New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-16
MIR. FORREST As NE TAMORA.

II is greatly to- the credit of Mr.. Forrest that since
be first became apopular favore on our stage he has
offered most liberal rewards for original dramas suited
to his style and capabilities, and FIVE cannot boast of
a national drama the fault is not to be laid
at his door. If there were any budding Shake
speares or Corneillts among US, Mr.. Forests
offers Of generous prizes must have developed them.
But they have not yet appeared. we re-
member that Mrs Forrest used to say they trembled
when they heard ring at the door for fear of seeing
dramatist with new tragedy under his arm; from
which we should judge that great tragedian was as
much bothered with young play wrights as Pope
was with ambitious poets. But many were called
ard few chosen. Mr. Forests first offer of a
rize for native tragedy resulted in Metsmora. The
author of it was a slender actor named Stone
who had once been q journeyman printer, and who
died shortly after the production of his drama. Ii
proved to be admirably adapted TO Mr.. Forests pc
culiar powers, and though his ambition has been to
shine in Shakespeare YET his unaffected admirers like
him best in Metamora and there is good reason for it,
He is his own original in this part; he enjoys the
monopoly of the character, and no invidious COM
PARSONS can be drawn between his manner OF rem
deringi it and that of any other performer.
Tie audience at the Broadway last night was tes-
timonial to his excellence in Metamora. The house
Every standing place was closely packed, and admir-
ing deyotees Of the Fo'resan school hung on in the
massage satisfied If they could but breathe the heated
a,mospbere and now and then catch the sound OF
Metsmoras cultural tones as they came hslf-st1ied
tbron oh the thick air. The crowd was an uu5enable
evidence of the actors powcra more potent influence
than any other actor now on our boards possesses
Tn fact Mr. Forrest is almost the only attraction in the
city, with the ption of George Chrsty who can I'LL
atbeater He has Only to announce his appearance In
hleamora, or any other Of his ayorie parts aud the
audience is ready to pay him his accustomed ovation.
He is OIL of the grand cards in the managerial pack,
though i, is aid not the most profitable one, Tor he
makes IRE of his full share Of the receipts OF the
house.
The character of Metamora is, perhaps, better
adapted to Mr. Forests physical powers than any
other in his repertoire. 1t is essentially surface
character: the chief merit Of it lies in the leather leg
ipes. the wampum belts, the catamount skin, the
eagles Gather, and the red paint. These are the
onlv Indian elements with which the character
is adorned for the fustian of the author, and
the rant and bellowipgs OF the actor, are but lit
tie in accordance with tie noble dignity, the
uptutoIed grace the savage integrity OF the aboriginal
inhabitants of our forests The author had no con-
| ception whatever of the Indian character He had
made the noble Indian chieftain braggsrf senti-
mental rufiap; and Mr.. Forrest has not tanned down,
nor added single grace TO the sed csricature which
was furnished to him. either author or actor had
breathed into the character the slightest Inspiration OF
genius TO relieve il Of its coarse grotesqueness there
would be some inducemen. to witness repetition Of
its performance; but we must confess TO ieehng OF
satisfaction when the green curtain fell on the last Of
the Wampanoags.
The talent which Mr. Forrest lacks, which Is the
newer TO identify himself with the character nc
attempts TO impersonate. is just as painfully de-
6cient in Metamora in Hamlet or otheno'
We can never forget for q moment that II Is
NJ, Forrest who is on the stsge before US; II Is
MT Otbello nor Lear nor Richelieu, nor Metamora.
II "a nsInsbly the same actor in all The only dluef
roe ia in the costume II he the same dress In
ev,rv character as was dene in the days OF GarieK,
Il would be impossible to tell what he was piayiog'
In Witnessing the impcxsonaons of Rachel the sctrcs'
"a lost sisht of. We see only Camille, or Phedra or
Famine, or rhisbe. Net only does she 'aAe
ps from herself but she transfers US BACK 10 San
Rome 10 early Greece, TO Padua-wherever ine seSne
of her epchantment % laid. She dies as Camlue' ano
then in the simple white robe OF the murdered Roman
maiden, she walks down to the foo! hshs ana 'eA'ns
,be tcoor presses it to her heait and instantly we
forget that she is sught but the smoodimehI Vi
Republican France in her frenzied days oil revolution
and blood. ..;,,,,h..
Mr.. Forrest never achieves any OF these tf,unlpaS,
Re is as Jealous Of his person. Atty as was snug ue
Joiner. and never forgets it hinsei nor Pen.S A.'
audience to do so. But there must DC enaae' - :.
which Mr. Forrest would be so much q. nome ru". 10
would seem to be the part he wss playing "eos
not but think that il some clever dramAu' aaAp.ao
would put Dickenss SOLVER Twist upon lne s.I S;n
and give sufficient prominence to the ehase'e, VI p.
sykes, that our great actor would I'LL II PeI,eeu!. We
never see him in any of bis parts without 'aa' No'y
being forcibly suggested to Us. Last nishl :" -.
same; and try ~ we would, w o0aid 0n'Y ~ VIZ