The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-06
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.



conceptions OF the great actors who nave preceded
Mr.. Booth in this part, and though studied with
the greatest care was lacking In the freshness and
holiness which we generally mud IN original con-
ceptions To those who look In the theatre only for
fair exposition OF the text which shall place be-
fore them faithful and judiceus rendering OF the
thought OF the great poet, the performance OF Mr..
Booth must be satisfactory in high degree; but the
more exacting, who demand something more than |
careful reading and refinement In ON actors depOrt-
ment win miss those magnetic ashes OF genius with
which great actors eec,rlfy their audiences. Mr..
Booths representation Is composite conception, and
presents US with curious mixture OF old tradi-
tlonal lugubrious Hamlet and the more robust mod
ern Interpretation OF the character. II possesses
much OF the charm and interest which belongs TO
either, but lacks the quality OF force and Individual
ity which in purely original conceptions more than
atone for defects and shortcomings. We could af-
ford 10 be less pleased Dy being more moved. The
highest quality OF art TO make us forget that ID
art and TO appeal to our feelings by the intimate
sympathy which exists between oil human passions,
aud to this point Mr.. Booth failed TO arrive. Al
those moments when we admired him most IT was the
actor that was In our minds, and we praised his care
or his refinement or graceful action as wondr0us
perfection OF ar but there little real passion
or feeling that we were not once moved To forget
Not little Of e the reEnement Of Booths perform
ance Is due to the modern school OF which Mr.
Bellew 10 the founoer. and his pupil Fechter, the
exp0under; but while the American actor has Dor
rowed much of the grace OF action and correctness
or reading. he has not been able 70 appropriate the
Below ID mot himself an actor, but his powerful
readings have created for him In England dra-
and there u no donbt that to his intelligent direc-
ton Mr.. fechter Is Indebted for much OF his ORA
ton 0 Of he correct Costumes and appolntmonts
which have been reebly copied by the management
A. Booths Theatre Tne interview with me ghost
free from the exaggeratlon into which some
actors are TEMPTED, but the most enecuve
piest improvements made by the moderns ID In the
manner OF following the apparitlon. According 70
the Old tradition Hamlet was made to follow in
Q spirit Of bravado, depending for protection on
his sword; but the mOderns have shown q juster
sioas and religious IN making the Dane depend
for protection on the symbol Of Christianity against
the possible contryance Of me devil me manner
the fourth scene-"I say, away; go on In follow
tnee," displayed wonderful realization OF the
timents OF horror ana dread OF the supernatural,
tempered by iath In the emblem OF salvation, which
he placed as a protection between MIN and the ap-
was weak and unsatisfactory, and. from the moment
when the ghost announces, al am thy fathers
EXHIBITS great agltatlon, as though there was some.
thing novel or unexpected IN the announcement,
ualn he rises as MS father oeglns 70 relate me
motive and dignity. Mr.. Booth gave evidence
OF his careful study, ana Displaced no mean
OF the murder. Without uttering q word ne held
the attention Of the audience rlveted upon him and
portrayed all the sentiments OF horror. dlsmay and
anger which the narration called forth with an In
tensity which strongly moved Us. In the succeeding
scenes with Polonlus Opheliaa certain petulance
OF manner interiercs much with the dignity Of the
character as revealed In the admontlon TO the
been fuIly recognized By Mr. Booth. who. while pre-
Senting uS with outward show and manners OF
ne e as
v Wss r ssiSiso' given and a. Accomplished
on any other occasion. For, tnouga the whole rep
reaensaon was arIincial and ing In the nearti
sS ysSI q
before us, or ratner by exciting intimate sympathy
ants the plot developing before US yet such care
had been taken 70 art with discretion as LEFT no
the actor seemed to nave most happily seized the
lure 81 he coS,enSns foroeo dial love and horror
at the crime anu debasement OF MS mother. With
great Mr. Booths Hamlet must be
declared very satisfactory piece OF acting. In IT
culture which his reading reveals. All that
conscientious study could do has been done,
TO produce q masterpiece that the cause hes not
VITA MN. Every word and act bears the indelible
exam ined-we might almost add measured. what
We miss 10 inspiration. IN the whole play there Is
not one eminently original idea eyo we'd ON the part
impers0nat0ns OF MISS Cushman, who, eminently
powerful and natural, seizes upon some dramatic
incident and crystazes It, 30 that IL ever after
GREETED mat Mr.. Booth receives absolutely no sup.
the most sincere efforts 70 fulfil their part, never
succeed In rising above mediocrity In the case or
m IL en-
impersonation OF the garruous old man. But
n
when situations OF gravity were IN danger OF turning
into burlesque in view OF the inabty Of the minor
actors woEtnily TO perform their parts.
M .n Union Square Theatre.
This charming little theatre draws nightly larger
and larger houses The present bill Is very good
one. The Matthews family may well be called great;
they are beyond all question, the most wonderful
acrobats We have lately seen in New YORK. VAN
bold .melodlzes' 10 some purpose. and sings.
among Others couple !, q political songs which
Bonfanti ana other wen known artistes appear. is
but there are also four nve little comic scenes,
among which Nicodemus, perhaps, carries on the
pain tins s0r house seem unde ns Ess
next to Arranging yns n , the n couTses Of
10 make up GOOD r.esanos Tor q VARIETY theatre
Thanks 70 thusknowing the arduous nature OF their
duty 70 the pI6lic they nave succeeded very Wen
the performance is brought out, while the m
s1sss Il owsS to drag ssss
ana that is the occasional broadness or
sSp nna
But this 49, we are sorry TO say, q growing custom
A the s cea timely
adds 70 the popularity Of the entertainment
Brooklyn Tseatrs-Jehn Brousham's "Gold
,. Dusf.0
On Monday night was presented here for the first
time in America John Brougham's dramatzation OF
"Our Mutual Friend" for which he has sppropri-
ately chosen the above title In the excess OF plot
and dramatic incident which Dickens works afford
this of course but partial representation OF the
mi Iof nm uNiln N n