The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-29
AM USEM EN- rs.

AM USEM N rs.
BooTn's TnEArRE-At a time when the stage OF
this city is abandoned TO the inantes OF dialect
plays with their vulgar repetltions. or to scarcely
less Objectionable expOsitiOns OF fast lie in what
We have been accustomed TO regard respect
able circles, it is not wonderful that the ap-
pcarance OF a true ariste should call forth an I'M
wOnted degree Of popular enthusiasm. Whatever
the intrinsic value OF Miss Cushmans acting may
be 1t is undoubtedly increased by contrast. With
out adopting the somewhat exaggerated euloges
that have been passed upon her by friendly critics.
who were, no doubt as much moved by the memory
Of what Miss Cnshman was as by her present force,
We admit that at this moment she stands
al0nc the brilliant evening star OF the dramatic
sky. And her glory and brightness are rendered
more striking and effective by the intense gloom by
which she IL surrounded. When ten years ago Miss
Cushman stood among US IN The very ripe maturity
OF her physical and intellectual powers her original
ana f0rclbe dclneatiOn or dramatic characters, es
peciay OF the weird bag Meg Merrilies, left such
deep impression the public mind that the shadow
Of her former gIorles more than half conceals the
weakness that nature inherlts from time, and
strongly influences the appreciation Of the hour.
We do not complain that IL is So but we object, in
the interest OF high art TO the Ignoring
OF fact which Is painfully apparent. IL
Is In no spirit OF unkiDdness nor OF
hypercrtcism that we remind Miss Cushman OF q
truth that she than any other must feel. Age,
even when, as in her case, 1t comes gently and
almost regretfully is ever fatal 70 physical vlgOr.
The weak body wears out before the strong intel.
ect; and, though the soul may continue tO burn to
the last with youthful fire, the medium OF express
ing the passions and impulses halts and Wcaries in
| the performance. IL Is impossible to look upon
Miss Cushman and not 10 feel this truth. The INTEL
lect Is still vigorous, but The ply steal organs lack
| the combined strength and mobility which convey
fOrcible impressions without evidenctng effort IT Ia
| no fault and no rcprOach TO Miss Cushman that
| IL is so. If there be blame 1t belongs 10
envious nature, that delights the fruit almost
as it has rpened. AS there is nothing cter
| nal in this world the brightest inteects must be-
| come dull and the strongest physical powers decay
1t Is useless to syrugge against time hope recall
our youth or Its tiiumDhs; and II we will continue
| TO struggle when the days for combating have
| passed must do so under uniavOrable conditions
can 1t be expected that former glory should be
| accepted in place OF present power.
In selecting the character Of Queen Catharine on
the occasion of her temperance Miss Cushman has
| shown thorough appreciation OF the influence Of
| time. Had she chosen 10 select one Of the DID,
familiar characters calling for continued violent
ertiOn the change nat mas been wrought would have
| been still more perceptble. The well-pOised
matronly character, with its mingled pride OF queen
and tepderul, womanly weakness which Shaks.
pear has drawn, calling for judciOus rather than
| powerful acting, is admirably suited to the Miss
Cushman OF 10 day. There IS Just enough OF force
required In the more striking scenes to enable the
actress to exhibit some Of the Old fire and the bold
ness OF conception which made her In the shadow
ful past famous, and gave her great name, which
| imposes its glory on new generation. The DIM.
| culties in the way or successful rendering OF
shakspeare,s Queen Catharine are not incon-
siderable So much OF the actress power Is coll
| veyed by face mobile and expressive, but Ger.
family neither good-Iookns n3r aaeenIy that It IS
naturally be looked for in. the daSsh.
runs through tie personatoi until the last act
Here it suits admirably, but ratheras the expression
| OF lassitude and physical weakness III the woman
than a spiritual qualify OF the queen. That air
OF dignity for which We contend Is markedly absent
In the scene in the council chamber, though the pc.
tition beginning
lam solicited, not By few.
And those OF tue condition, that your subjects
is delivered with great effect ana wOmany feeling.
The elocutien Is perfect, and reveals the educated
action IS studied ana appropriate to the conception
but 1t Is the pleading OF an amable. matroniy
Of a queen to her partner. Excellent as is
| the rendering, we think the queen Is too
bec o ' Natural enough IN the later scene
| when sorrow and misfortune have overwhelmed
sell, "a poor. weak woman" but that she should
exhibit the same CHARACTERISTICS under The widely
| different conditions I'm which she appears in the
| council chamber seems not warranted by logic In
the trial scene Miss CushDlan 1egains much Of her
early vlgOr. Here both The qualities ana defects or
| the fmpersOnatlOn become visible The cOncep-
ZION OF the scene is strong ana there is wanting
c-rtain dignity, but II Is accompanied by stagl-
ness OF carriage that intereres with the effect. Hut
In the appeal 10 the Kings love the feelings OF an
honest woman and loving wife, whom not even IN
justice could turn away IRON her lord rendered
with great force AS display Of artistic power we
should choose the passage
ala abou. to weep
in which we see the Queeny pride struggling for
mastery with wOmany weakness. Admirably con-
tent anger. For the first time, the daughter of
King that speaks. up to this point we listened 10
mnan. in ne o Where e G SG sns s f c
queen leaving the court, Miss Cusnman excrts all
her strength and displays wonderful intensity.
Were IL not that time has robbed the voice OF It's
richness OF tone and vbratory strength we might
forget, in the passionlal' burst OF indig.
nation leaving the court, the years that
weigh down the actress IL 49, however Impossible
to avoid perce!vng the traces Of time. they are
continually thrusting themselves upon notice.
and though our admiration for the way In which
they arc covered up by consummate art makes US
see In these natural detects but another triumph OF
genius, yet we cannot ignore their presence. Some
OF the critics, IN their haste TO eXtOl tile physical
preservation OF the great ua0edienne have uncon-
scollsy done her the injustice OF forgetting That it
Is greater honor To rise superior TO the ravages or
time by force OF intellect than TO have been merely
preserved from their wasting influence by strong
animal organization. II anything could increase
our respect for Miss Cushman as an artistic 1t Is the
splendid struggle which she makes with all conquer
ing Time, while visiby bearing traces OF his mighty
power.
The character OF Cardinal Wolsey offers splendid
red for the display of power. Grand and striking,
yet subtle and intriguing as Shakespeare has painted
him. there are few rO'es more calculated to afford
the actor full scope for whatever conceptivc power
may be within MIN. AS c0urtier, statesman,
churchman and intrgucr, full OF The force OF great
talents and overlooking with lofty ambition, WOlsey
offers MS the study OF great mind moved by various
and sometimes contrary emotions, but ever pre-
dominated by all al-absOrblng ambition To picture
such man is al ambition worthy OF great artist,
and the difficulty Of the task makes the effort
honorable. MIR. Creswlck, who fills THIS r0'p, comes
to this country with great English reputation; but
the genius OF Americans differs so widely from that
Of their slower and more p0dding friends across
tue water that IT. may be questioned whether the |
peculiar talent Of THIS actor will be much appre-
dated here as In England Mr.. CresWlck Drlngs to |