, has teemed with essays
and criticisms, in which he is examined and
contrastcd with his rivals His Tell, we do
not think is his best part; and having seen it
delincated by all the eminent actors of tho
continent, we are prepared to say, that if it
falls behind that Of Conway, it is superior 70
Cooper's or Hamblin's, though either of the lat
ter delineate it, with much success and great
ability But as our opinion on subjects like these,
is not worth any more than those which are
expressed by others, We shall not quarrel about
the matter, but content ourselves with simply
stating, that William Tell, finds in the hands
of either of the great histrionic rivals, an able
representative.
Mr. Forrest ,inhisactng displays Far more orig
nllty thai any other actor of the tin e.,ifwe ex-
cept EDMUND KEAN, and in all Of his perform
ances, shows, that he is not the copyist or imi-
tator Of any man. He is a man of native
genius, and his mind seems to grasp the mean
ing of an author at first sight; and whilst hc
seizcs upon the language of the writer, he en-
bodies the feelings intended TO be displayed.
and delineates them with an exactness, which
Shakespeare, if he were alive, would recognize
as his own. We do not mean TO say that Mr..
Forrest is fiultlcss; on the contrary, we think
he has faults, which nothing but time and ex-
pericncc can correct. In giving vent TO his
feelings, he is sometimes too extravagant, but
as he evidently feels all he expresses, tho fault
may be good one, though it sometimes gives
pain 20 the audience, and detracts from the
brilliancy Of the performance.
He seems to have been designed for the pro-
fcssion he follows, and should he continue in
it, the day is not far distant, when he will rank
among the first actors the world has produced.
Thus far ho has succeeded almost beyond ex-
ample, and though the world has lavishod its
praises upon him, he does not seem to have been
injured by adulation; ard whilst he has listen
cd to the plaudts of h.s countrymcn, has been
grateful for the honours bestowed, and recev-
ed them as free will offerings bestowed
upon his merits. In private life he is ADMIRED
by all who know him, and by pursuing up
right and manly course Of conduct, has secur-
cd to himself the respect and friendship Of tho
members ofthe profession.
Unlike many Of the eminent actors Of the
day, he does not assume that which does not
belong TO him, and though he is probably con-
scious his own superiority, he does not arro-
gantly trnmplc upon the feelings of his cotem-
! poraries, and troat men worms Of the dust.
who Gil the humber walks Of the Drama. AL
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