Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-24
DAILY EVENING STAR.
lHOk 7HH ErAR.
"PEREeRINA" on rHEATafoALs,

"PEREGR1NA" ON THEAThfCALS.
l saw Mr.. Forrest play Othello, Gen
tlemen, and you may not, or YOU may
care to know what thought of him. /
wished to see him in that play for two
reasons. l like the play. Desedmona
is to me the very realization of love and
though many may think the time has
passed forever with me to take an inter.
est in this or any other passion, assure
you such is not the case. When we have
looked upon a beautiful scene, does not
memory return to it, recalling by thou
sand images the charms it possessed {?
If the day. dream of youth be over, will
there come no fair visions to gild the
realities of life that rcmainl Had youth
itself no bright dreams may they not
be waiting, softened and subdued, when
time is only commencing to fix his i'm
press upon us! like any story or play
where life, mysterious, holy and intense,
is represented. Besides Though you may
laugh at the assertion, 1 can experience,
as well as look upon a passion now, if
the spring time of existence has departed,
leaving summer whose tints are deep.
ening in their hue. If the passions be-
longed exclusively to youth, this would
be better world.
l wished to see Forrest in 0thello for
another reason. l was curious to behold
a man represent thoughts and feelings
and suferings that he had endured in his
own person. l have been told by friend
of Forests, that he loved to idolatry
the wife he tried 50 hard to disgrace.
This is strange, though it may be true.
When Forrest first came forward as
Othello, | was only struck with his size
| dare say, twenty years ago it would
have have been different. He is rot only
very large. but he is heavy. His limbs
are immense. There is no grace to cap
tlvate-only apparent strength to aston
ish. His voice cannot be as mellow as
1t was once; it is deep, but not clear.
He reminded me of Niagara, where there
is for many too much grandeur, and
strength, and noise. Thus, though star
tied, was disappointed, and anticipated
no pleasure in the play.
Yet l cannot tell you with what inter-
est listened to the conversations be.
tween Othello and Iago how drew in
my breath, lest | should lose some of the
struggles of mighty soul as it fluttered
from its heavenly resting place, falling
into darkness at the last For it is the
part of love to enshrine his victim above
all the depressing vapors Of earth, so that
when he descends to dwell among them,
keener may be her bitterness. When |
watched Othello, during this scene, Il
thought too of some magnificent column
that has long braved time and season,
but once it totters, there is no more but
to view it fallen.
How he wept! 1t seems to me impos-
sible that all that grief could be feigned.
Such tempest of agony, and anger, zeal.
ousy and revenge, to sway one soul at
once! l did not like to see such grief,
even if 1t were feigned. For we expect
to SEE woman weep, it is her province,
bat when man sheds tears, there appears
to be q diScord in the harp of nature that
CRATES harshly on the ear. When, too,
with all that grief, love gently, but sor.
rowing guides him towards a returning
faith in his wifa-when the strong man
bows within him, and we look to see him.
like little child return to the injured
one, repentant-we see the power Of the
actor. But again passion is aroused, and
furious and unyielding like the wave that
lash themselves against the rocky shore,
the soul OF man struggles against its des-
tiny. Once more the touching grief of
the still loving but violent husband, then
again fury breaking forth in bitter curses,
and thirst for innocent blood, and there
is no more interest, where but q little
while ago it was all absorbing.
The parts of 1ago, Rodereso, and Cas-.
sio were admirably acted one hardly ev.
er sees better acting than theirs. lagos
of his part was as good as
Forests Othello. OF the women there
is not much to be said. 1t is q comfort
to remember that they both met with
PEREGRINA.
p. S. am not in the habit of attending
the theatre. think few can innoccntly
indulge in SO exciting an amusement. Ii
is not however necessary to 90 there to
see good acting, there is enough of that
in fashionable life in Washington, yet it
is not my part to draw aside the cur.
tain, and display the actors in their true
characters.
Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 81.