The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-04
HAMLET At THE ACIDEMT.
Engagement of Ny. Neil Warner, tho
English TraScdinn.

1t is q moot question whether the subtle
| re1nemcnts OF the creations OF ShaSespeare's
genius may not be better understood by the stu
dent in his closet, than by him who only witness
es their counterfeit prescntment as they lret
| their hour on the stage: but certain it is that
every one OF the eager hundreds who witnessed
the performance of Hamlet at the Academy ol
Music last night, was richly repaid all his trouble,
and went away into The winter streets with his
every anticipation of pleasure far more than full
llled So many years had passed since the Prince
of nmark had trod the Charleston boards that
the public were anxious to behold once more the
tragedy which awed theiryo or charmed their
mature age The graybearls, the city fathers, the
men who remembered, family or vividly, Macrea-
DIV, ,yandenhon, and the elder Booth, were ready to
watch and discuss the newly arrived tragedian.
And, besides these, there were the younger props
OF the community, who knew just enough OF the
Muse to believe that their first beholding OF
Shakespearian play would be an event in their
lives. So the Academy Of Music was crammed
from floor to roof.tree. The aisles were filled; no
room was left for lateco:rers who were willing
to stand during the performances; hundreds OF
would-be spectators were turned away from the
DOORS In every particular the audience was the
best that Charleston has given the drama this
season; and the tragedy, nearly without eXcep-
ton, was worthy of the audience.
Mr. Warner, on his first appearance, created
| most favorable impression. Ofgraceful and conf
manding presence his lineaments bear striking
general resemblance TO the portraits OF John
wilkes Booth which are familiar to most OF our
readers. His dress was the customary black vel
vet; but in no other respect did he tie himself to
the traditions of the part His delivery Is clear
and impressive, showinga rich fund Of reserved
power; and even in the most passionate out
bursts, there was nothing OF the rant in which
tragedians of the Forrest school nre wont to in
dulge The style in which the soliloquies were
given was especially striking. While making the
usual points, Mr.. Warner contrived to give new
shade Of meaning to many familiar passages; and
his acting was marked throughout by finished
style and evidences of deep thought. These were
seized upon BY the audience with evident plea
sure, and the satisfaction with which his efforts
were welcomed was almost too deep to find ex-
preston in manual or pedal applause.
The Polorius Of Mr.. Parker like most OF his
presentations, was an excellent piece or acting;
and, next to Hamlet, was the decided triumph OF
the evening. Mr.. Wood played Lacrtes with
spirit and taste. We wishswe could say as much
for Mr.. Read, who was cast as the King, but
who we thought, was not particularly klng-like
either In his makeup or action. His voice, too,
was somewhat malred by the clumsy addition OF
artificial moustaches. Altogether the King was
the weakest point in o performance ce the general
excellence OF which it is pleasure to commend.
Miss Edridge as ophelia, acted and sang
charmingly. The power and versatility which
this young lady already displays in parts so wide
ly different auger favorably for her future drama
tic career. Miss Alexander, as the player-Qucen,
acquitted herself well, as she always does. Mrs.
Eldridge performed the part Of the guilty Queen
with spirit that We had hardly expected from
the 'old ladyn OF the comedies. The scenic ar
rangements and costumes were excellent, and
the play passed OF with o smoothness and eclat
that were as gratifying to the audience as they
were credltable to the management. =
Richelicu for Tonight.
Tonight Mr.. Warner will appear for the first
and only time In Bulwers splendid tragedy OF
Richelieu. The administration Of the great Car
dinal, whom despite all his darker qualities)
volsaire and history Justly consider the true ar
parent Of French civilization, Is characterized BY
features alike tragic and comic. weak king
an ambitious favorite; despicable conspiracy
against the minister, nearly always associated
with dangerous treason against the State
these, with little variety OF names and dates,
constitute the eventful cycle through which, with
q dazzling ease, and an arrogant confidence the
great luminary fulfilled its destnies. Blent
together In startling contrast, we see the grand
est achievements and the pettiest agents-the
spy-the mistress-the capuchin-the destruction
OF feudalssm-the humiliation OF Austria-the dis
memberment Of Spain. Richelieu himself is still
what he was in his own day-a man OF two char
acters. If, on the one hand he is justly repre-
sented as innexible and vndctive, crafty and
unscrupulous, so, on the other, 1t cannot be de-
MED that he was placed in times in which the
long impunlty Of every license required stern ex-
amples-that he was beset by perils and intrigues,
which gave certain excuse to the subtlest in.
ventlons OF selr.defence-that his ambition was
iuseparably connected with q passionate love for
the glory of his country-and that, If he was her
dictator, he was no less her benefactor. He was
no less generous to merit than severe to crime
In the various departments OF the State, the army
and the church, he selected and distinguished
the ablest aspirants-thc wars which he conduct
ed were, for the most part, essential to the pres
eryation of France, and Europe ITSELF from the
formidable encroachments Of the Austrian House
and he left the kingdom he had governed in q
more fourishing and vigorous state than at any
former period Of the French history, or at the
decease Of Louis XIV.
The cabals formed against the great statesman
were not carried on by the patriotism of public
virtue, nor the emulation Of equal talent; they
were but court struggles in which the most
worthless agents had recourse to the most despe
rate means. In sach We see combined the two.
fold attempt to murder the minister, and to betray
the country. Such, then, are the agents, and
such the designs, with which truth, in the drama,
as in history, requires to contrast the celebrat
ed Cardinal; not Disgusting his foibles, but not
unjust to the grandcr qualities especially the
love Of country by which they were often digni-
fled, and at times, redeemed.
WEEK OF PRAYER.-Diyine services may be
expected, Providence permitting, every night
during this week in the following churches, COM
menclng at O'Clock:
{ Tuesday night-Lecture room Of the Glebe