The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-04
RIs To RI.
Tho second Representation Of Queen Eiixn-
hes

Tho second Representation Of Queen Eiixa-
beth.
Whose wishes 10 witness tragic acting, such a. has
becn rarely equaed and surpassed on any stage
must Rstor in her great character OF Queen Eliza
beth Last night she performed II for the second time
in this city, to a large and spelbound audience IL was
wonderful how the genius OF person could las
climate for three hours thousands Of people, and attract
all eyes her eaures all 10 the tones OF her voice
II appeared TO be quite Indifferent what freedoms the
Italian author OF the play took with the actual facts
Of English history Il Of consequence that
Lord Burlegh, the Prime Minister who had shufhed on
tho OF and OF all earthly things years
before the death OF his royal Mistress 10 made 70 wei
come her successor 1t OF no consequences that
Sir Philip Drake Is made 70 give her. at her dying gasp
news that Ireland has become an English pro-
vince although that bold buccaneer had, years before,
pershed in his last expedition TO the Spanish Main II
was Of no consequence that her SUCCESSOR James Of
Scotland introduced TO the royal chamber Of DEATH
whereas history placed him at tho time north Of tho
Tweed. All these, and other historical blundsrs and
incongrutes were lost sight or entirely overlooked In
the wondrous acting OF Rstor sho great in tho var
Of the first and second acts when with proud
majestic department she sways with unsteady grasp
the sceptre Of Henry the Eighth, and shows herself
inch queen. There arc in those acts, some in
timatons that under tho royal purple beats heart sus
cepble TO the tender passion; but that weakness Is
transient and hardly marks her character enough to bc
remembered Love Of power and Of the glory Of Eng
land and jealousy Of all that would threaten either
her deeply Marked distinguishing characteristics. Pas
sion and duplicy--a passion that spares not, and
duplicty that made subscrvent 70 her hatsserve to
make up the Italian authors conception OF tho
English Queen. In the scene with tho Spanish
where she signs Marys death warrant and then
aments her execution and consgns her secretary 70 the
Tower for having delivered tho death warrant her du
pcity is brought into play. The where sho pre-
parcs TO defend England from tho Spanish armada, and
sezing her fathers sword for the camp at TIL
bury, splendid and closed the second act and
thus gave opportunity for tho manifestation Of ap-
panse tho feelings Of the audience, which had been
with difficulty restrained during tho acting, werc OK
pressed in vehement applause a. tho curtain fell
In the third act sgnor Ccch as the Earl Of Essex,
shared the honors with Risior. However unlike the
demeanor of English earl was his bearing In tho
character Of couer and lover coud not DO said that
in the where he defends his rash bravery at Cad
and, breaking his sword casts Il with disdain, anger,
and defiance at the feet Of his sovereign he showed any
lack OF dignity or English manhood In that he was
much applauded, aud aftcr the curtain fell Rstori,
him. led him forward 70 receive his portion Of the
honors
But in tho fourth act that tho tragic powers OF
Rstor were shown ia their fullest scope. Her fsvore
Essex 10 in the Tower has been tried before tribunal
Of his peers and has bcen condemned to death. Her
regal ponp all aiI aside. she Ii no longer the proud
queen; but the humblsd woman. she has but to sign
voluntarily his pardon, he has but 10 send 70 bsr
the ring which shs had given him with
pledge OF protection, and al IA we'll.
But she cannot bring herself to pardon unas<ed;
and tho ring does reach hcr for the Countess Of
Nottingham, by whom Essex had sent In his last ex-
tremity, treachsrousiy withholds IT. The playwright
makes her dlvugs the sscret TO Elizabeth immediately
aer the OF execution had been dcspasckcd bat
tho real history OF tho Transaction makes the revelation
only the Countess death bed couple Of years
after E@exs death, and makes the rsmorss which
Elizabeth then ft the direct cause Of her mortal ncs
But We have only 70 deal with tho play written.
Elizabeth learns tho fact Of Essex's coptrtion and
pies for pardon, and breaks into one Of her pas
sionats outbursts, promising the eoronet Of m
earl 70 whoever would ovcrtake her secretary
with the warrant OF execution Just - the mes
senger loaSUs her presence . gun II heard, and
u recognized the signal for the execution Of Essx
She appalled, horror stricken, crushed earth. In
Rstors acting Of the scene you might fancy that you
could 500 remorse prcying upon her viais tho opera
lions Of hs that deth not and the rs that s
qusDched." But suddenly rousing herself and seixng
upon Bacon, she upbraids him with bis and
inetituds 10 his bcneactor Essex and cries. In terrible
sccents;-"0hf che ts aa saidsoi maidefoGf part d
Cdno vanw<, vdase; ns nj (as orrwen l0h cursed DO
thou-cunsd Ike unto Cain. Away Away Thyv very
sight horrirss mel And then, again, shc sinks despair
ingIy tho noor tho most miserable bong whom ID
uoxsbie 10 imagine tutoring the fearful words sofaf
Sc,a IN logo di sasgvef Sofa col rt~oss Dor
iAlonc Alone! In . lake Of blood Alone with ~
morse and with God y The expression Of her counts
nance, she utters tho last words and shrinks as
were, from the Allsecisg Eye, conveyed the most terri
Bile picture Of remorse and terror that Il possible 70
conceive
wo nderful piece Of acting And yet was all 20 grand
perfect that other might perhaps jns
we'll have been selected and marked those par
tcuiary arrcsting attention Az commenced this
article, end II, by suggesting 10 all who wish 20
tragic acting perfection that they will have
SOC Queen Elizabeth ~ performed by R,s,of.