The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-04

though based on facts, differs in some import
ant particulars from history. Jack Cade was
an Irish rebel who fled to France, and, at a
time of great popular dissatisfaction in Eng.
land passed over to that country, and, assum-
ing the name of Mortimer, a relative of the
Duke of York, raised the standard of rebellion
in Kent in 1910, and took his stan1 with TWEEN
ty thousand men ON Blackes tn where he inter-
changed correspondence with King Henry
vi, and made known the griefs of his COM
panions. He defeated the royal troops, enter
ed London in July, and if he could have kept
his forces from pillage and refrained from the
hanging of two of the Kings ministers, the
rebellion might have been successful. But the
outrages committed by men unaccustomed to
power aroused the citizens, and in few days
he met with his first defeat. A promise Of
pardon dispersed most of his followers and
Cade fed, was overtaken, and killed.
In the pay Cade calls himself Aylmere, dis
claims the impression that he is of noble descent
to his followers, and also to Lord Say when he
encounters him in the forest, telling Say (wheu
that proud peer informs him that his rank was
bestowed upon him by the King) that his own
patent of nobility was created by God. At the
close of the tragedy Cade meets with his death
from wound inflicted by poisoned dagger at
the hands of Lord Say. In history, il we are
not mistaken, his head was cut off by an es-
quire of Kent.
The real reason for the instruction of 154O
was the same that has caused tie people of
Spain to throw off the yoke of the Bourbons
at the present day-the influence and extor-
tions of the priesthood. The Parliament sup
ported Cardinal Beaufort and crowned Henry
VI, and the real success of the rebellion was
owing to the assumption of the name of Nor
timer by Cade, a nobleman who was consider
ed by the people as the legitimate heir to the
throne.
The author of the play has chosen to weave
his plot on the presumed hatred between lux
urious nobility and a hard working peasantry
the mobiles despising the commons and treat
ing them with every indignity, and the COM
mons at last turning upon their oppressors.
The language is very forcble, the dramatic
situations very effective, and the sympathy of
a republican, audience is in accord with the
rebels from the rising of the curtain. When
the audience is interested in the sentiment of
Tue plSCo AtS suCCcsS IS E6ueTdlly aSsureQ even
If played by inferior actors.
Me'amora, Spartacus and Jack Cade have
been called the robust drama. We do not dis
pute the classification. Voices are raised to
the highest bitch, female shrieks rend the air,
and all the passions are portrayed in their
strongest colors. We preferred Mr. Forrest as
Othello. 1t Is true that rude, unlettered man
like Cade is more apt to give vent to his griefs
and passions before spt ctators than man OF
education. The latter mourns and RACES in the
solitude of his own house and wells his sorrows
from the public eye, 1t is true that Mr. For
rest is very effective and interesting in the
scene where his wife brings the news to him,
and the conspirators, that Say has burned his
house and killed his mother. But we do not
enjoy being kept in state of intense turmoil.
The continual "pling up the agony" the roar
ing and stamping tire you out before the play
is finished. The separation of words such as
Colise-um-with long emphasis on the Sc; the
rolling Of the as in tr-r-r-emble-is an elocu-
ton that will not please the refined audiences
of this year of our Lord, 1867. 1t may be the
way Cade would have done, but we don't think
he would No! with all its faults Otht Ito was
comparatively tame to Jack Cade.
The other actors, with the exception of Lord
Say and Marianne, had very little to do Miss
Lilies has got the right conception Of Cade's
wife but her voice has not body enough, it is
too light. She acted very wellin Iced, and died
gloriously. Miss Myers did the little she had
to do very WELL Mr.. Myers Hooked the black
smith to perfection. Mr.. Clark was good in
his part which was not an important one. In
fact the play is Jack Cade, and Jack Cade is
the only important part in it. We presume
this is the last time we shall ever see Mr. For
rest In Portland, but we thank him for giving
us performances which possess other merits
than sensation scenes, beer saloon songs and
low wit