Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-09
BOOTHS THEATER.
The Finest Theater in the
United States.
Fine Aciing---SpIendld Scenery
and Appointments, etc, etc.

Booths thester is the statellest, the
handsOmest, and the best appointed
structure Of It's class that can now be
found on the American continent.
To say that the new thester was opeged
last night is to say that il was densely
crowded In every part. There had been
vile storm prevalent, of rain and snow,
! and the streets were in condition that
was powerfully hostile to the pedestrian.
Nevertheless, q great company Of people
representing the culture, the msglste-
rial dignity, and the fashion OF the city
assembled TO witness the Inauguration Of
the new dramatic house. Human cFeR-
lures, at their best, excited by an intel
lectusl impulse, and gathered amid sur
rOundings that are worthy of their high
mood, always presents q msi specta-
Gle. such spectacle Wes seen last night
at Booths theateT. 1t was an audience
that would have honored any occasion
in the world, and its presence gave to
this one an Irresistible charm OF intellect
and refinement.
Ghe aspect of the auditorium was al
together brilliant. Under z clear and
strong light, from the great central cGaE-
delier and from 3 wilderness OF Jets
around the tops Of the walls, GaribsldPs
decorations, in fresco and in Italian mar
bic csment, stood boldly out, and showed
ike what they are-deiicate works OF
art, that is, in which thought finds en-
biems, and fancy takes expression, and
| happy combinatiOns Of color satisfy the
/ sense OF beauty. Liberal as the GecOrs-
ton is, however, there is nothing about
/ IL of barbaric wealth and gold" It's
/ luster is less than the luster of the stage.
/ The eye is not first GszEied and then dis
/ appointed. Delicate cOlors UrevBil; and
/ behind Mr.. r Issell Smiths handsome
/ act-drop, there is brighter passage than
I can be seen before il. All tastes must
nave been conscious, last night, Of GER
tain satisfaction In this sy mmetrical cor
I Fespondence between the house and the
stage. There is, certainly, a great virtue
/ in I" the fitness Of things Jas was lOng
ago pointed out by the tutor in F'eidings
immortal navel, Last nights perform
ancs was preluded by Mr.. AlollenhsQsr's
music. IL was expressly arranged for
this occasion by the able director OF the
orehestra-s performer whose works have
been characterised by pisinttve, poetic
tone, and d dominant purity OF taste. Ii
is much to say, and it may rightly be
said, that the music fitted both the time
and place. II began with the Star
Spapgled Bsnner." Mr.. Booth then
came before the curtain aad addressed
the audience so soon as its storm OF sp-
plsuse had died away. Bsfore the cur
tain rises on our play" he said, " let me
bid you welcome, warm IS heart can
make it, to my new theater. II has long
been my desire to build q thester that
might be regarded as worthy Of our great
metropolis ana st last my ambition is
resliz d, and by the kind cooperation Of
my valued friend Mr.. Robertson, I am
enabled to offer this one. l should, how
ever, be unworthy OF this success did
now fail to acknowledge the unVarying
kindness whereEith the public OF NsW
York has ever chesred ne On cay pEo-
fessiOnal pathway. For two years
have been absent from you; and in that
time have worked very hard, and en-
duTeG much anxiety as was naturally
the case, with such an enterprise as this
upon my haHds. But now I have re-
turned, once more l trust 20 enjoy the
sunshine Of your favor. When the Win
ter Garden was burned, l had been an
nOuHced to play Romeo; and It has
seemed to me ht that l should resume
my professional lgbors before y0u pre-
cisely at the point where they were so
abruptly ended. For such defects as
may bs noticeable ia the working Of the (
scenery tonight, solicit your indul- /
gence. 0nce more ! siEcerely thank .
you for your presence These remarks, /
which We give frOm memory were re- 4
csived with frequent and mani.esIly cor .
dial applause. When Mr.. Booth retired .
the orchestrs performed its overture, and f.
thereafter the representation began.
In choosing "R lmeo and juliet" for
mis- opening piece, Mr. Booth has evinced /
a cOmmendabls desire to leave q some
what haekneysd walk Of the drama. He
might have played " Hamlet" and
everybody knows how he would have
produced the tragedy, and how he would
nave portrayed the prince. he is iden-
titled with that character, and doubtless
at later tine be will let bis persOuRtiOn
OF 1t be seen sgsin. Ia the meanwhile
be opens the new theater with sub
stSntiRlly new performance. Rlmeo
and Juliet" hss never been seen upon
our stage with such appropriate and
beautiful scenic accessories as gave it IL
lustTatiOn last night; nor has MIR. Booth
ever personated Romeo with such studi.
Gus care as his acting then revealed.
The piece, il seeCls supeft1Ous to say,
affords abundant scope for the skill Of
the scenic artists, and for the talents OF
the players. That opportunity has been,
to q large extent, improved. Picturesque
Italian streets, luxurious gardens, gay
and bright interiors, and the solemn,
cypress shaded precincts of the tomb
unite in the ever-ehRuging picture, and
create such an absorbing illusion that
the spectator of the loves, happiness,
sorrow and wretched fate OF Romeo and
j Juliet may follow the 1 with 3 sense Of
their reality and nesrness, as II he were
indeed living in remote psst, walking
about the streets aud partaking of the J
current experience of Verona and Man ,
tua three hundred years ago. Two ar
fists Of high repuse, WIthAm and Hill ,
yard, have united ia producing these
scenes. To describe all the pic ures in
detail would require columns There is
literally no limit to the ricnness Of this
element in the representation. The ,
great scenes are ths hall in CapQleps
palace, the garden Of Capulst by moon ,,
light, the chamber Of Juliet, the loggia ,
leading thereto, snd the convent csme- )
terry. L tch of these elicited the enthu- !
siasm of the audience, and all deserved
it. At more leisure We shall revert TO ]
these stage paint ngs. They are ia every !
way worthy OF tbs tragedy, snd they !
an ply satisfy the expectation that had !
been aroused concerning them. Both !
scenery and costume, we should say,
conform to the time when the piece was :
period between 1899 and !
1900. IN
Last nights performance, though far s
rom being perfect, was full of the spirit '
Of zeal and study that 2 thoughtful critic I
must wish 10 see predominant. To the '
reception accorded to Mr.. Booth we have /
already referred, His acting, as Romeo, {
showed the utmost study. His readings, i
rave for q few slipe, ocessloned by worry,
Hege bafe. His passion was ardent. His q
misery was poetic and picturesque. His
qualities OF temperament and c
person were seen to be no less alert and 3
telling than In other days. Oar indiyid- v
lal impression is, though, that the per- c
'ormsnce lacked in WhOIe-hearted pas t
ZION and in certain dashing msnliness t
IF personality which the Romeo of s
seems to US to possess. Still, E
Mr.. Booths peEsonation was full OF art; U
and during the closing scenes in partlcu- Q
ar, be mpletely,mergsd himself Ia the a
,glm desperation OF a heart-broken man. I
It is in these twilight states of psssional b
exeerience that the nature and talents Of U
mis- actor find their most expressive ex- v
PRECISION. His great point, last night, r
vas the killing Of Tybalt, and for his Y
derry energy here he was complinented d
By special recall. Miss Mary MeVicksr e
enacted Juliet. She has hitherto been 8 K