The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-18
KING HENRY ".
First Appearance of James H. Haekett.

Tonight Mr. James Fl. Hackett will appear
at the Academy OF Music as "FalstaG' in Tht
| First Part of King Henry ". The action of this
| play begins with the sudden ncursion OF The
Welch under Owen Glend0wer, and ends, in the
acting edition, with the Battle Of Shrewsbury and
death Of Harry Hotspur. In this play the char
acters OF Prince Hal and Hotspur are happily con-
trasted, but all the amiabiity and attractireness
is certainly on the side of the Prince However
familiar he makes himself with bad company, we
can never mistake him for one of them, and his
widest freaks appear merely as witty tricks; for
when the occasion wakes him out of his unruly
levity, he distinguishes himself without effort in
the most chivalroas guise. Percy is rude, arro-
giant and obstinate, but, withal, noble youth.
From the events of the Welch rebellion rise all
the tragic incidents Of the drama, but these
would be inadequate to fill the stage If the serious
events were not interrupted by comedy, Which
is enriched from time to time with new figures,
and which comes to its catastrophe when Henry
banishes the companions Of his youthful ex.
cesses, who had promised themselves rich har.
vest from his kingly favor. In this comedy with
in q tragedy are those joyous "Minions of the
staff. OF Falstatr-"Fat Jackn Schlege, the
eminent dramatic critic, says:
FalstaT is the crown of Shakespeare's comic in
yention. He has, without cXhausting himself,
continued this character throughout three plays,
and exhibited him In every variety or situation;
the figure is drawn so definitely and individually,
that even to the mere reader II conveys the clear
impression OF personal acquaintance. Falstatr Is
the most agreeable and entertaining knave that
ever was portrayed His contemplate qualities
are not disguised-old, lecherous, and dissolute;
corpulent beyond measure and always intent
upon chcrshing his body with eating, drinking
and sleeping; constantly in debt and anything
but conscientious In his choice OF means by which
money Is to be raised; cOwardly soldier, and
lying braggart; a fiatterer Of his friends before
their face, and satirist behind their backs; and
yet We are never disgusted with him. We see
that his tender care OF himself Is without any
mixture oil malice towards othcrs; ne VIII only
not he disturbed in the pleasant repose Of his SEN
suality, and this he obtains through the activity
OF his understanding. Always on the alert, and
good.hunored. ever ready to crack jokes on 9TH
ers and to enter into those OF which he Is himself
the subject SO that he justly boasts he Is not only
witty himself but the of wit In others, he Is
an admirable companion for youthful idleness and
levity. Under helpless exterior, he conceals an
extremely acute mind; he has always at Oom
mand some deXterouS turn whenever any OF his
free jokeybegin to give displeaSure; he Is shrewd
in his distinctions between those whose favor he
has 10 win and those over whom lie may assume
u laInluaT AutuOTlLJ. ac Is sO CouViuCeo tuaI JIG
part which he plays can only pass under the cloak
OF wit, that even when alone lie Is never alto
gether serious, but gives the drollest colortng to
his love intrigueS, his intercourse with Others and
to his own sensual philosophy. Witness his In
imilable soliloquies on honor, on the influence OF
Wine on bravery, his descriptions OF the beggarly
vagabonds whom he enlisted, OF Justice Shallow,
&c. Falstan has about him O whole court OF
amusing caricatures, who by turns make their
appearance, without ever throwing him into the
shade. The adventure In which the prince, under
tire disguise of robber, compcls him to give up
the spoil which he had just taken; the scene
where the two act the part the King and Prince;
Falstaff's behavior In the field, his mode OF rails
ing recruits, his patronage Of Justice Shallow,
which afterwards takes such an unfortunate
turn-all this forms series OF characteristic
scenes Of the most original description, full or
pleasantly, and rcplete with nice and ingenious
observations such as could only find place In
historical play like the present.
Mr.. Hackett is the one great "Falstai7' OF our
time. Veteran Charlcstonians will perhaps re-
member that the same gentleman, more than
thirty years ago, played "Falstan' at the Old thea
tire in Broad street. and at least twenty years ago
played short engagement at the Meeting street
theatre. Even then he drew the whole city in his
train Now he Is melowed and ripened by expe-
rience and time, and enjoys cosmopolitan repu-
tatlon. Good wine needs no bush; but we may
add that In order to play short engagement In
this city, Mr.. Hackett brought to close an emil
ncntly successful season at Booths Theatre
New York.