The New York herald., 1870-02-15
A M u S T. NJ E N T S.
The melancholy Dane" Prismatically
Portrayed-Fiyc ssHnm!ets" Ineor.
porated With the Metropolis
Last Night.
booths Theatre.

Booths Theatre.
EAILEr IN TosrRY AND rHuosorgY.
Notwithstanding the pc,tng storm iasr night
Booln's theatre was crowded. as usual 10 ITS utmost
capacity. Every seat was occupied. II was ex.
pcclcd by some that this occasion, tho sixth week
OF Booth as Hamlet the audience would be some
what diminished by attractions elsewhere, principal
among which was supposed to be the Hamlet OF
Fechter at Nibo's: but, on the contrary. the
attendance was no lesa great and select
than that which has characterized tho most favor
able nights Tor this theatre TIE audience last even
ing was composed OF the intellectual elite OF New
York. shoddy was not represented, FOR there was
not sufficient appreciation OF genius 70 expose her
robes to the storm. ana there was comparatively
hstle OF that gorgeousoess OF dress generally dis
played In the opera house and theatre But intel
ligence. refinement and literary culture and
appreciation OF true genius were everywhere
observable. II was an audience such as would graf
ify the most ambitious asprant to histrionic fame
and must have given 10 the great actor thrill OF
pride by the recognition 1t mamie ted OF his skill
fidelity as the interpreter OF Hamlet.
This immense attendance OF the intellect OF New
YORK upon so Indictment an evening" especially whcl
long and loudly herad ded actor from Europe was to
give at another theatre his first representation In
this country OF the character which hal been per-
Boosh is convincing testm onlal TO the superiority
OF his genius In this role. He stands recognized
the only true aud faithful exponent OF the poetry
and philosophy or Hamlet Booth, the actor, van
snes from the observation the instant ne speaks
Hamct ana ore the spectator i5 aware Of it he has
himself become fully identified In sympathy with
the impulslve Prince OF Denmark. However IA
mar the observer may be with the text or the
play and the m!nutia Of stage arrangements and
scenic gugcsS. the List eynlDltlOu emotion lay
BoUtL Ia the opening scene vanistes al thought ol
ctltlCaia ana the spectator, yielding To the IliiI-
SION forgets tho audlencc, the orchestra, the
as II by Magic. 10 the city OF tEe royai
Dane. No critic however fusdious or captiOus, can
resist the influences of the occasion. fhe sweetness
o. uamers nature. ms poetry, MS phi iosophy. anu
ncting the circumstances surrounding tie Prince
tnat the spectator uncorsciously becomes hmselI q
member Oi the court, anu otiows wi.h GREATNESS IN
terest The progress OF the tragedy. The King and
queen, PO.onius and Uphea, and al the pomp
and parlphcrnalia OF the mimic palaces ale
transformed by The matchlcss genius OF Booth AMI
become realty roy0,, While Inc lstener dWellS IN Tie
Danish halls until the curtain fails and the orchestra
not until this moment tnlt the superiority Of B10L
Interpretation OF Hanet Is iuliy appreciated Inc
mind then rclects that Booth mas not n1nseil been
recognized except III the applause OF welcome aS no
ilrst stepped oat upon the stage. that all the APP
ponmcnts VI the theatre, It's splendid scenery and
magnificent stage arrangements, have been uu-
noticed and that the painted tapestry Win It's crude
ancestral devices, has Ds:l Tor Lltue changed llto
the fauteSs proportions or q regal palace.
Boosls uani.e 4iyes one . new iuslgnt into tie
human heart aad aWaSen5 emotions touched oy no
other tragedan IN TINS character. lie Is NOT only
Fascinating a3 an actor. but all the beauties ail1
p0l0sopny OF the play are given q new cnarl1 oy
ms toncn, The memory OF wnch lugets long after
the actors In the tragedy are themselves forgotten