Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-21
Eduiu Forrest Is Hau,let.


There was another crowded audience at
Masonic Hall last nightts witness Mr.. For
rests representation Of Hamlet. Many Of
his admirers attended the entertainment
with grave doubts as to his ability to sus-
tain character requiring youth and activi-
ty to render it appropriately. But an agree
able disappointment awaited them. Genins
triumphed ever advanced years and made
quate stage machinery, and the veteran of
the stage repeated the victories Of his earlier
manhood. In his representation Of HAM
let, Mr.. Forrest Is unique,
the conception of others in this great mas
terpiece of the immortal bard. This differ
ence was so noticeable as to attract the at
tention of many in the intelligent audience,
who evinced their appreciation of the mas
ter's skill by frequent applause. During
the progress of the play we heard COMPARE
sons instituted between the Hamlet of
Mr.. Forrest and that of Mr.. Murdoch
"Hyperion to a Satyr." We have seen
Murdoch in bis prime and Forrest in the
autumn of bis life, each as the delineator of
the character, and it is simply ridiculous to
make comparison between them. There
was more grandeur in the soliloquies of
MI. EOtItcJ itcb btf1u We CNCE CApCCJ
| to hear again, more natural and truthful
acting, and more correct elocution, than It
viii ever be the lot of Mr.. Murdoch to pos
| sess.
Mr.. Forrest was well sustained by the
| company throughout. The Polonius of
| Mr.. Church we have never seen better rem
dered. Mr.. McCauley is not as good in the
Ghost as he Is in living characters, but the
|
not be improved. Miss Bailey did excel
lently well as the Queen. Her interview
with Hamlet was highly creditable, and this
was one Of the. best scenes of the play.
Mrs. McCauley's Ophelia was more than
ordinary and Whiting as the King was very
good.
In connection with the present engage
ment of Mr.. Forrest, it is not out of place
to give short historical sketch of the great
actor. He was born in Philadelphia,
| March 8, 1906, and consequently is nearing
the Goth year of his age. From an early
age he manifested a prediction for the
stage, and in his 18th year PERFORMED female
parts in the South Street Theatre in Phila-
! delphia. A year later he assumed male
parts, and on Nov. 20, 1920, made his
debut at the Walnut street theatre as young
Norval in Homes tragedy of douglas"
A protracted professional tour in the West
ern cities of the Union ensued, and Forrest
returned to the seaboard with considerable
reputation for histrionic ability. After sue
| cessful engagements at Albany and Phila-
| delphia, he appeared before New York
audience in July, 1926, in the part of Othel-
10. His fine natural capacities and the vigor
of his personatiOn made favorable
impression, and the popularity he
subsequently, enjoyed may be said to
! date from this occasion. For several years
he acted in the principal theatres Of the
| Union, appearing as OthellO, Macbeth,
Hamlet, Richard Ill, and in other promi-
nent Shakspearean parts, and also in num-
Der of plays by American authors, the most
successful of which were "Metamora," writ
ten for the actor by John A. Stone,
the "Gladiator," by DR.. Bird, and
'Brutus," by j. Howard Payne. In
1884 he visited England, and acted
his principal characters with consid-
cradle success, for which he acknowledged
his obligations to Mr.. McCready, who had
shown him much attention. He again Wis
tied England in 1887, and the third time in
| 1874, where he remained for two years.
On this occasion rupture occurred in the
| friendly relations which had previously sub
sisted between Mr.. Forrest and Mr.. Nc
! Cready, and to the zeal with which Mr..
Forests friends espoused his quarrel has
been ascribed the serious riot which took
place in Astor place New York, May 10,
! 1849, during an engagement of Mr.. Nc
Cready at the Astor place opera house.