The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-14

The weather, last night very appropriate for ME-
Burtons Shakpersan revival the note Of preparation for
which gave to expect something equal to the bril-
liant representations Of Twelfth Nghtn The Merry
Wives of windsor "A Midsummer Nights Dreasa'' and
rbe Tempest under the direction Of the Abe hands
The Winters Tale" is not Of the popular Of
Shak speres plays and It has frequently acted
We remember only representation Of it. That
was at this theatre when Mrs. Warner aely decesssd
played Hsrmons The general impression then was that
it sit through four to fne statue
end The and second very heavy
and il not till the advent Of Perds and Autolycus that
the play may be said be really interesting No Shaks-
perean comedy however, appeals more 70 the heart OF
the careful reader than the "Winter's Iae and Haz-
lit says, after seeing Mrs. siddons in Hermione, Mr..
Kemble in Leontes and Bannster Autoycus that
one Of she best acting Of the authors plays The story
"a founded upon novel by Robert Greene; but
Shakspere made it much better, and furnished
the original ~ startling conclusion. TIE novel ap-
peared in 1885, Malone assgns the p.y 1904 but
the first edition that have of IL here copy in the
Aston Library w's printed iu 1923. Foreman Jaw IT
acted at the Globe in 1911 Horace wapcle copjsctured
hat the play was meant apology for Anne Bullen
he mother of Queen Elizabeth apd that the jealous
ontes WAS Henry VIII Certain passages in the play
would bear out this spesua.ion and Shafspers
10 Known have had intense craving for the Queens
destroy Walpoles theory, because Shakspere simply
made Of such part Of Grsene's material would an
swer his purposes. The plot runs thus
Leontes king Sicilis il entertaining Poxenes king
Of Bohemia The guest ut the opening of the play has
given notice of his intention TO return to his own
country. Leontes urges him to tsrry while longer
and requests the Queen Hermione to speak to the
purpose She does very pretty and orenes remains
The jealousy of Leontes aroused the warmth with
which Hermione pleads to the King Of Bohemia and he
urges bis cnpbesrer Camille to poison poxenss Camille
~ Roko
is thrown into prison, where she gives birth female
child. Pauna wife of Anigonus pleads with the king
Ambiguous expose the child barren coast
Antgonus parts on his mission; and thus closes
in relation the case of Hermione who Is brought to
tIial charged with adultery and high treason. Her
speech is but little inferior in vigor and matrony mo-
desfy to that Of Queen Katharine in Henry VIII" The
oracles declare her chaste and say that Leonss shall
die without an heir If the lost child be not found At
the same moment Namlus the heir apparent in fear Of
the Queens nasty trial. dies LeOntss suddenly
and too late the consequences Of his rash and
groundcss anger. Hermione is supposed to die Also
The suddenly charges Bohemia and We see the
Chi exposed BY Anug onus, who is snapped sort
OF delicate emtremd and eaten by bear The enild Is
fourth act-Time as Chorus informs that we must
side Ger sixteen yearswe are in the Gominions Of
PolxeDes, and hear Camille ask permission to revisit
Stella. The king informs him that the Forizei
goes often to the house of shepherd and that Ca
milo must assist Dm to fathOm the cause We then
introduced 10 Autoycus q roguish pedar, who comes
in with his Jolly song
"When dafodlls begin to peer.p
He "dses clown neatly; and then have scene
between Prince Floize Perdita supposed the
shepherds daughter but really the lost Scian princess
Hsztt quotes this the sweetest poetry
play. After pastoral festivities, in which Auto
lyus plays principal part have proposal by Fori.
eel to Perdita the discovery Of the Irritation by Po!ixs
mes, and the flight of the lovers Sca where all the
parties meet and the mystery bengex planned the play
ends happily. Hermione is not dead, but by deviceA
favorte with shakspere and quite in accordance with
the superstition Of his imehas been concealed and Is
exhibited by Paulira q statue, which suddenly
becomes animated, much to the delight Of Leontes.
What Hermone doing during the sixteen years after
her supposed death mystery which is mot explained
Bazitt describes the characters very clearly:Even
the grabbed and tortuous style the speeches Leon
ter, reasoning his jealousy beset with doubts
and fears, and entangled and in the thorny
labyrinth, bears every mark Of Shakspere's peculiar
manner of conveying the painful struggle Of different
thoughts and feelings borpg for utterancs and almost
strapgled In their birth" Camillo's blunt common
sense and honesty opposed to the kings groundess
jealousy make matters worse and anxious to Justify his
pevious words, he breaks out in bitter speech. We
have copied from the folio edition. preserving the or
biography, &C., As curious:-
L. whispering nothing?
La leaning Cheeke to Cheeke? is neatnr Nosesy
Kissing Wit b in side Lip? Stopping the Cariere
OF Laughter with Sigh q Note infaitsle
Skulking in cornersY wishing Clocks more swift
Houres minuiesp Noone MianightP and ali Eyes
That would unseene be wickeds Is this nothipSS 'T
Why then the World and all that's int s nothing
The covering SHE is nothing, Bohemia nothing,
NY wife is nothing, Nothing have these Nothings
this be nothing.
Coerdge thinks "the idea of this delightful drama is
genuine jealousy of disposition and it should be imme.
datey followed by perusal of Ohelo which the direct
contrast every particular" Our own idea ia that the
Ia in int
Leontea has ground whatever his jealousy II does
not seem natural and IT is breaks soon and
too violently 1t Is relief to turn from this beast view
the resigned patient. forbearng Hermione one of the
pobest OF the great masters heroineshe devoted Pau
IN ssvesy camo q ns Oor as e snS A
tolycus one Of Shaksperes jolliest rogues. Perda
the preties low born lass that upon green
perfect simplicity" It seems to as t 4 shsis ,ere es
borated the fourth fifth acts being conscious Of tbs
weakness of the first part Of the play Ambiguous who
IL necessary to the plot introduced when the sad
tale begins to brighten little, and cheers with his
songs and his jokes Autolycus now adays would live
Board :" "''>''
Az usual shakspere deals in this play almost entirely
with courts and cOuiers The characters are nearly ali
highly born and the stupid idea Of blood carried out in
Perda, who could not be beautiful, or graceful or
The critics have frequently made merry over
the improbable les and anachronisms in this play
and johnson called shaIspere stupid because
days we hnd such excellent authority as the London
Times rather weak in its geography calling Erzeroum in
Turkey and Worcester, in Massachusetts seaports It
Is probable that shakspere like many Of his counsrymen
now adsys was not very well informed other
tries But as this drama is put forth tale to be told
by the winter fresideas purely Legendary and msgina
tive as the Arabian Nights Entertainments-we should
not expect it to be particularly correct in It's unes or
geography.
The "Winter's Tale played last night with the,
following cast
Leontes, King of Stella. Mr. H. A. Perry
namilus his son.. ..;................M Miss Gourley
Camille, Cup Bearer to Polixenes Mr. Bradley
Antigonus, an Old Lord. .......... Mr. Rainford
Perdita, her daughter Miss = Thorne.
Fauhna, VIE 70 An'lgonus.. Mrs. Hughes
BOHESUAys.
Polixene. King Of Bohemia Mr. Ief6pevelI
Florizel, his Mr. REYNOLDS
MIR. GOurioy
me Old shepherd. ....................M Mr. Moore