The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-24
Broadway Iheatre-.H Corsolanus.~

those plays which are Only attractive in 4 vorv
long while We give, annexed, the Park and Broadway
casts
Characters. Park, 1888. BroadOay, 1856.
ccorieolsnus Mr. Forrest, Mr. Forrest
S:ssnis: eSippsss.s M kass:a
Julius Ashdius ....J. Mason. Mr. Manehett.
yunius Br i;d;s..... NJ Isfaasssli.
yoiumnia. Miss c. Cushman. Nine Ponis.
Virgiiia. ......... Miss Richardson. Mrs. Abbott.
Shakespeare found the story Of Coriolanus (modern
search has pronounced it only legend, and indeed it
is difficult to how 1t could have been true Norths
transaton Of Putarch, and followed II as IL Ia there
clearly set down, pretty closely. Caius Marcus Ia q
Roman patrician who hath often dstipg himself
In ths service Of the republic He Disguised with the
democratic government Of Rome and 1t true that at
about this time (B. C. 480 the struggle between the
people and the arstocray, rather between the me.
cbanics and the fighting men, which ended in the over
throw Of the Commonwealth and the final ruin Of the
empire commenced The piece IL founded upon thia
idea-the hostility of Caius Marcus to the influence
Of the commonaty. Shakespeare cannot be blamed for
this anti democratic tendency for he told the story
he found it. Caius Marcus Is very unpopu-
lar, when breaks out with the Voices. He aidz
the Romsn general Comnius to gain battle. Comnius
is sort Of Lord Raglan, in his way, and would have
sat down before Corio writing bulletins about the
weather, but Caius Marcus pushes with volunteers
reduces the city and goes home hero. Like al mill.
tary men, Caius Marcus Coriolanus wants Office,
and stands for Consul. He cannot however, disguise
his contempt for the electors who finally refuse to
firm him. and, being melted thereto by the Trbunss,
talk about throwing him the Tapeian rock and other
unpleasant things. he is finally banished-leads the
Voices up to the very gates Of the Eternal Gtysuc
cumbs to female procession, headed by his wife and
mother and is killed by his allies Poetcal justice
requires that he should be killed. and he was very
troublesome per son to both parties.
In the essential matters of elocutonyand appearances
it would be hard to find Coriolanus like Mr. Forrests
He did not however, invest the part with that
bearing pride-thAt stern dignity-that whitening
tempt for that not noble and high born
which, it seems to Shakespeare has thrown around
It, After saying to the citizens CT have Wounds,
he makes long pause and allows the electors to ap.
proach him closely then speaks the rest Of the line td
show you in private" 1t is effective, but shAks-
peare's Corolanus would not have allowed "greasy
citizen have come within arms length Of him for
the whole of Rome After his Punishment, and in his
interview with Tullus, he was not proud, naughty
man, offering ultmatum, but seemed rather to be
pleading for opportunity to Hght against his country
men. In the last he very Hne and gave his
great speech
Myou have writ your annals true, tits there,
That like an eagle In dove-cote,
hutter'd your volsci In Corioh
with great effect His reading all strongly marked
and very effective In the matter Of distinct artcula-
tion pronunciation and proper emphasis, Mrs
Forrest stands pre-. eminent of the actors who
make themselves ridiculous by initiating his physical
pecuiartss, would strive to equal him in the above
named essentials to the proper practice Of their cngs
it would be much better for them and the public.
"Coriolanus" is played at the Broadway from Pal
mer's Philadelphia edton with the introduction Of
casional lines from Cxberry and Cumberland. In CONF
par1pg played here with Collier, the following cuts
win be round:-Frst scene, with Menenius; second
scene in Coriol fourth before Corol ffth sixth.
seventh and eighth scenes; the ninth and first
part Of the second is CUT the rs third and fourth
Of the fourth act is CUT the ath act is cut and
altered. stn there is enough Left the play has but
but very interesting character. Mensnius Ii q
sketch, good far he goes. Cominius to d.
nothing but pun Coriolanus. Tullus 10 rascal;
and cannot have much sympathy for volumnia,
who Is fierce for blood any female abolionist Of
the Garrsopian school,
The play was we'll got up at the Broadway. The
scenery nearly all new, the auxiaries well trained,
and two or three scenes were very well arranged. We
may take exceptions to few little matters, which
the general correctness OF the mise Some Of
the actors the Broadway still labor under the delusion
that the Roman youth had white egs-whie all the sol.
diers including Mr. Forrest, went to battle without
greaves for their y-an indispensable article in Ro-
fighting toilette General Cominius his sword
at triumph given to Corolanus In Rome There should
have been triumph, procession and neither
the Etsrpal City. Red togas worn, whereas the
laticlavian toga was never Of that color. The
hctors wore plain white habits, and ut the
Broadway they appeared in tunics edged with red;
swords the right thigh not the left side,
as at the Broadway. There were too many Senators,
and it manifestly improper for Coninius to occu
py the highest seat in the Senate house, the Fat OF
which represented the interior Of Italian pa
lace while the wings adorned with Cornthian col
umns. person whom Palmer calls Fulvius, but whora
We find account of in Shakespeare, and who
res messages is dressed like Senator, and sits with
them The Senators should toga pretertd, white
edged with purple. The Of those odous basket
hardled cutasses (never used in Christian, Pagan
Mahomedan warfare) still tolerated at this theatre.
With the exception Of the matters above noted, the
piece well DONE The actors were all letter per-
feet" and the fact that there not much for any
Except Csus Marcus) do, win from enter
ing into a lengthenei notice. Nine. Ponlsi was not
quite heavy enough for volumnla but read her lines
properly and effectively far she could 90. Mr..
Whiting Menenius gave vivid picture of the fiery
old patrcan and Mr. Lanergan Except his red tunic)
was well made up for Cominius, but should be little
equabe in his readings. .Coriolanus" ~ gotten
up at the Broadway, quite interesting picture Of
Roman lie two thousand years ago. and it will doubt
less have q
Fires In New York.
DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO BURN THE 81. LOUIS HOTEL,
IN CHAMBERS STREET.
Yesterday morning, shortly before four O'Clock, @
bold attempt made BY incendary to destroy the
st. Louis Hotel situated at Nos 10l and 103 Chambers
street. of Church street. The Are was d scoyered
in bedroom the first floor Of the building oc-
cvpitd by two gentlemen named Mills and Baker, who
absent at the time The alarm spread through
the ana great CONSERVATION become manifest