The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-06
Edwin ROO'h.

The public have for week or more Deen eaen
day informed that Mr. EDWIN BOOTH, son OF
the great BOOTH, who among actors Tor 30 many
wears held the first place in the estimation OF our
Richmond audience, would play the principal
character of some of that brilliant list for which
his father was istnguished He was reported to
be only some twenty two, and the brief criticisms
passed upon him represented him as An extraordl
nary actor, bearing strong resemblance to his
father. Having lived somewhat longer than we
now like to admit and having in former days
been a great adnirer of the elder Booth
who was indeed the greatest genius on the
stage in his day, after Keene-we were disposed
TO think that the praises bestowed upon young
Booth were exaggerated. We were apprehenslve
that he was not an exception to the general rule,
we see so constantly illustrated in life, that the
esnus of the father descends not to the son. Great
man die. and in their own households there are
none TO take their places. Besides our regard fer
the memory of the elder Booth (whose first appear
aace in America was in this city, made US reluc-
rant to see what we feared would prove an abortive
effort of his son to follow in the footsteps of his
brilliant professional career. Overcoming this re
luctance, however, we went to the Theatre
Thursday night and saw young Booth in Lear
we W6E0 uob iOuk III IVA uAh6 ooA SP----~'
had but proceeded half way through his first scene
when we were convinced that our fears and appre'
tensions were not only unsustaned, but that be-
fore us stood one in whom the genius of the elder
Booth still lived. -. .4 -s...
This is saying all that could be said in word
but we were never better satisfied OF the business
of an opinion. Lear is one OF the most oiincu' Oh
all of Shakspear's characters; and 1t mas peen
considered the acme of histrionic aohity 70 rep
resent it essfully. 1t Is Indispensable 10 the
full achievements of the great tragedian VINO wins
his way to the front rank. Keene and the elder
Booth displayed their great powers in 1t with In
describable effect. Yet here ia young man, only
TWENTY-FIVE who essays it with all its difficulties,
aud in his second performance oft wins The triumph
of complete success. 1t Is an achievement not
surpassed in the annals of the Theatre We speak
not only upon our own Judgment but upon the
unanimous sentiment of number of the best
Judges in this city-od play-goers acknowledged
by all great actors who have performed here to be
among the best judges of good playing in the
Union. see
Young Booth is Of stature perhaps little above
his fathers and he does not seem quite SO stout -
Tue features of his face In some respects resem
bic his fathers as does his voice THE resem
ol20ce OF the voice ana eupua6ls were often 80
close that had we heard and not seen him. we could
have believed that J. B Booth was not dead and
was again declsimng on the stage His manner
is easy and natural and bis enunciation as distnc
and energetic as that of the elder Booth. He has
the eye of his father. His acting is freed of the
lnannerism and stage effect of the mere man Of
talent, who has become finished artist by study
and discipline Booths genius triumphs over and
obscures the mere formalites of the stage, while
the merit of the actor with whom compare
him, consists mainly in those formalities and his
prudent and implicit subsection to the rules aud
regulations of the stage In short he has that gift
Of nature which art cannot confer and which
with the aid of art, eevates its possessor to the
most exalted position in his walk of life.
1t will be great qualification to the admirers of
the elder Booth to in the son so perfect rer.
resentatve of the father. With proper prudence
and study he is destined to be the first among the
stars Ct the theatre He has undoubtedly inherited
his fathers genius. He will pardon us for warning
him against the infrmities of his distinguished
progeDitor infrmities resulting from a genial
nature and an exuberance of social feeling, which
are too often characteristic of great genius but
which are attended with misfortunes, for which
the hours of pleasure they afford are poor com.
penSatiou