Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-01-26
SCENES AT TIE E-NOT
CNITICAT

On Saturday night last, we were present
as we have hlntcI before, at the grand play
Of Hamlet. The Theatre was crowded
from the gentleman's parquet to the cloud
capped gallery. Along the front boxes
how much beauty flashed, we cannot tell.
We can count he stars on a cool and trans
qnil night, but who can count bright eyes
and flashing checks in such galaxy as
was there and then congrega,ed, From
the front seas TO the parli,ion-from one
end to the other Of the semcirce, we
gazed and acknowledged that our own
dear countrywomen could not be surpassed
for beaut! and animation, 60 where you
will TO rind their superors. II was rare
a. gallant sight for poor unbiased citizen
of Washington, so infrequent are our plays
attended by the beauty of the place and its
Herr Cline or Jim Grow, have drawn
houses nearly equal to the one on this
night, but then they were not so beautiful;
tor on this occasion they came bcaminc
with Intelligence to witness that chefd'
@nvtc fl the Sage--IIamIet the Dane.
wei, the curtain was rolled up the
scene stitted-the music played and gem
eral gu ct and attention reigned through.
out The House. Vandenhof walked The
board the weeping lover-lhe chivarous
irlend-the desperate ilalterer--thc fear
iul man--ond poured his cadcnces into
every ear. The Ghost, CHASTITY and grim,
from the tomb came up, aud gIlded through
the woods, and passed the baltemen's with
noise'oss step, his steal helmet gItterinp
in the noon. Ofpholia. with her maiden
feor, trembed before the gaze; and the
u yn ~ ~ n
III all tie agony or an assumed remorse.
Every tllng was going off well-lhe audi.
ence was dclighled-and rounds of ap.
pause greeted the successful points made
by the performers--w when, suddenly, like a
mumnr IN ship at sea, like the wall Of q
sinking crew, there arose low but unlver
sal WHISPER o. alarm--il grew into shout
from tia. dense and beautiful crowd--and
then were heard separate and individual
shrleks. Amid the din and the confusion,
topmost over every voice, there came the
singh ard awful cry Of fire
What IA scene! We turned our ewes
towards the body Of The Thearre-we look.
&c at The fleeing hundreds ut the upper
boXes--'nd shrunk away within ourself,
least sonc wretch might tumble upon our
head tron the trembling and waving con,
course ABOVE. The boxes were cracking
beneath the hurylng Of feet. And we,
scared hllf to death, leapt the barrier of he
orchestra and stood in that wild and und
gested Tragedy upon the boards, "The
frs, appearance on any stage" by young
gentleman Of Washington. We made no
bow, bu stood aghasl with several friends,
ignorant of our way among the labyrinth of
a. Of
curtain move--(t was at the end of the
third oc' and 10! pale as death came forth
Mr.. Manager Ward, not with fire bucket
IN hand, but clothed in The horrible habiIi.
nents Of the grave-as he was the Ghost
of Hamlel's Father. His eyes beamed
with fire, and he called aloud, not in the
language of the play, but in The language
of an aarmed Manager; "Ho! no ! what's
the malter'" "The ghosts gbberlng in
the streets Of Rome" Actors upon actors
tho lncestuous Queen-the usurper Of
the crown-sweet Lacrtes --tender Orphe>
liza, with other nondescrlpts in their night
caps and night -, all gathered in
quaklng group at the opposite end of the
Stage, and cried in terrific concert,
WHATS The matter ?" A pretty question
TO ask, when Theatre was on fire The
doings of alarm were going on, when Ham.
let, unbonneted and unhosed, rushed upon
The Stage, and in calm and dignlfed man.
ner, assured the audience that there was no
cause for alarm.
AS the Washington Stage can support
but two Stars at once, we prudentialIy and
modcslly made our descent and took TO
the Critical Pit, leaving Mr.. Vandenhof
undisputed and unenvious sway Of the Ros
trum. He recalled the Musicians, who at
the first breath of danger, had flown, in.
struments under arms, TO a place of shelter,
and with presence Of mind and tact truly