New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-07
Mrs. KEJIBLE'S TEMPEST.

Our remarks in Wednesdays TRIBUNE on the III.
breeding of certain persons who chose to disturb tbs
whole audience by coming in after the reading had
begun, appear to have made impression whatever,
for last evening large number repeated the ofienss
and kept Mrs Kemble waiting to begin the play fos
full five minutes. Such persons no matter how
costly they may be dressed no matter what furs.
and velyets, and silks they may have on, are yulgas
snobs. and their proper place is in the kitchon
though, on the whole, we don't want them in ous
Hnchen' for they would probably think it equally
nno 10 DC always late with the dinner We were
s'uu 10 see' however that Mrs. Kemble was not too
n,ucn disturbed by this display of clownishness She
Seoou ana surveyed them as if they were some curl
gus. ueio.mea creatures quite out of her sphere and
40 On the whole twas best to be patient with them,
lor the worm, look you, will do his kind"
something Oh her old spirit seemed to have returned
10 MIS- kemble last night she entered with lighter
STEP and her robe of amethyst satin and black laos
was well chosen for tho serious play she read us.
Bnt on the whole we do not think the Tempest q
good reading play. There is too little variety In it,
and too little that is inspiring; remark which we
make with proper modesty, for we know that many
true lovers Of Shakespeare hold it his finest play al
least allow it to dispute the palm vita Hamlet
Mrs. Kemble was in fine voice and read her best but
she could not make PrOspero interesting He was
very solemn and very prosy, and nothing appeared
more natural than that Miranda should go off into
sound sleep during his exceedingly RECONSTRUCTED
narrative of his expulsion from Milan, since all thu
Mirandas and Ferdinands 10 the audience had niuci
ado to keep from following suit. We must confess
that uncomfortable suspicion would obtrude itseli
last night that Prospero being match for.Cahban
and Ariel in intelligence, taking an unfair adj
vantage over his two subjects, by means of his book
l.. r. II.
Prospero drawled and free to say so, because
this is the very last fault that Mrs. Kembe can DO
charged with, as a reader One of the particular
beauties of her eocutiOn is the clear precision with
which she can run over rapid passages keeping
every unimportant particle out of sight, to speak.
and giving full value to all the essential words. But
in ProperOS longest speeches last night she seemed
to have theory that every proposition. and article.
and conjunction uttered by this wseaere desery
ing Of emphasis, and she gave them their deserts
cordingly
The best part of the Reading, in our estimation.
was the rendering of Calban. 1t is the creation Of
this marvel, probably, that has given such prOm-
nence in the minds Of many to the Tempest, for
there is no other character in the play thai
can compare with Caliban for individuality and
completeness. And unless it be Ariel. there is hardly
any that interests so much. But Ariel was not Al
definitely given Puck, or perhaps was too like him.
and so made less clear impression. Caliban. how
ever was a most careful, intellectual tsudy; every
point was made to tell, the perfect consistency OF
the creation was brought out, and light shed upon
lines and words that appear but dim in ordinary
reading. How finely was that scene given where
Trinculo and stephano spy the clustering garments
that Ariel had hung out for decoy. aud forget tia
plot against Prospero while they steal them. Wa
feel a certain sympathetic respect for Caiban as hs
cries: