Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-12
Local Intelligence, City Ncws,&c.

MN. ". BhOOkE,
The following crqve, from the London Times,
will be read with interest by all admirers OF the emf
nent tragedian now performing in Richmond.
From the London Times, Jsny. 4, 1913.
- OLYMPIC THEATRE.
1t is long since theatre has presented such an ar
hight. Mr.. Cusavus Brooke had been announced TO
make his London debut in the character OF O.hello,
and enough had been sal I'd of his provincial celebrity
10 Justify general expectation The house was crowd
ed but the mere statement of this fact is sufficient
10 convey notion OF the peculiar aspect. There is
great difference In the people who make up crowds,
and the audience who were assembled 10 see Mr. q.
Brooke, were just those persons who could be picked
out by an hd6ttue as likely interest he nselves in
theatrical atfars-in word, the connosseurs OF the
metropolis.
Mr.. Brooke's first entrance created an impression
in his favour. He has tall commanding figure, and
face evidently handsome in spite OF the disfgure
ment OF the dark hue, which gives somewhat OF GRIM
ace to every marked movement OF Othello's counte-
nance His voice is. Of excellent qnaiy-deep and
sOnorous, and this quality Is never lost, however
4 strong the utlerance ol passion.
The first two acts rather gave the notion of an so-
auent decIamer, than oil a man of fire and passion
The reading was excelIen the voice we'll modulated
the emphasis carefully adjusted An air of com.
manding dignity spread all this earlier por-
ton OF the performance, and the only fear was that
the whole would prove too,quiet and measured, and
at last seem monoonous. A well conceived display
OF indignation at the brawl in which Cass is involved
led to contrary supposltcn; but still the third
. was anxiously expected as a test.
Through this great ordeal of the third .act-of the
ddlogun with iago-Mr. Brooke passed most Triumph
antly. Here he showed that he was a man, not only
OF form, but OF substance His bursts of Jealous
sion came down with terrific weight, and whether he
SCARED on the wings OF rage, sank ex aused be-
neath its force, all was fresh, energetic and genial
There was nothing IN his points to suggest remini-
scence OF other actors. Indeed, in The ordl nary
sense OF The word, ne hardly be said to ave made
point al all, of such continuous sustained char
acter was his acting. And be 1t remarke d. that the
correctness and sound judgment which were visible
IN ms earlier speeches did not orsahe him when he
abandoned himself 10 the more violent outburss Of
passion AS he preserved his voice. so likewise did
ne preserve his head, however great the storm of
emotion.
But If we would mark the most striking features of
Mr. brooke's representation of Otbelo, we would in
ucate IN use passages in which the under current OF
grlel Is forced up into the midst OF jealous rage
Llnea, and parts Of line, which he delivered were in
ms res'ec exquisi;ely touching, and evidently fe-
suited from original conception. The exclamation
Dafnn her, lewd mink oh damn her," when he gave
an express on OF sorrow to the repetition of the curse
10 remarkable ease in point. Indeed, all the mourn
Iu side OF Othelo's position he had conceived with
great deHcacy. The break Of the Voice into weep
ing dt the words "Ohellos occu alton IS gone :" and
ABOVE all, the deep anguish when he said ''Foo fool
TOOL alter The discovery Of the vilany that had been
pIacused upon him, were touches Of the deepest
- There is no mistake about the success of Mr.
BROOKE 1t was not only suce marked by pla,-
ds, out by the conversation Of the old the atrcal
loungers- He was called with enthusiasm and has
excited an interest which will not speedily subside