The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-08
Dramatic md Musical Matters.

SnAEsIIRrAH CRrrIcIsM.-The present has been
distinguished by the revival and performance in supe
rior manner of several of shaksperes most intricate
and difficult comedies The public taste has been with
the managers in this matter and delighted crowds have
Witnessed week after week the antics of Puck listened
to the sound philosophy and high moral sentiment Of
Prospero the savage growls of Caaban drank in
the music Of Mendelssohn Haery and Arne or course
the critics have been busy and they have been obliged
to sharpen their pens and their ideas in order to bring
out something superior to the ordinary dramatic art
cles Some Of the discoveries made BY these gentlemen
are highly amusing, although at the time is to be
regretted that ignorance should far pervert true
end and aim of crcism-to instruct the actor to sit
in Judgment the play for the instruction tho pco-
ple and for the information Of persons interested in
dramatic literature in other cities and abroad.
remarkable instance Of the ign orance above men,
toned is found in remarks 'The Tempest" in
daily paper whose writers most ridiculous
dlcatorial air This critic objects to Mr. Burtons Cali
ban nasmuch it repulsive without any touch of
quantness. Now, Shakspcre describes Ariel the
quaint spirit and enlarges frequently the repulsive
nature of the hag born devil Caliban who never yields
kind answer, and (Which any print Of goodness will
not take To be quaint Is to be NICE pretty, Anespun
clegant-or johnson defines It. sublimely excogitated
So the critic finds fault with the actor of Caban because
he docs moi exhibit the popularity of Ariel Think Of
fnespun nice pretty elegant and subimely cogitatcd
Caliban Another scribe, in aweekly paper famous for
its critical preension, pettishy objects to the imps in
the storm scene, SAYING why there should be two mps
10 supervise The destruction OF the vessel unable TO
say have been rather difficult for Ariel to sub.
divide herself into two chubby boys; my impres.
sion, moreover that the airy spirit assumed the form
OF the boatswain - OF course hc is unable to say
cause he is entirely ignorant of the authors words as
well as & m Ar
crbing his action in the storm tells Prospero Some
times I'd divide and burn in many places-on the top
mast the yards, and bowsprit would fame distinctly
then meet and join
Again Ariel is not of the feminine gender but male
spirit who assumes the appearance OF nymph Of the
sea by Prosper0s order. Again, the supposton that
Ariel assumed the form of the boatswan 10 glorious bit
of perspcacy that must mmoralize the critic The deli
cate Ariel spirit nhabng the se confounded with the
coarse bawng basrhemous old salt who had sailed with
the King from Agiers and who appears in the last
Of the play in company with Ariel by proepcros
mand II would be well enough FOR these gentlemen to
read Shaksperc a.tentivcly.
nara graph has been running round the press lately,
ndtcd BY wscacre who bitterly complains of the in
fanny Of Sbakspere in stealing certain well known lines
in Richard the Third from MarIowcs play of the
name. The lines by cbber and Marlowe wrote
play called Richard the Third
We are favored monthly, in Pu,nam's Kfpo.iae, with
many well written pages recent shakperan discovc
res that were made half century ago. recent mum.
Der contained long dsquisiton the old question Of
the spelling of shalsperes II has been thought
that knight in his pictorial edition. settled that ques
ton 10 the satisfaction Of every but tho captious
critics who imagine that TO differ TO be original and
acute IN every signature that possess, Shakspere
writes his M me as we prins IT'S -sHAKsPERE
Tur Cry THEATRES have been doing fair business du
ring the past week and there Is every probability that
tho season will close "a prosIorously Il commenced
Al the broadway Theatre Mr.. and Mrs. Barney Williams
have ,laved three four light pieces every night TO
rood honscs At Burton's The Tempest has been
withirawn after long nd successful rum and two
iec have been played Of the merits Of which read
srs were dolly Informed In the HERALD OF Saturday No
thing new has been done st waack s. the National
or tic Eowcy.
Mr. Niblo opens his magnificent establishment this
e,epinr We have here tofore given full scrpon Of
the Improvements and Embellishments Nblo's Is now
the bet appointed and comfortable theatre 10 The
Union. Ihc Raycl Family, with reinforcements from
fance and ballet company loaded BY Nile. Matthias
will aIpear thl' evening in the pantomimo Medina and
the ballet pasua. Seats in the orchestra, the new
private box,s and the prosccna boxes may be secured
during the day.
At the Erosdway theatre this evening, Mr. and Mrs.
Barney Williams appear In " ireland IL Ia and claw
fer faaiez." The present Is announced az the as week