New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-19
vp DAVENPORT As RICHARD ILL.,

- In the universal tribute Of alteration, the gay
rrspcbsn. II volatile Greek the mpassioned Italian
.he enthusiastic German, al unite with those who speak
tba. tougre which be has tortured INTO such cunning
sb,ue 10 dress The Wild fantastic, beautiful children
NJ his brain. But in no land, not even IN hs own
Il be 90 deeply loved and deeply reverence y -
large number a. in America. This douDle'' ~,
f,om the more general education, and con'elu
more general appreciation; and mus -"
Confirmation in tie fact that no HnVei 10"
attractive may be tie novelties p'V'"0o1
be,e shsLspere's masterpieces, rePoA'-u "s"'n
and amin again and again attract auueHce7
which no other plays can BRING tosctnei' LUIS 10
.u 80 te.t Of the true brilliant Three centuries
,.ve now passed by since these beautiful creations
100 from The rich fountains Of his heart From that
ioe,bsu,tbe source be drew his conceptions; but 50
clearly end wildly were they drawn that they
emerged az living images. And there has not been
aimee his day single writer of eminence who has not
gone 10 That spring for inspiration and carried some OF
The divine waters away. pictures Of horror, or OF
ambition or Of love sought for, it is to his page oil
furp. II is simply because Nature handed TO him the
pencil with which he painted the human heart lie
mingled among men, and with keen and searching eye
read character in every walk and grade. lie throws
bjmsef into the souls Of all he deineates, and makes
ont of every mouth the very words which each would
have spokcn. that constitutes his great and ever
enduring attraction. For the human heart, though
II may in different lands different dress, Ii be
meath in every land the same. Hence on the Mssis
spp or tie Gangos o. on the Avon in the forest rs in
tie boudoir, all men fall down and worship the beau
tiful images of Shakspere. 1.-THE study may be
tie home of other great masters, but Shaksperes
dwelling Is the stage. The thcater is his temple,
which ho has consecra,cd aud made sacred and chosen
bmself a. Bis field. "Io Shakespeare" as has been
said IN one Of his truost lovers, "the Promcihean
"mnLor Of men and women earthly nodded
" kipd,ed into life with fire from heaven, give
Ga stage and actors;" give men and women
TO personoe men and women, and give
three thousand men and women to throng
and look and listen, thrill and weep suspended III one
breathlossnees Those who love him, then, and have
been made wiser and mcrrier and better by his
thoughts and fancies and humanitics, should deem 1t
DO decoration to attend the temple be has chosen,
but should rather crowd his affairs and encourage those
who make nm effort, however imperfectly, to keep
lighted the sacred fires. 1t is only by doing 50 that
art can be fostered that the public can hope for or
Justly claim high excellence in the artists and clothing
OF the scene.
Last night, at least, the Broadway had no reason
10 tomulain Tie house was densey crowded,
and the boxes were made gay and brilliant
by the pre- sence Of hosts Of as fair judges as actor
need wish to be tried b. and made happy even in
being condemned. Mr.. Davenport came forth for
the second time to the Shaksperean temple, and
made hazard of the casket under which lay the
picture of the villain king, the rufiian Richard.
From what we had seen of Mr.. Davenport in
.he Dane, we had intended to follow his person
ia nj al Ia
plav the oxecutioner, and hand had grown weary
of welding the critic oxe. But in our hali-hesitamg
experiment Of last night we experienced most
pleasing surprise. Mr. Davenport is infinitely more
qualified for Richard than for Hamlet, for which in
deed he is hardly qualified at OIL The lack of fire and
deficiency Of power which pointed out as his chief
defects are more apparent when his face is in reposc,
and when lie moves about the stage without being
stirred by any active impulse. But Richards face is
ever swept with such recurring gusts of passion, aud
his brain worked with such cunning plot, and his
body torn by such fierce and varying furies that Mr.
Davenport is mover allowed TO descend TO that point
at which lie becomes tame and inanimaie. He has
not TO muse and dream sld think aloud, rs III Ham
let When Richard, rushing on the stage, ut once
breaks into burst OF passion, Mr. Davenports face
and attitude powerfully represent the workings OF
those helish fends of ambition, shame and revenge
ON his fellows for his deormiy, which not at Rich
ards heart and be casts the audience fit shadow
of the villain King. Nor is there anything in Mr..
Dayenports conception of Richards physical attri-
bues To- break the illusion 1t is true the bearing is
still somewhat too graceful. But the bunch and
the hating gait which by many actors had
been aid aside with gay disdain of text and
history, exchanged for symmetry OF form
aud majesty Of mien, that gave the lie with plump
papablencss to every word they uttered, were in Mr.
Davenports personaton faithfully and credably pre-
served. There was that too in his steathy movement
and watchfulness of eye which conveyed most cor
rect idea of Richards internal hypocrisy. But the
unbending cruelty and military proves were MT pic
tured with the savage erocity of the character Were
Mr. Davenport to assume little more OF ungainlIness
of person. and throw stronger dash of devil over his
face, he would be, far personnel is concerned,
the best representative of Richard upon the stage
When he begins to speak, his lack of physical power
becomes apparent. We trust he may repair this con-
s,itutiona weakness 10y rebuilding his efforts to I'M
part more spirit to his delivery. Occasionally he
speaks with JUNCTION and animation, but unless 1t Is
sustained throughout with unbroken energy and the
yebemence Of utterance suited to the yehemcnce oil
sentiment, occasional efforts fail TO reach the mind
where the attention has been impaired by previous
weakness. and the unity is thus lost. For instance
when after cursng the foul load of deormity he
Iied, he excaims-
"why then 10 me this restless worlds but he'll
TIL this mis- shspen trunks aspiring hss4
BE orcled Ia glorious diadem
the vehement uttersnce should realize the diaboic
spirit of vengeance which is deyouring his heart, and
which will be quenched by nothing less than the pos