The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-03

harrls, VINO played JDc part Oh AuQIeW,"
presents a remarkable instance OF the versatility
Of the old actors. He was an important member
OF Davenanps company, ana appears to have
divided with Betterton the oleading business
as It would now be called. He played IN rapid
succession such widely different Shakespearian
characters as Romeo (Betterlou playing "Mer-
cutio'O, ''Sr Andrew Aguecheek;r and "Wol-
seyn TO the Henry the EIghthn OF Betterton).
According to Downes, Harris played "Wolsey"
with such just state, port, and mien" as had
never hitherto been seen IN the part.
Lovel, the ''Malyolon Of this early perform
ance of 7,ceJh Ntght" was the low
his hands the part lost much of its dignity
and consistency. This view of his treatment
OF the character is founded rather upon conjec.
ture, however than upon any certain evidence
that has come down to us. But Lovel was also the
"Polonius" Of the company; and 1t is clear from
the earliest endeayors made much later by Gar
lick to "rebabiltate" "POlonius," as it were, and
divest him Of much buifoonery with which
long course OF stage tradition had clothed him,
that the part bad not been regarded by the play
ers from a very dignifed point OF view. Doubtless
Lovers "Polonius" had an unpleasant element
OF burlesque about 1t. He would probably not
shrink therefore IRON presenting somewhat un-
dgnifed II ludicrous version Of "Malvolio.n To
fancy that he must excite mirth at any price is
the especial error Of the low comedian. The
Wholesome Shakespearian maxim to the effect
that 1t Is far preferable that the judicious should
not glieve than that the unskiful should laugh
seems to have urged IN vain, SO far as number
less actors are concerned.
Notwithstanding the surcess of the per-
formance of TaCelm Nagh by Davenants
company land the SUCCESS was very decided,
albert Mr. Pepys describes the play as zone
OF the weakest he ever saw"), many years
elapsed before the comedy was again brought
upon the stage Indeed, no record of its repro
duction can be discovered until we come to the
year l74l, when successful revival of As You
Like II, at Drury Lane, after many years of
strange neglect, seems to have suggested the
experiment of performing 7tcelth Night at the
same theatre. The comedy was performed some
eight times during the season. The cast was
highly creditable one; Mackln playing ''Mal-
volio;" Woodward; "5ir Andrew Aguecheek;"
Mrs. Pritchard, "Viola;" and Mrs. Give, "0livia"
Macklin was an intelligent and skilful If not
very agreeable actor, laying great stress upon
his distinct enunciauion and appropriate Gesture.
Churchill speaks OF his acting as hard, affected,
and constrained" and his features as
at variance set, inhexible and coarse;
vet he would seem to have been in possession of
many of the characteristics Of "Malvolio," a
part in which grace OF manner and elegance OF
appearance are clearly not needed. However,
though the actor has had two biographers, we
can discover no eUlogy of his manner of repre-
senting this part. lndeed, the revival OF the
comedy would appear to have made but little
impression, to judge by the slight mention made
Of 1t in contemporary. theatrical history.
In l746, towards the close of the s,season
I'cegm Night was played again two or
three t times on on benefit nights, when Mack
MARIA and the beautiful Mrs Wofington ap-
peared as 'Viola'' Tor the first time; the part
was rather out of her usual range Of character,
and her success in it was probably not extraor-
dnary.
In October, 1853, TtoeJm Nsgt was played
again at Drury Lane, the performance being
chiefly remarkable for the ''Malvolio" of Yates,
a tavorite comic actor, whose defective memory
Churchill satarized severely, and the ''Sir
Andrew Aguecheekn OF O'Brien, promising
comedian, who followed Woodward's manner,
and whose good fortune was said to have been
his ruin. Horace Walpole writes to Sir Horace
Mann april 8, 1764), "a melancholy affair
has happened to Lord Leicester: his eldest
daughter, Lady, Susan, very pleasing girl,
ago, at Covent Garden Church, to O'Brien, q
handsome young actor. Lord Leicester doated
| on her, and was the most indulgent OF fathers.
| IT'S cruel blow" To another correspondent
| he tells the same story, and comments: 1T
| is the completion of dsgrace,-even a foot
man were preterable; the publicity of the
| heTo's profession perpetuates the modification.
/ could not have believed that Lady
| Susan would have stopped 30 low" O'Brien
! Quilted the stage in consequence of his mar
riage, and afterwards, with his wife, emlgrated
to America, where it was said, the interest O.
the lady's family obtained for him post o.
| value; but this has never been clearly ascer
tanned. 0Brlen's union with Lady SusaI
! Srangways doubtless suggested to Mr.. Thacke
ray that amusing episode IN the story OF 'Tht
| VIrgnlans,p with which most readers are
with Mr.. Hagan, the Irish actor.
In l77l IsoeJh Night was again being per
formed at Drury Lane, when King was the
"Maly yolio;n Dodd, "Sr Andrew Aguecheek;' :
Miss Younge afterwards Mrs. Pope), "Viola;
and Mrs. Abingdon, with song" "Oliyia.n Th'
acting was so excellent that the comedy wa
played fourteen times during the season. Thi
success probably led to q rival performance a
Coyent Garden about the same time, Yates ant
his vile appearing as "Malvolio" and ''Viola,
and Woodward as "Sir Andrew" The mex
| ''N1olap OF importance was Mrs Barrys, a
Covent Garden in l777, the lovely Mrs. Hartle.
being the 'Olivia." Subsequent "Vlolasn wer
Mrs. Bulkeley and Mrs. "Perditap Robinson
Edwin being the 'Sir Andrew to both ladies
and Bensley and Henderson the "Malyolos.
Then we come to the memorable representation
of 1tCetth Night, concerning which Charlie
Lamb has written one OF the most charming G
his ELLA" Essays, "On some of the Old Actors
In the year 1920, Lambs association wit
HaZlitt had brought HIM into connection wit
the London Magazine then edited by job
} was between the years 1920 and 1926 that tn
essays of Elian appeared in the Lon
don Magazine But the particular cast {
1seefm Night, touching which Lamb di
courses, 30 pleasantly, was nrst presented I
the world on the stage OF Drury Lane Theatr
so early as November, 1855, at which perlo
Lamb was little more than ten years ol6
Dodd was again ''Sir Andrew Aguecheek,n an
Bensley "Malyolio;" John Palmer was ''Slr lob
Belch,n SEett the ''Clown,n and Mrs. Jorda
"Viola," Probably the same artists, however, wei
! assembled in the same comedy some few season
| later. Not but what Lambs memory regardin
} theatrical matters was curiously tenacious. |
the paper called my First Playn he describc
, performances at Drury LaneLA'tgTerrss q
r Lady Of Hie Manor, and The Way Of the World
, during the season OF 1872, when he was onl
4 from six to seven years old.
}. In 1855, when Mrs. Jordan played "Violi