New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-06
Ne@2lork Daily Gribana
CITY ITEMS.

w,sfgR GaEpES-On Monday night Mr.. Edwin
Booth ersayed Macbeth aShaSesperian character which
h has not before attempted 10 personate in New-fork
Though Mr. Booths engagement has been successful
ors, his excellence in Shakespearian characters has
varied much and in only has he achieved success
clear, uacqniyoca and consistently good throughout
His Richard, Hamlet, Ohello, and Romeo, all had
flashes OF brlliancy and in some of them there were
entire scenes that completely good as to leave
little 10 be desired but Iago only did Mr.. Booth
win the unqueetoned admission that be il the beet
American NATIVE Of the character who IS known
TO tie public
In Macbeth on Monday night Mr.. Booth WI ssuccess
fnl; It was success won partly by originality in the
c rton and acting Of certain scenes, AMI partly by
carefully nded reproduction of the best ideas OF older
actors. The personaton was not 30 consistently
excellent as his Isgo, but it far exeeiled the
unequal and spasmodic brilliancy of his Romeo
and Richard. In certain scenes he rose TO
absolute greatness excellng, as is his wont
in VIVA; may be culled the tragic solos of the play
tlp.e parts where in communion only with himself, he
hss {, express the workings Of intense passion. All
the soiloauies were most beautifully and effectively
rendercd his acting in the banquet scene, where the
intrusive ghost OF Banquo breaks up the harmony OF
the festivities was especially powerful ana imp essve
In fact, wherever be depended upon himself and
could compre bend the action Of the scene within bis
grasp there was he always strkingly good. Here
must all praise stop for not all the genius of all the ira
uediapa that ever lived could il be bestowed on one
man. would suffice TO enable that man TO act SINGLE
handed the tragedy of Macbeth. Wherever the royal
murderer il compelled TO depend on the other persons
of the drama for dramatic succor and support there
was Mr.. Booth crippled, hampered aud remorselessiy
sacrificed. The exceptions to this rule are but
one or two. Mr.. Lingham as Mscdnif was per-
haps the most noticeable. The Lady Macbeth OF
Mn. DufReld was unmistakably bad in every line
this Lady represented the guilty queenas an undsnihed,
vulgar, common vixen; ranng from the first scene to
the last. Mr. Lawor, M Banquo was simply ridiculous
and clownish. Mr.. NARROW, as Duncan, was weak and
unatisfacory. OF the singing of the witch music the
lees said the better.
In the last act Mr. Lingham, Macdul, rallied bis
energies and acted admirably and the combat was 80
thrilingy in earnest call down repeated cheers
from the whole house for both Mr. Booth and his really
able second In Tact Mr.. Booth Is the star actor
who knows the secret of Arranging stage combat that
il shall seem lifeke and earnest BY all odds the most
graceful swordsman of all stars, and complete
master Of his weapon, he always uses II naturally,
properly and eectuslly. lie derives especial commen-
daton Cor his costuming which is always picturesque
and correct and was especially no on this occasion
Macbeth was success and the trageiian received at
the close Of the play the usual compliment OF cali De-
fore the curtain This evening Mr. Booth will appear,
by special request in his great character OF Hamlet
p.pSux,s AsypIc.s MUsrUN.-This week, the