The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-22
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
Mr., 4. r. MacLay as "FnIstnn.~


view. An enthusiastic audience that filled every
nook and corner Of the auditorium was proper
compliment to one of the most decidedly popu.
lar OF our actors. Mr.. Mackay, for his part,
provided such an entertainment as enhanced
his reputation as an artist and afforded much
qualification to his admirers. The Merry WIues
OF Windsor, one of Shakespeares most lively
and amusing comedies, was selected for the
purpose of allo wing the beneficiary TO appear
as "Sir John Falstaf," by way Of experiment.
Tradition says that this comedy was written in
the shortspac of twenty days, at the command
OF Queen Elizabeth, who was desirous Of seeing
"Falstaf"i In love. Shakespeare was only able
to give her Majesty partial eradication, as 1t
was impossible for him to make "fat Jack" in
love with anybody but his own dear self. lie
pvercame the difficulties OF the situation, how
ever, with much ingenuity, and as q sort of
compromise with his conscience for even at
tempting to represent "Falstafn as a servitor
TO Cupid, he caused him to make love at the
Same time to two married women, who have
him we'll punished for his presumption. The
Merry Wives of Windsor is almost the only play
of Shakespeare which is entirely his own inven-
ton: 1t Is genuine comedy, and 1t Is particu
larly rich in comedy characters. Unlike any
of his other works Of the same class, 1t is a
picture of English life in the sixteenth
century, and the characters are one and all
racy sketches from nature, such as no hand bu
Shakespeare's could draw. Thus we have in the
goodly company "sir John Falstafn and his
ragged followers 'Nym," "Pstol," and Bar
dolph;" "Page,n the even tempered, good
natured, and unsusplcious man, Ford" the
jealous man, and their merry wives; Justice
Shallow and his weak chested cousin "Abra-
1a,n H.. .y,gl II A. no.
CDR. Calus," the French physician, and 'Sir
Hugh Evans, )" the Welsh parson, a comical pair
of antagonists; mistress Quckley," and last,
but not least, "Sweet Anne Page" whose name
"Master Slender" echoes as a refrain through
the scenes of the comedy. These characters
ft the Arch. street company better than those
Of either of the comedies that have been
attempted at that theatre this winter; and the
performance on Saturday evening was unusually
good although on exceptional occasions like
this 1t is scarcely to be expected that the actors
will be up to the highest mark, and benefit
nights are commonly exempted from the ordi.
nary rules of criticism,
''Sir John Falstaff" is rather under cloud in
The Merry Wiues Of Windsor, and he scarcely
shines with the same light that he does in the
more congenial scenes OF Henry the Fourth. He
is the same amusing mountain of sin,n how
ever, and this comedy was probably the most
udicious selection for actor venturing to
represent the part for the first time. Mr.
Mackay's personation of 'Sir john" like all his
efforts gave evidence of careful and intelligent
study. His somewhat slight physique would |
seem to be an objection not easily overcome, |
but 1t overcome very successfully by an inge-
nious makeup" and Mr.. Mackay's rendering of |
the part was so excellent that deficiency of |
few inches in girth or stature could easily be
excused. Hackett and John Gilbert are the |
only two actors now upon the American stage |
who have achieved regulations as representa- |
tives of "Falstaif,n and MIR. Mackay will CON- |
pare favorably with either Of them. Wherein |
he falls short is due more to his physical def
ciences than to any artistic disqualification.
Hackett has made the part special study, and
he plays it according to rule and line. John
Gilbert, who is the better artist of the two,
gives freer, less constrained, and more satis-
factory personation. Gilbert's "Falstaff" has a
wheeziness in his voice, stagger in his gait,
and a shortness of breath which are the very
essence of fatness and which MIR. MacSay
somewhat misses. in place Of this we have the
sort of dry bat sprighty humor which is OBJ
servable in Mr.. Mackay's personation of the two
shakespearian characters that he has lately
attempted at the ArCu. 10 ucuue Tue Vhlue OI
the performance, we may estimate it as a little
better than "Sr Toby Belch," and not quite so
good as "Dogberry." but taking it for what 1t
was worth, it was such representation OF
"Falsad" as few actors now before the public
could equal, aud Mr.. Mackay is entitled to sin
cere congratulations on his success.
Most of the remaining parts In The Merry
TiueS Of Windsor we're very well sustained, and
the performance was one of the most enjoyable
of the season. This is particularly worthy of
note, as the success OF the play depended en-
tirely upon the exertions OF the actors, who we're
not aided by any of the handsome scenic
accessories which served to make Ttoe'fh Night
and Much Ado About Nothing attractive.
Mr.. Everly acted the part of "Ford,h the
ealous husband, admirably. 1t afforded him
some excellent opportunities to exercise his
talents, and the performance may be set down
AS one OF the most spirited he has given at this
season. Mr.. Craig's "Slender'' was If anything
better than his "Sir Andrew Aguecheek" in
TtDe,fh Night, and Mr.. Wallis than whom
there are few more studious and painstaklng
actors gave a capital delineation of Justice
shallow Il is doubtful whether any theatre
in the country has two more efficient "old men"
than this gentleman and Mr.. Mackay,
and we would be very much
pleased TO see Mr.. Wallis in some parts
of a higher grade than he usually plays, In
order that he may show the public what he Is
capable of. Mr.. Barton Hill as "Dr. Csius" and
Mr.. Meagher as "Sir Hugh. Evans" were very