The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-23
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There is no comedy in the English language that
is so well adapted for transformation into Drama
tic spectacle as Shakspca:e's Tempest 1t possesses
all the elements of fairy tale, and taxes alike the
skill of the machnst, the ingenuity of the proper
ty man, and the genius of the scene painter. The
scene is laid in an enchanted island, full of sweet
airs and strange noises, and peopled with delicate
sprites and uncouth monsters, obedient to the will
OF an arch magician. Imagination pictures the
landscape as of wondrous beauty; the climate an
| eternal summer. 1t is little spot of earth
| gorifed, where trees of graceful foliage are per-
petualy laden with delicious fruits, and the rivers
run over golden sands, and where even the waves
| of the surrounding sea break into song as they
touch the sparkling shore. The original of a land
so lovely, neither the 'Fstil vext Bermoothes ~
nor the Mediterranean island of Lampcdusa, as
asserted by the old commentators, but was created
and peoped from the brain of the poet and sank
into the sea when Prospero broke his wand. Moth
ing could be simpler than the story of the Tempest
or more misunderstanding the magical powers of
Prospero-than the development of the plot and the
simple gracefuiness of its denouemcnt. And the
personages them selves, how finely they are con
trasted. PROSPERo, the rightful Duke of Milan and
his fair daughter MIRANDA, whom he loves passing
well. The cub Of the witch SYcoRAx, the gross
sensual and vindictive monster CALIBAN, creature
of 'an ancient and fish like smell" ARIEL, the
trcksy spirit, fitting hiher and thither, invisible
to all eyes but those of PRosPERo, singing weird
songs, assuming strange shapes, and fertile in quaint
devices. FERDINAND, the gallant young Prince of
Naples; the third man that e'er MIRANDA saw;
"the first that Ger she sighed for" MIRANDA
herself, the most perfect embodiment of pure wo-
manhood to bcfound in the whole range ofthe drama
Besides these, the chief actors in the comedy, we
have secondary group, comprising the willy and
treacherous ANTONIO, the usurping Duke of Milan:
ALoNzo, King of Naples; GoNsALvo, his honest but
visionary counsellor, who if he had the founding of
a commonwealth on the enchanted island, would
"execute all things by contrares, would ''admit
"no use of service, of riches, of poverty" but
would have call men idle, all; and women, too;
''but innocent and pure;" and would with such
perfection govern his innocent people ''as to excel
the golden age" Lastly, we have the parti-coored
TR1NcULO, the kings jester, who speedily discovers
that CALIBAN is "a very shallow and ridiculous
monster" whom he could find it in his heart to
beat for making wonder of the drunken butler
STEPHANo. In such a comedy, filled with scenic il
lusons, and with characters earthly and unearthlv
there is certainly "ample scope and verge enough"
for the display of the finest artistic talent Even as
opera, lHe tempest, set 10 music Dy PURCELL and
ARNE, has held occasional possession of the stage
for more than hundred and fifty years. But it is
only when read in the closet, or when produced as
a dramatic spectacle, that the marvels and the
splendors of the enchanted Island are adequately
realized. As combined pictorial and dramatic
representation the Tempest requires that everything
IN connection with it should wear an aspect of bril-
nancy and newness; for to preserve the illusion all
the accessories must be in perfect keeping, or the
violence OF the contrasts will seriously the eff
feet of the appeal to the Imagination. These con-
ditons have been observed with particular care and
fidelity in the Comedy as it has recently been
brought out in this city, under the direction of Mr.
JOHN b. WRIGHT, who by the liberality of the man.
agement, has been permitted to spare neither labor
nor expense in rendering this fine Dramatic spec
tacle unusually attractive. As might have been
expected under such circumstances, the piece has
met with extraordinary success The house has
been crowded to overlooking on each nipht of IFS
representation, and we have no doubt that it will
continue to draw excellent houses for MANY nicbts
ye' TO come. Let us say, moreover, that it really
% YES hlsh commentator, for the new scenery
W MI oE1z is remarkably beautiful; the costumes
anu properties are entirely new the Illusions are
produced with singular skill and effect and the va
fious characters are sustained, and for the most
part wen sustained, by the best talent of Com
Phay which Is IN many respects, superior to any
we have had in this city for several years.