The New York herald., 1869-03-01
THEATRICAL.

Russian government before the Pope.
THEATRICAL.
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To the philosophic mind there is no study more
curtousy interesting than the moral and intellectual
anatomy Of actors and managers. The knife Of
criticism sktlfuly and firmly applied causes contor-
sions and commissions to which the electric gro
tesqueness Of Galvani's frog forms faint parallel
1t is queer distortion Of theatrical human nature,
dwarfed though 1t be, that every individuafstick
who stalks the stage In rigid pomposity, and
nounces, with bland Indifference to emphasis,
"My lord. the carriage waits" thinks within his
burning bosom that somewhere in his uncouth and
unappreclated frame slumbers the germ OF the
coming actor OF the age. The s'stick" may be
short, thin, blind Of eye, stutterer, lacking
voice, Judgment, expression and feeling, but
he has read the story OF the stage and finds 1t full Of
instances wherein the patient podder In the paths
Of art has In time plucked the greenest honors from
the crownng foliage Of the histrionic laurel. The
immediate result, however, OF this modest self
appreciation and ambition-otherwse quite laud-
able-ls to make these nsstrtones the most unen-
durable creatures the face Of the earth their
quick sensitiveness Is crossed by adverse criticism.
Praise them from the hilltops and the housetops
with the mellinuous echoes OF silver horns to the
tenor tnat such dignity. sucn sweetness, such
grace and fire never Illuminated the stage since
the days OF Betterton, Barton, Booth, Garrick,
Spranger, Barry and these busklned mummers COM
pacently plume their tawdry feathers and looking on
the critic pretty mucn as the noble Honyhnhms
looked on the degraded Yahoos exclaIm, ''This
gentle Yahoo actually tries to appreciate men On
the other hand, II the sticks genius is disparaged
by so much as hint that his superior ever lived or
that he fails to fully express his authors conception,
his rage and contempt know no bounds. The critic
Is fool has pique against him on account Of sing
ing soubrette, who lavished her smiles on the
.'stick," or has been bought BY his unscrupulous
rival Jinks, the leading man Of the other company
But in spite Of all this the critic has his duty to do
He Ia the sheepdog that protects the lambs OF
theatre-goen from managerial wolves and 1t is
well known that the honest sheepdog cares nothing
for the VOLTS bark, nor breads his bite
The value force OF criticism Is rarely understood
by an actor and need therefore, never be read by
sd for o. e Pc
good memory, presentable fgure and fine voice
natural advantages enjoyed 10 an equal degree by
nearly every red Indian in the land but to early
education subsequent study at their art never
enter their heads that such awaste OF effort would
n at all contribute to their excellence. Very few
actresses or actors read know the story Of the
parts they play or the pieces IN which they appear.
Npey are divided INTO .lown and 'genteel' comedi-
s.sRigngr chambermaids and told ladies'" These
ar all played alike by the 'stock except In famous
paris, which marked out for his feeble mind by
long established stage 'business" and tradition
Ii lY told OF celebrated actor who TO play
Hamlet that in his early apprenticeship he asked MS
look when see my father's ghostf" "Look, look ~
replied this enthusiastic revvalist OF Shakespeare,
sswhy, look as Ii 'ere's rig"
The beautiful and gorgeously dressed Mrs. Hamil-
ton refused once to play for Mrs. Bellamy's benefit
ance. Advhncing to the footlights with delicious
dignity ann sweet fascination, she said In liquid
melody;-"GEntlemen and ladies' suppose as low
| wouldn't 'ctuse she said as low my audience on
my benefit night were nothing but trIpe people and
chronicler goes pn TO say. s.Yet tnis woman could
play Lady Gravtairs admirably" /,
sion for the air juliet, Which we charsctcrized n
recent article as grave blot on performance not
good at the best Tho agile but undignned mpstence
OF feet theattmes udicrous by-play under the arch
OF the balcony which irresistbly suggested the
active. bustllng, glittering harlequin Of pantomme.
instead OF the .porNy gentleman" OF approved de-
meanor, who winsS old Capuet's commendation,
have given place TO the listening fervor Of the en-
rap,uFsa lover VINO Is content a. TO o. stand n modest
the extent OF her ability, which IL yet crude,
but not devoid Of power. That Mr.. Booth
means demonstrates that ne Is actor, would DO
inferred by the weak, ihjudicious and unsklfu de-
ences M which nave eeen hastily thrown up for MIN
the great Garrick, whom the critical world pro-
nounced the paragon Of players, was admitted TO be
apothecary. Barry. his rival in the part, was
adored by the ladies III the balcony scene and
@ % T ps ne e
might have been expected from "Silver ToDgued
Barryn II Mr.. Booth were the ideal poetica Romeo
with melive eye. plaintiff tenderness OF voice, har
onious features and seductive expression, he would
be no representative OF Iag0, Richelicu or Hamlet,
ters most surely establish his pre- eminent claim to
be one OF the unbroken chain OF great actors who
have have adorned the stage Hnce over 200 years ago,
neaux and orange girls Of "yc ancient city, o. Lon.
don. 1t Is written In the fascinating frivolity Of
TER or the frtations OF orange girl with equal
junction. that Bcterton received, in the part OF Ham,
sepeS % ,ns rom wS1 ~ ,as nsd vn 10
SHAKESPEARE. That Betterton well conceived the
subty y drawn character OF the "moopingn Prince
least, the "father OF the English STACEY enjoyed no
advantage over Edwin Booth. He, TOD. sat at the
and w asDp ss asances
of matured wisdom and large managerial expert
ence which made his friend and counsellor the Mes.
brilliant regency. Romcos, though. likt poets, are
born. not made, and when born are seldom nt for
tcipation TO Mr.. Booths finer efforts In tine more
vigorous range OF heroic, manly. stirring pera0na-
lions upon which he viii be glad 70 rest his fame In
Had Mercutio longer life in the play Of aRomeo
anu juliet that mercural, elegant and fasflonabic
comparison Romeo, whose sombre folly and selfish
sorrow makes him no very agreeable or interesting
character TO Q healthy, argc-hearted, generous
audience. Mercutio WINS our sympathies BY his
gayety, wit bravery and chivalric devotonAto the
honor OF his friend, which he chershes jealousy
~ his own When he falls, slain by the treacherous
blade OF fiery Tybat there n awakened feeling OF
regret which lies dormant when Romeo and his truo
love-, Juliet sacrifice themselves TO an exaggerated
and almost unnatural passion In tho tomb of the
Capulets In fact In no portion OF the SAD s.ory
which Shakespeare has woven from that unsupstan-
dial fabric--ovcdoes Romeo rise 10 the dignity 81
true manhood M understood by man, not philo10-
phers 80 grandly NJ when his sword leaps from IT,
BcabDard 10 avenge upon tIie "funous TyDatn
the murder OF his friend. We instlncttsely wish
| hun Godspecd In his crusade OF vengeance aud