Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-28


SHAKsPHARg's JULIUS CEsAR.-The an
houucement Of the production OF this tragedy tc-
night at Growers, calls to mind some critical Ink
links which were penued upon the occasion OF its
production by Davenport and Wsllack during their
Last engagement In this city. The necessity Of
giving due notice OF the Sanitary Commission ben.
eft which took place the following night at the
same theatre, al d which yielded SO muniacsat
sum, prevented Its publication.
As the tragedy 10 one very rarely presented and
Its sometime appearance an occasion Of universal
nterest with play gocrs the ideas then entertained
will come not amiss to-day.
His a thought cry suggestive that In three
hundred years which have elapsed since the birth
of sha eppeare, during which time all art and hui
inanity have advanced WITH giant strides, when
poets and dramatic writer's hive accumulated As
the leaves Of a forest In the spring time, that we
should stu he indebted to that one mind for all
e eat conception OF tragedy. To him alone seems
TO have been conferred the abb ity to depict such
heroes IS stard Y ore securely in his plays than
even in history, "the nohlest Roman Of them ALL"
Julius Cuzar 10 eminently a suggestive tragedy.
His life has ever been the study OF ambitious
uind, and to this be Autiful play many persons n,
well re I'D In history, indebted through Antonys
grafton and the speech of Bfutus for very accu-
rate idea OF his history and standing. The play
woad more properly he called the Death Of Julias
4 M Al,
which destroys his life In the commencement Of
the third; and, far as the action 10 concerned, he
ia comparatiy ely m uni rportant character shaks
peare originally dcs gna'ed 1t "CRzsrs Trageayc.L
Brutus 10 the hero OF the pay. The conception
Of the character Of Brutus is not difficult one;
tor his speeches SO fully portray his mind, end all
commentators entirely unite In describ ng e" the
nmiable beauty OF his character, his feeling and
patriotic heroism," that misconception 10 ditt.
puft Tn n m ri dali
different tasks.
II seems to me II would he difficult to find In all
the range OF modern actors more fitted to this
character than Edward Davenport. The quietncss
OF his style his easy and radiant manner Of deliv-
ring the lofty sentiments Of one characterized Is
1.-The noblest Roman Of them all, In contradistinc-
ton the vehement and noisyrantinss OF most pro-
FOUNDERS OF patriotism, elevate him into the repre-
s,ntatIon Brutus OF his profession. Even the
philosophical Hamlet, which he plays with great
perfection, does not seem so entirely adapted 10
his peculiar strength. The character thoughout IL
simple In patriotism, so even In Its text, that
sometimes Wonder It does not try the patience OF
NJ, actor famous for his force in telling passages,
and induce an occasional effort after n round Vi
I applause.
In the forum sccns usually look forthe Roman
who loved Cpssr not less but Rome more, to do so
with loud voice and with gesture invoke the
s,utecistion OF the patriots in the upper ter-not
lovers OF the lOuu tne mouth
wholly confined to that part OF the auditorium.
gut Davenport remains Brutus throughout, per.
hnps he may be said to depart a little at the ap.
U,arance OF Casar's ghost, and to Indicate in come
degree the conventional terror, rather than the
= srtled hero, who, to the announcement of
another visit, firmly responds,
Well, then / shall see thee again
Why, | will see thee At Phihppi then"
Throughout, however, 1t has never fol- 10 my lot,
\ ,utuh a., q latt fanlit inn nf tha
rure man, described by the old translation OF Plu.
tarch ss:
For his yertue and valiahtnesse, WAS well-bs-
loved Of the people and his ownc; esteemed OF no.
TIeInen, and hated OF no man; not so much A. Of
his enc mics; bec ,use he WAS a marvellous lowiy
and gentle peIbon, noble-minded, and would never
he in any rage, nor carried away with pleasure
sud cuvctnu' nesse.'
Casio, the prime mover of the conspiracy and
tie able general, Hnds = worthy exponent In Wal.
lack. The superior discernment OF Cassie and his
somewhat vii, nature enable him to work upon
the patriotism OF Brutus aud mould him to the
b wishes Of the conspirators. Wsllack's greatness
al dramatic artist lies chieny In the deliaeation
al these subtle personages, and In rendering their
h, speeches wherein their motives are unmarked
10 The audience In plain and inteigble manner,
80 that he heArcr goes understAndingly Into the
psy and gives his sympathy to the hero from first
To last. I confess to liking him much better in
laso or Cassie than In Macbeth. And 1t should be
= higher degree OF dramatic excellence than is
.ssrnt al in the rendition of the herses. They
give The hero the most oil his Importance. A good
Ingo will make very Sood Othello II pasJsblc
actor
Ia-sius IL a blending of tne hero with the willy
sIatrsman Few stars can do the character justice
IT. dilncult nature has always lain in the way OF
the frequent representation Of this tragedy.
IN the speech to iirutus, where Cassius tells VI
Gr-ruiug IIsir from the waters OF the Tiber-
-" Help me, Cassius, or snkr
l. q, ineas our great ancestor,
.Ui from TIE flames Of Troy upon his shoulder
Thc Old Aurhlsr- bear, so from the waves Of Tibei
!hd the tired tWsnr-
,,,,lu, Stands out boldly, and the audience II
a.. to with him. Wallack's strongest point, how
ever, is in the soliloquIes, such as
.Wril Bvutus, thou are noble: Yet, see
4 ray honorable metal may be wrought
FrOrn that It 10 disposed: therefore 1t 10 meet
1hpt noble minds keep ever With their lkesj
For who go firm that can not tc seduced"
For these are dticult and must he well deliy eret
Tor the general audience to understand them,
In the lat Two acts the Roman hero predomi
Lv1c,. In the scene with Brutus, where he i'm
pugns s,iEs' motives and hints 81 his "itchint
ru.m." Wallnck was especially grand; indeed, thu
pttnr w,s one Of the finest In the play
Ihrii death was quite In keeping with their nnhl'
vhLrnlirF and worthy the last OF the koinhns
Mark Antony was w,ll dcliN cred, for one ~
yuan, by Barron. The long Grafton over the bod,
vi r-,.r makes this difficult character. This Ia
rvr hrun presented 10y rhetoric!nns AS al example
" IOuSi aud most actors torture themselves Il
rn,Cy dr!val depth perfectly agOniring ini'
the honorable man, remember we'll MIR. Wheat
IcN' greatest weakness In this character was th
stilrCl sameness VI th which he pronounced BTutu
an h.OO-0-.-H'rahle man. Now, the irony shonl
nut &c mAIr quite patent The frequent repeti
l.uu wIthuut rNfra emphasis, Is quite sufficient Il
,is, ll,sr nl the irony that il intended Brutus wa
iryoud ali doubt IN honorable man rs Antony an
The multitude well knew. 1t served Antony's pun
posv TO work upon their feelings against Brutu
"a md the cons plrators, but to have used such en
- phatic irony would at once have disclosed his III
b rent
Nj, Barron's Grafton was more than Acceptable
lit was good But little less stress on the hon
= orsh.e' would improve II.
Cpsar WAS aot particularly well rendered By MI
BHkee' ! have never seen the character repre-
scented except ne n joyous young Rom an, who's
elasticity OF speech and appearance would argue