New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-16
NlBLO,s GARDEN.
MIR, Bnndmnnn's Debut.

A crowded audience, notwithstanding the upfa.
vorable weather, witnessed, last evening, the re-
mark able success Of Mr.. BandmaDn in the part OF
Shylock-his first English impersonation. A more
undoubted triumph in the popular, AZ we'll as the
artistic sense has not been seen within our recolec-
ton. The applause was as fervent as it was frequent,
and at the close of the first the third, and the last
acs well during the progress of the play, Mr.
Bandnann was summoned to receive especial test-
monials Of appreciation. Upon the point concerning
which most apprehension was felt by
those who looked with generous interest
upon the young artists undertaking - his
English pronunciation-al serious anxieties van
shed at the outset Mr.. BandmanD's utterance is by
no means free from foreign accent but it amply con-
veys the broadcast as well as the most delicate mean
ngs of the text. We pass over this to us, minor
consideration, with merely a compliment for 30
complete result Of some six weeks study, and
touch with necessary brevity upon the general effect
Of the conception and illustration of the part.
II ia evident throughout that hi, Sbylock repre-
sens in the keenest degree the fierce and uureleht
ing hostility of proud nature chained down by au-
thorized persecution, and warped, though not
broken, by insults and degrsdstions avisbed upon
il for a lifetime. There is no moment during his
representation when this spirit ID not apparent,
either through bold avowals or through the
spbtler expressions of bitter satire and scorn.
At the end, it rises to absolute ferocity, and,
even when retribution steps in, and turns
all the trusted weapons against their wielder,
il suffers no abatement. The exit from the judg.
mept hall shows the eame lodged hate" IA the
vehement denuuciations Of the opening scene. This
Shylock is strong, bold, viudictive old man, no,
necessarily wicked by nature, but with every sentl-
meut turned ~ last to fierce fury against the
oppressors Of his ancient and the enemies oil h
cherished faith With such Jew we are made
acquainted for the frat time by Mr. Banfmsnn, and
il would be useless to deny that such
Jew more justly claims the sympalhies
of an audience than auy other could.
The other characteristics OF the man are made
subordiuate-his rasring avaree and sense of per.
sona humiliation although hey, too, are conveyed
with sufficient force TO give emphasis to the scenes
in which they are the ruling motives. The audience
appeared to thoroughly appreciate the purposes OF
the artist, AID the points which secured most up
pau.e were those which appealed not by the We
hemeuce Of their physical effects, but by their IN
dcaIions Of the inteuse subdued feeling which
animated each phrase and each movement.
Mr.. Bandmanns dress AMI mask in Shyloek are
wholly different from those which are more familiar
to our stage. 1t is sufficient to say that they are bis
toricAy accurate. Oh their effectiveness the opinion
of the aud-nce last evening gave abundant test-
nony. On this az well on other points the appre-
ciaiion Of the public was literally expressed aud
the call before the curtain at the termination OF the
piece was an ovation. Mr.. Bandmaun addressed
the audience in q modest and mani, little speech,
which be,tered the good feeling that his acting had
already won.
The general cast Of tho piece was good Mr..
Lanergan played Bassanio with exceeding spirit
aud good taste, aud Madame Ponisi Personated Ports
with unusual grace and dignity. 1.-THE Merchant OF
Venice will DO repeated this and tomorrow even
inua