New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-27
WINTER GARDEN.
MR. EDWIN BOOTH AS HAMLET.

MR.. EDWIN BOOTH AS HAMLET
t;.now about two years since Mr.. Edwin Booth
i,s, in this city having, up to that time, sue
ceeded her in fairly enstng the pleased attention OF
the town thin in elctng any tokens of enthusiastic
admiration from the metropolitan public He was then
an actor of Rrea promise, with much power, compare
lively unframed lunch vigor, and Individuality "nicn
sadly lacked direction and udicious toning down. Mr..
Booths energetic temperament would never ao-
nit of professional petlIfaction-he must move, IN
one direction or anoher-he must progress, ana ia
pidly toward the highest excellence, or toward the
loves, depth Of melodramatc LSouthing-be mad 100
much, and too active propusve power in him to admit
OF idenes naction He at the time Of bis last en-
gagement here, had attained that certain professional
elevation that to young Of another temperament
ever frough with peculiar perilthe danger ofbeing
satisfied with themselves, and ceasng earnest work.
Many young actor who has attained just enough Of
emnence to make his fayoraby spoken Of by the
public and bis effects ever received with sppreciatiye
commentator is content to stop just there and thence
forth reve in the prouse attey Of the clique Of oades
ever too ready to flock round young and rising man,
and will from that time drown his love for his art and
consequently his ability for high achievement therein,
in the muddy waters Of ever-increasing vanity and
jealous eootism Mr.. Booth, three years ago, was at
inst this point Of favorable fame and the two paths lay
plain before him. But he was imbued with love OF
his work too Deep and true, Gnd ernest TO believe IN
his owl immaculate excellence No one knew better
than himself bis positive faults his past artistic mis-
takes and his tendencies to other blemishes He set
himself anxiously to conquer them.
Since We saw him last Mr.. Booth has been at work,
and his work has borne such noble fruit only be
fully appreciated by those who knew him when hewa
the crude, unpublished, but still startling and original
actor of three YEAR, ago, and who see him now, and
note what gigantic strides he has taken toward the
highest tragic excellence.
Mr. Booths performance Of Hamlet at the Winter
Garden last evening WAS triumph for himself, and
cause Of inst pride to his many friends whose unswer'-
ing faith in him ia now fully justified
That there should at this day be rendering OF Ham
let that should be consistently original throughout,
not to be expected desired. But that every actor OF
true genius who undertakes the character will develop
other and new beauties, give the old new signh-
cance is doubtless true Mr.. Booths Hamlet Is, all
things considered BY far the best for many years.
Nature has bestowed him peculiar graces- His eye
IL miracle of expression and beauty; his figure Is
slight and 1.-the; his carriage almost always graceful,
and his voice If one of singulary exquisite tone and
yondrous capabilities of meditation, and he is thor
oughly master of all its fexile possibilities. 1t ia Of
great volume and power when the requirements Of the
occasion test those qualities and in other passages has
sweet melancholy tenderness peculiarly its own, and
which we have never heard matched His readings
are devoid of all straining for startling originality no
passages are wrenehed from their accustomed signh-
canoe and no words violently twisted from their
natural meanings but all is smooth elegant and ssns
ble His delivery of the soloques is the work OF
mastery elocuonist grated eapprecative enthu-
sasm of an earnest student
In the scenes known az the closet scene, and the
graveyard scene with Laertes, his rendering sngu-
larry and indeed Unexpectedly quiet. Bat with Mr.
Booth quiet is not lack of intensity.
He is the fret Hamlet for many day who,
in the closet scene does not consider necessary to
rave and rant at the Queen like drunken shorboy-
he is the first Hamlet for many day whose conduct IN
that same scene would justify tbs interference of
third parties, on the superstition that he intended to
commit an assault and battery his mother-he is the
first Prince of Denmark for many year who had
dared in this same scene, to conduct himself ike
gentleman, and not a backguard. For all which Mr.
Booth has earnest thanks enthusiastic admira
ton, and our hopes that he may do in other things
equally well.
There are blemishes in his personation chief among
which ia tendency times to attitudinize, but these
are faults so slight TO act but fois to make the
performance ss whole only show to better advantage
The audience last night appreciative one, and
testified their appreciation of the artist not only by ap
plauding heartily in the proper place but by calling
him several times before the curtain.
Good as was his Hamlet, we predict still greater
triumphs for him when his Richard I'LL and his Riche-
lieu ara produced, and when, we doubt not, he will
fully vindicate his claim TO the honor he has well
won of being now the finest tragedian that America
numbers among her young men, and of combining in
his proper person all the gifts and qualifications naqus-
ito to transmute Edwin Booth, by the aid Of earnest
work into the best tagedian that America has yet pro-
duced
The play il very well done in some other respects.
Miss Ada Clifton plays Opheha with much pathOs and
expression and Mr.. Dsyidee IA the Isl Grave Digger
is quaint and excellent, For the Others not mneh is to
be said.
Hamlet viii be acted every night till the public
counterand the order, by staying from the thester,
which we believe they will not be willing to do.
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TAYrpa EEEEElS T'HEATER