New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-04
THE DRAMA.
SHAKESPEARE AT THI NEE-YOrN.

aaftOr u
either IF the pieces respectfully we'll This difficulty
S,po, beep surinountsd at the New-YOrk meator Tho
,omp,ay there collected is "a thing OF shrcds and
c,tchc, "a blanket the alarm Of fear caught up"
II hacked As You Like It." on Monday evening and it
,,.,y,,d Romeo aud Juliet" Wednesday The san
violence however, was not so painfully evident
IN IN, srt occasion as it the last over the repre-
s,t,,p of As You Like 1t the beauty and sweetness
Mr.. scottsiddOns cast sOeuing light ana redeem
i,y charm But the representation Of "RomeO and
I,lie must be recorded almost unmitigated mas
Many OF the performers ignorant Of the language
ofshlkcspcare reSOrted to free indulgence IN their
own which doubtless adequate the emergencies OF
everyday life, but which had singular aud remark
able c'c under the peculiar circumstances The repro
sentative OF Friar Laurence yertable phenomenon
m thi. particular; and for dropping into prose, in q
friendly way, he may be said 10 wear the belt. Vlsor
Os prpmper, remote in his secluded CELL cO0perated
with the improvisations of this player and much
nauccj their effect The MCrctti0 spoke words Of
poetry the voice OF old Connecticut, and seemed, after
each speech to be devoutly thankful that il we'll
The Nurse spilled large quantities Of the letter h,
but thoughtiuy picked up that consonau now and then
and avoided monOOny. The Romeo was just sufficiently
ardent 80 suggest aged oyster, Of more than ordi
uarily phl1sOphc bent Once. indeed, in the balcony
scene did address himself 10 notion" and waved his
sword at tine lovely Juliet and lowered like Saladin on
tho tented field At other times his c0mpOsure was
sublime. lie was kndlenough however to kill OF seve
raj bad players, in the OF the performance, and
thu he did in particularly perempory and rthless man
ner-knocE NJ down their opposing swords with blow
ana knocking them down with anohcr so that when at
fast he slow his noble self, by potent poison u
felt to be an act Of impartial TctrlbuuVe
Justice and was witnessed with cheerful resignation
Upon surroundings such these ADLER and more ac-
.ompshed actress than Mrs. ScOtsddOns in the char
tcer ~ Jlic would have failed 10 throw an inspiring
glamour, It's fact significant Of the adys claims.
and 81 tho kindly interest she has aroused that she was
abo to hold her audience all. She did hold them.
laweyer in attentive mood from first 10 laSt-and
his IN spite of the fact that her Jtci crude per
orlnanec It's merits stated when say that was
earnest Intelligent, and sweet The best art IN II was
howu the with the NgSs after her return from
romeo Gulish petuance graceful impctuosty, and dc
iciouS assumption Of a simple. tender coaSiuC MOOD,
made ms charming In the tragic scenes on the
contrary Mrs. Scott.sddons eyuccd little more Than
good intentions. she doubtless knows how Juliet ought
% interpreted but it thing know and another
thing 10. She has little passion and less power and
Tiej without abundance Of these IS nothing some day.
As so progrcssesaud that she rprogress there is no
loom Tor doubt-her Julot Will become very good
.ndeed Juliets 80. But at present II
inchOate piece Of work Ii lacks
svernes symmetry the fire Of the heart distinguished
rom tho lire OF the mind and that gradual unfold
ING scceleratve growth which the character is so
panly undergo in the tragedy, beneath the dis
sino OF experience. In thus indicating the defects OF
Mrs ScOttSddonss acting, we have, of course neither
the wish the intent clltr oie
Is an unusually gifted woman and, although her profes-
extends period of only three years,
he already OutsIipped many competitors ia the race
Tor fame When preensions are made however on
behalf Of theatrical beginners whatever be their talent
10 necessary, and not ungTacOus 10 meet them with
frank judgement In that belief We dsclam sympathy
with those who that the appearance on the New
York ala ge OF lady who is young, talented and hand
sOme oughtto convulse society, and does IN fact herald
a grand dramatic regeneration The tone OF certain
articles the English press caused US TO form an exalted
ideal oi the powers and performances OF Mrs ScottSd
dons. before she came to this country. When she
lid ccme.-appearns here as readeF,-she seemed to
Justify that IDEAL But, subjected to the test OF acting
she teaches the folly or premature enthusiasm
Her place IS in The stock company at Waacks Theaer
Booths. To either Of the theaers we have named
shs would he very useful. In the time 1t would
lie Wise for the manager Of her theatrical fortunes to
consgn to obviOus secuson the portrait Of her great
ancestor" which now hangs in the hall OF the New
York Theater and TO desst from superfuous alluson
90 that renowned parsonage. Mrs. Scott-sddoDs has
merit enough Of her own and her advancement Will only
s imPeded by the effort TO make people compare her
with their idea OF the mighty actor Of past age
In tao performance Of THE School for Scandal" there
was hitlo TO admire. The comedy as all are aware
requires entirely brilliant acting on the part OF all the
performers and complete concord OF talent purpose
an1 spirit What 1t requires 1t by no means received
Iresk grew 50 familiar DC Btoerabe The scandal
scenes were noisy without meaning and protentous
without elegance. So many angular people In so many
false postions surely seen before As 10 the
Iady 7cae OF Mrs ScotSiddons IL was no better than
A 1sGcr's dozen OF the Lady 7ed-teS OF the dramatic
peod while il cannot for instant be tolerated beside
tho s,sor representations Of that character to which
the loodi stage has been accustomed. To hop about
the stage like a chestnut a hot shovel Is not
by any means to realize sberidan's portrait Of the
brilliant woman Of fashion OF the most polished OF
social ,-riods The cast comprised Mr. Davidge as SIR
J,,,, Nr, wilkins as Mrs C0ndoW, Mr.. Mortimer
CHARTS surface and Mr. Hind as Crobtee The part OF
Ro,s,,, wa, discreetly acted by Mr. Egbert, whose
name - new TO u.s. of the pleasant features Of the
was orchestral mnsic furnished by Mr.
Ti,snson players 1t will thus be seen that If the pie
WAS NOT very good there some redeemng traits in
Tn. r,a,s Mrs Scott Sddons will remain here one week
long. -
BROADWAY THEATEB.
ireland as 1t Was " and Connecticut Court
ship" have beenl played at the Broadway Iheater
since Monday evening The former is an OLD affair
and needs no introduction. II has lost none OF lts
pscu,rties in the lapse Of time. Aimed at the middle
man sy,cm that used TO Ireland by making the
Iaa,or stranger the condition and character OF his
trp.n., u suggests, albeit IN rough nartisc way
,iti,e state Of things among the poor peasantry One
cene m t. though entirely passive, quite touches the
ha.r by depicting the parting OF exes from their native
land Mingled with this serious element are the
old conc eements-the quick motherwit OF the
Irishnal full current OF brOgue and barney the eX-
uberaut animal spirits the comic dance, and the comic
gong For the story-it must not be touched roughly
lest 10 fsii 10 pieces Scoundres not so befooed in
life iAey in extravagant dramas, nor does Lord
Sy,0is come home in disguise TO do justice and dif-
fac l 1pness What need however 10 touch the story
atari lis tale and often old'-fOr the thousands
secn and laughed at Mr Williams as Rogged fa
aud Mrs Williams as Judy OTrOL The audience OF Mon