Daily national Republican., 1863-11-13
Booths Richard III.

We extract the following critigm on Mr..
BDoth's Richard, from the columns OF the katio.a
hiiCAyencer:
Mr. J. wilkes Booth repeats to .night his person.
stion oi Richard Hi an effort which, despite the
sweeping criticism recently leveled against 1t by
scotemporary OF the daily press, meets, we think,
no uncomfortable applause.
lis 10 Carlyle, we believe, that VIC are indebted
for the remark that, whatever the world thought
long upon, 1t was sure 10 think OF rightly; and,
despite the efforts OF Horace WalpoIe and ether
historical skeptics to sOftea the odious tints in
"hich history has depicted the character OF Rich.
ard Il 1t 10 quite certain that he will continue to
the end oi all me to be looked upon by mankind
with bitter detestation, as relentless merciless
usurper and tyrant, who, In his progress to power
and dig Iify, scored At all obligations, human and
divine, and banished from hi, heart every emotion
which distinguishes man from rend.
No character in the whole range OF the shake
spercsn drama 10 more graphically drawn BY that
great master, permits Of less doubt in the inter-
probation OF its motives than that of Richard. II
its vivid outlines have been exaggerated In their
dlstoriions and deformities BY the "Lancastrian
prejudices" of Shakespeare, then 1t 10 most un.
fortunate for the fame ofth!s nohle brave gifted,
but mueh-abused prince AS partial minds would
paint him now-that these prsjudiees have swayed
the judgment of mankind for upwards Of four cen.
turies; and that history has, with accustomed
seIvility, adopted and perpetuated the siauder of
nged with the eloq ent pen OF Hume It Ia yet
more unfortunate that, with incorrigible peryetsl.
~ OF partisan prejudice, every actor of any no
from the Triumphant Burbage to Mr.. Juhu Wi "a
BootI-inciuding Betterton, Cibber, Cooke, Car
rick, Cooper, kean, and Junius Brutus Booth
have moulded their conceptions OF Richaids spirit
and character from the historical portrait, and,
with very few exceptions the closeness Of the iI-
itation constituted the charm ard excellence of
their pictures
True, Mr. Forest has with the boldness Of genius
rejected the received opinion OF the usurpers ply
steal and moral deiormites, and has < ven US in
stends portraiture conceived In tie most liberal
spirit OF Wapole's apochryphsl "doubts,n but SO
welded are ou' people to the SANDERS of the past
that they failed TO recognize In 1t any likeness to
the history OF Richard and of Shakespeare, and our
great trnscdian has practically banished the effort
from his repertoire or at least rarely flvors the
public with its repetition.
Wcthink young Booths con ccptlon of the part ia
in all the essential traits OF Character n currcct
one. True, its realization exhibits at timcs lack
oil creative power, and Of that confident elnbora.
ton which experience alone can suggest; but not
withstsndiny these obscure blemishss, the yigor,
the conhien pOisc, and the skiliul shadngs OF the
picture remain 10 challenge our respect for the
artist and admiration for the art which couIi thu
early grasp some OF the highest and richest of its
rewards.
Cibber's alteration oi the original play OF
" Richard III" though 1t at hrst very naturally
excited the indignation Of the critics, 10 very gem
eially received, and by such eminent judges as
kean, Booth, Macready, Wallack, Davenport, and
Others NOT less distinguished, as u necessary ard
correct asaptation OF the work to the uts
OF the stage and It has accordingly mant.incd its
popularity IN the acting drama" notwithstand.
ing the unthinking opposition of few critics.
The fact is, shakespesIe's inventive powers have
tall lar short oi their ordinary triumphs In this
play RIeha!d s dream Is but = repetition OF that
oi Clarence and the same In which he extorts the
reluctant eonseht OF Elizabeth closely resembles
that IA which he woos the " wTetched Anne." We
question whether an American audience could lis
ten patiently to the original narritive OF Clarences
dreans his expostulstion with his murderers, the
prHtle OF his children, the soloquy Of the scriv-
ener the tedious dialogue Of The citizens the Ta-
wings OF Margaret, the vehement inteIchanges of
CURSES and NeetiNes with winch the whole scenes
arc sth1ed, or the repeated progresses to execution
AZ least no actor of modern times has been bold
enough 10 ny the experiment; and we may there
lore accept the fact as confirmation OF the mecca.
rV oI 'he alterationi and may justly lind In the
strong holl which ClbOers adaptation has taken
upon 'At popular ihyor practical evidence OF the
SKIN AMI hdelily with which he accom- plish,d his
task Slr. Booth wall enjoy the advantages to.
hiBht oi an able support, from cnst OF more thsn
ordinary power, Hnd which Includes such popvIar
artists AS MIR. Harry Pearson, Mr. CHARLES Wheat.
leigh, Mr. e, ,. Deyere, MIR. Sidney Wilkins, Miss
Alice Gray, and others.