New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-12
MUSICAL md THEATRICAL.
BURTON'S THEATER.

On Monday evening large audience gathered at
IL tbeateI to pay to Mr.. Jordan tbs compliment of
their presence bis benefit night and to witness his
fret hazard here Of the cssket under which the beau
tIul ideal Of Hamlet lies. It'll Gust ,m most honorei
in the observance that such night at ess, should be
in the season green spot on which the actor may
Get bis friends, without being haun ed by the shadow
Of so re coming critic on his mornings path One
should carry, on such an evening ore Of these magic
loJgnets which give bright oOloring to every object
on which they bear. Nor should we be guilty bya
word, Of breach If this honest custom, did not
feel that Mr.. Joroen's representa- ion could well
bear the test Of the critics lens, and that
it is due 10 an arts. who is with patient and diligent
study os imbng the nights of his profession, to
press the pleasure and surprise his performance gener
q ~ Inspired. He had evidently devoted careful
study to the part, and his rendering aninite and
bis readings excellent aud though different from the
text of the usual ectug copy in come parts of the two
perhaps more correct. Should the part be repeated
may enter into anal ss Of the personstion in detail.
AT pieseLt We may merely say that his chief fault
lay in giving too DO and dashiDg bearing t. the
Dane. lie did not realize the Intellectual ideal of
Hamlet which, indeed, needs the highest grasp Of art
to compass, and gave him too much the air OF
soy ard gallant cavalier. There was good deal
of the fervor ard retlessneas OF Imagination which
belorg 10 Hamlet, but Wa missed that beautiful cloud
of sadness and that strange piitualty whi,h ever
hang around him Ia those periods of glowing ex-
uberaDce Of spirits which ssionally light up his
darkest hours Of sorrow, "a in the scenes with Pc.
lOnious, Mr.. Jordan was most effective. His recits
tor, too sltbougb coed 10 tsel often too much
mere recitation, and too little tia. thinking aloud,
aud, as it were, musical murmuiiDg o. what iss sir
ring in the SOUL AS & frat effort, il was, however,
entitled 20 most exCe'en. opinion.
Mr.. Burton as POlcnius was perfect Nothing
could be more uthfu to nature thar bis personat) IN
aid bis delicacy Of dc inestion Of tn, mixture Of
sbrewdness ard folly which belongs often - age,
pecialy to old courtiere. Mr.. Csfeny was most
genial grave-digger, and won a hearty applause, not
by any of the fictitious and harlequin methods of haul
ing eff legion Of waste lat, but by genuine arts
tic conception Of that pleasant old builder Of houses
" that last till ooomsday," which Shakes eare drew
with such delightful qusintness. Mr.. ainford who
walked abroad in all the majesty OF bnied Denmark,
is lsiDg yourg artist He wore well the perfdms OF
the sepulchle end was all that could make night
hideous. Mr. Ranfords greatest fault in this and 10
all his parts ia an unnatural and stomachc intonaton
bemsh me st easiIycouscted. Even such sepuichral
tones as those of Monday night should be organized
in the throat not in the stomach. Miss Emily Toofne
who played Ophea, was 10 the early scenes detective
She is yet but young in years IS to the stage, and we
aust she will receive in kindness our commemorative
careful cultivation and study now that her faults too
are ct young and have not become chronic. This is
TO often neglected in the bloom of success: and we
tus she wi not, by want of refined instruction, per-
NIT ter rich natural en6owments to run waste. la the
nd scene nothing could be more full of wild beauty
than her look and dir, and the pictu touched the
house with much emotion.
The piece was well ffame', snd put on with
S. akespean spirit that wore quite a charm. But
what to us was the most refreshing feature was
Il quiet urexasgrated character Of the whole per-
Torrance and its entire freedom from that rant and
ovesbetching which dis6gures so fouly the cresons
Of Shsk epeae in most of the representations OF our
day. Mr.. Jordan was Of course called before the car
tain at the close and crowned wh'a wreath Of most
warm congratulations.