The New York herald., 1868-02-28
Readings from Sbnk.penre by Mrs. Fran.
ces Anne Kemble.

Readings from sbnisspeare by Mrs. Fran
ces Anne Kemble.
Mrs. Kemble will begin her readings frcm
Shakespeare at Steinway Hall on Monday even
ing. She announces "Coriolanus" for that
evening, "Mldsummer N ghts Dream" for
Tu sday evening, "The Tempest" Tor Friday
evening and "King Lear" for Saturday morn
ing. Her selections, 1t is obvious, have been
expressly made so as to afford opportunities
OF displaying 10 the best advantage the mar
velloas versatility of this greatest actress whom
England ever sent to the United States and
this finest reader in the world.
TIE enthusiasm With which critic like Tai
fourd welcomed Miss Fanny Kamble at her first
appearance on the stage as Jalict, in company
with her father as Mercutio and her mother as
Lady Capulet, was amply justified by her sub
sequent triumphs on both sides Of the Atlantic.
And Americans may take pride in the fact that
from Shakespeare by VIII. h she won additional
celebrity both here and at home, and which
she is now about to repeat in New York and
other American cities. Her first appearance
on the London stage was truly de-
scribed as 'a splendid event" The same
description was applied to her first
appearance as reader, and will doubtless be
equ lily applicable to her reappearance next
Monday evening. Here is q genuine occasion
for ticket purchasers to .faire queue for hours,
and we have heard, without surprise, that not
wi hstAndng yesterdays furious snow storm
the sale of Sc lson tickets was throngel, as that
Of single tickets will be to-day.
Mrs. Kemble wears still the same nobly
formed head which was so much admired when
she m de her first appearance at the Covent
Garden theatre, October 10,,1S29, with expan-
sve brow, eyes full OF gifted soul, features
significant of extraordinary intelligence, and
"thc intense expression that brought Mrs. Sid
dons most ylyidly back to Us" One Of her
eulogiss thus describes her voice at that
date :--"Her voice, while il IS per.ec.ly femi-
nine in its tones, is Of great compass and,
though perhaps not yet entirely within her
command, gives proof Of being able TO express
the sweetest emotions without monotony and
tie sternest passions without harshness." We
have been assured that this wonderful voice
retains the full power to Which it Afterwards
rpenei, and we know that it must be under
perfect command.
The .nius of Mrs. Kemble as a reader is
especially evinced III her skilful characterlzl-
ton. We remember with what astonishing
facility an fidelity she would indiyiduallze q
dozen diff rent characters in reading single
play, bringing each and all personally before
the minds eye. What has been said of
another gifted woman is true Of Mrs. Kemble-
"Sho ensouls as well as embodies her charac.
ters. By conceiving character in the concrete,
through the instructive processes of imagina-
ton, she preserves the unity Of character amid
all the variety Of its manifestation" Toe effects
are magical which she produces entirely
alone, without change Of costume, without
scenery, without any accesso los Of the stage.
1t will be treat to witn,s again such an
exhibition of genius.
The success OF Mrs. Yclverton and of Mr.
Dickens was, in q large measure, sue
cess of curiosity, due to the romantic
experiences and fervent love letters Of
the former, and to the novels and extrapr-
dinary storytelling faculty OF the latter. The
success of other readers who have followed in
their wake this winter-oi Mr.. Murdoch, Mr..
vandenhof, Mr.. Charles Eytnge Mis-, Licoste
and the rest-has been more strictly independ-
ent of merely personal considerations. Mrs.
Kemble will combine with her attractions as
the most accomplished reader alive the inter-
est inspired by her brief but brilliant career as
an actress, and by the associations of her name
and lineage.