Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-12-21


ac'or is distins gushing himself iu other walks
than those Of tragedy Several II his late per-
formance>, reparted in the papers, have been
ra,aer comieai. His lauahable adventure in
to Bridewell, has alreAd, been related in our IA
per An account Of queer affair a. Baltimore,
in which Booth appeared in very strange
aud ludicreus manner before court Of Justice
is going the rounds in the papers. The B"s.
ton papers furnish US with ano her strange ad-
venture OF Buo,h's. An Overlooking and bril-.
ian, audience had assembled at the fremont 70
witness The performance Of he Tragedy Of E
vadne. 10 which Booth was to appear as Ludo
vico, anc an aftrrpiece in which he was 10
play in comic character. The performance
was for his own henrHl. The Dramatic
Mirror furnishes the following particulars Of
he conduc, Of he Tragedian:--
"A, Mr.. Boo his very frs, appearance upon
the stage, something anusual ~as visible in
is ma, nrr. H. wso careless. slovenly and
hesiairg in his discourse: MS coon,enance
had none Of il, customary Expression; his
gestures and attitudes were any thing hui ele-
gan, and appropriate, and his language was
uttered without any 'egard TO those nice mod
uIasions of emphasis. tone AID Cadence Tor
which his delivery has been distinguished -
He would falier ~ his discourse, Jumbie scraps
nf o,her plays into his dialogue, run TO the
prnmp,er's tide Of the stage and lean csrelessiy
aga,ns, side scene, while the p,omp'tt e"
dcavourrd to help him forward in thr p ay by
.>f h. dialn lnub
nough TO Vt heard in the gale ries. In hi
manner he aaade shift TO get through the FIRST
two acts Of the trsgedy Those familiar with
the thea,ie saw very plAi"ly that somr hing was
rotten in the state VI Denmark; but a grea
,ro,orrion Of the very crowded audience pre-.
sent. no, knowing much Of his manner Of act
ING. did no, comprehend the busineess; ou, on.
~ Looked on stared gaped, and wondered, and
d, otrsted that for an actor OF SO mach celebIl-
~, Mr.. Booth p!lyed in very spirilless, bun
Cling manner.
However,, his bisarrerie came 'oa crisis.
| In The early part IF the third act, while en-
gagged in psriance with The king OF Naples 'he
! audience were surprised by hi, suddenly break;
ing IF from the measured h'roical dignity OF
his stage ten-, aud, with q comical simpfr fall
ling al once into colioqnial gossipine sort OF
chatter with his Mi sly. thus, Upon my
word, sir, / don't know. sir" Sc. The audi
ence WIRE ,hrewn INFO as much establishment
as he King Of he Two Sicili.s at Signor LII
dovico's SUDDEN and auu-poeucsl downcome
from his hu,k,nrd heigh, Of defamation. For
a mome.t al was e;lrnce, wbeu MIR B"otn,
! torning round and facing he spectators, began
10 ADDRESS them in this manuer:-" Ladies and
Gentlemen, I really don't know his pari. !
$ udi,d IL only once before, much agIin,i my
inclination. viii read The part, ard the play
hall go on. By your leave, he play shall 20
o., and Mr. Wilson small red he part for
M" Here an ov-rpow'ring Uurst OF "iss'nB
and ordinations arose from all pats OF he
house, while Mr. B. continued face the au
dience with a griuning look. which at le"g,h
br oke out into an open laugh. MIR. Smit'
then rushe.l from behind the scenes upon 'hs
stage, nd I'D him fl, M Booth exciaiming,
- can't rrad-I am cha'iy oy-i CAM
read Take m 10 he Luna ic Hospi'a'! -
Here the drop .currain fell, mid tue murmur,
| and h,ss-s Of The house
| Since the o. cnrrence abave rcci'ed has Ia
ken piace, Mr.. BOTH has recovered, and VIZ
see his name announced IN the Philadelphia Ia'
pers 10 play in tina, CITY.