The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-08

THE ACADEMY OF NUSIC-MR. NEIL WAR
SER.-Thc weather last evening was bad enough
to make the most inyetcratc playgoer think
twice before venturing through the rain and mire
to even the allurng entertainment offered them
at the Academy OF Music. In spite OF wind and
weather. however, fine and fashionable audi
ence greeted Mr.. Neil Warner and the farorite
company which support him, in their reappear-
ance on Charleston boards
The opening piece was "The Merchant OF VEN
lce,n play In which, more perhaps than In any
other OF Shakespeare's plays, except Hamlet"
the dramatic interest is concentred upon
one leading character. Shslock, the Jew,
Is one OF those marvellous creations which
have passed into the intellectual expression
Of humanity, as hy-words and proverbs. Like
all of Shakespeare characters, however, he is
less tHpe III IN an indirdnal, and gains his typi-
cal truth really by the force and intcnseness OF his
individuality. In any other hands 'ShylocE"
would have been simply the ideal symbolic Jew,
not one, but oil his tribes epitomc Shakespeare,
on the contrary, makes him quite otherwise.
"Shylock'S" Judaism Is rather subtle under.
current, touching and tinging all his thought
and action, and only in orer-mastering passion
breaking forth into light. In his more tranquil
moods the mans identity controls the nationa.
stamp; he is "Shylock,n and not the Jew OF the
Rialto; lie is q passionate, avariclous, malignant
man, eXcusing even to himself his cruelty to An
tonic by eXalting his revenge into rctribution for
his peoples wrongs aIti sublimating his own per-
sonal hate into grand national vindication
The governing and inspiring impulse Of his &C.
tion therefore, has its root in the mans own per.
no1t hn nJn m manifestation OF
his passion is controlled by his Hebrew blood and
nature 1t Is this popularity which has given
sShylock" far deeper hold on the universal con-
sciousness than il he had been merely the COM
mon typical Jew.
Mr.. Warmers conception OF ''Shyloek" is, We
think, artlslcally correct. he Is not the fawning,
cringing Jew OF some impersonations-hls Shy
lock Is too proud to cringe; and when forced TO
dlssemble, in order to compass his ends, he
does it, Us it were, under protest, and
holds his passion straininS at the leash.
This dominant idea moulds his whole action, and,
in its consistent and symmetrical development,
displays to admirable advantage Mr. Warmers
great talent as an artist and an actor. AS In oil
his roles, his play OF countenance was wonder
fully correct and effective, and his final exit after
his defeat was masterpiece OF bafled rage and
passion.
Mr.. Warner was eXcellcntly supported. The
whole cast OF the play was fairly sustained, and,
In some special Instances, as MT. Fanhin's can
tonio,n Mr.. O'Neil's "Bassanio" and Mr.. Ryan's
"Iancelot Gebbo," moro than usual success was
attained
Miss Eldridge played "Portia" with her accus.
toned grace, and, in the court scene, was most
fair "Danlel come to Judgment" Miss AeXau-
der, in both looks and action, was charming
sJesslca."
''The Tanning OF the Shrcw," which followed,
exhibited Mr.. Warmers versatile ability in thor
oughly contraSted role. The story Of katherine
and Petruchio is one OF the most charming in
Shakespeare. Adapted like many other OF his
plots from foreign original, the English poet has
here greatly improved upon Ariosto's piece; and
the tanning OF the obstinate, sel-wled girl by the
rough, capricious, rcsolute man, makes one OF
the pleasantest love.comedles in the world.
Mr. Warmers "Pctruchio" was one OF the most
thoroughly natural pieces OF acting we have ever
seen. His ";aming'' was certainly done con
an,ore. and was highly relished by the house.
Miss Ellridge made . hit in "Katherine" only
second to her great success in "Beatrice." She
played the shrew With yigor, force and spirit, and
the conquered wife with grace and resignation.
She attained also to more natural play OF eX-
preston than We have yet observed in her.
Altogether, the performance last evening was
most thoroughly successful, and we are glad to
see that Mr. Warner will have sd able and efficient
support in the standard roles In which he Is to
appear this week.
Tonight he plays Richard III. During his late
starring tour to Baltimore and Augusta his Rich
ard was declared to be the best and most finished
Of his presentations. Freed from the embarrass-
ments under which his former performance here
labored, he cannot fail to 90 the same justice to
1t this evening.