New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-18
THE DRAMA.
FORESTS LEAR.


Mr.. Forrest. at the Fourteenth Street Theater,
has given nine performances Of shakespeare's Lear.
HE engagement which began the 9th inst still pro
eeeds and many rePttons of Lear ought yet 10 be gwen
The attendance thas far has been but moderately good
Probably the public dOes not quite yet appreciate either
its opportunity the Importance OF mprov
ing Two facts therefore ought to be strongly stated:
onethat Mr. Forests personaton Of Lear Is an extra
ordinary work of art the other-that, in the natural
order of things, II must soon pass forever
away from the stage. Those who SEE IT now
will enjoy luxury and benefit. Those who miss seeing
viii tie seed OF "a possible future roget We
not times past been accustomed 10 exto, with
out considerable qualification the acting OF MI Forrest.
Tnls was natural and il was right. An unpleasant
physical eement-the substitution OF muscle for brain
and of force for feelng-has usually tainted lis per
fornances. That element has been substantially dis
csred from his Lear We have him play the part
when nc was no more than strong resOlue rObustous
man, "a state Of lnconsequent dclrinu The form OF
Gle work Of course always definite. Strength Of
purpOse MI FORESTS acting ways went hand in hand
with strength of person He wac never vague He
knew his intent and ne absolutely master Of the
means that needful 10 fu6 IL. Precision, direct
ness eliminating movement, and physical magnetism
were his weapons; and he used them with firm hand
self disrust depressed him. Nacation never de-
feated ms purpose. II the triumph Of enormous
aud overwhelming individuality. LCGy could not be
rocn MI Forrest stood before lin, and eeipsed
him.
All that greatly modified Time and euhcrins
sncu doEe their work II Is secret that M.
passed through great deal Of trouble II rs
no secret that he Old We 90 not touch upon
these facts spirit Of heartlessness 6ppancy But
what VIC wish TO indicate is that natural have
wrought "a remarkable change In Mr. Forests acting
Judged ar VIC now have the opportunity OF Judging IT, by
his thrilling delnestiOn Of agOuies aud
tire ineifbly pathetic madness OF Shakespeare Lear
his performance 10 etber less distinct
~ af
satisfied in this respect The port Bngly; the
ment Is grand the transitions are Natural the delivery
resonant; the intellect potential; the manifestations
OF madness accurate the method ie precise But
beyond all this there spiritual qnaity such
have not before Ia this extremely familiar work
Hero and there, indeed, the actor nses his
ancient snort, InOuths hno-ior the sake
Of certain words that mtoncate his imagination
by their sound and movement Here aud there. also, ne
becomes suddenly and inexphcably prosc in his rend-
ering OF meanings But these defects slight 10
Hast with the uumberloss beauties that surround and
overshadow them We have paid THE personaon tho
Involuntary and sincere tribute OF tears. We cannot
and would deso,-tO Withhold from il the Inerited
recognition of critical praise. Description scarcely
be said a. require Were 70 describe 1t de-
tail however VIC should dwcll, with some prolxity
Of remark, upon the altitude Of imaginative ALI
sfraetion which Nf Forrest attalns IN the mad
,seenes RhakesptaIe's LeGT ~ person with the
tnlOst treinulOusly tender heart, and tue In0st
decately senFitye and pOeucal nHu % SsDe "a mortal
man and his true grandeur appears III bs overthrow
Which is pathetic for that Tho shattered tag-
Irr,nts OF the column reveal s past maguihcence No
man can play Leor these SO "A 10 sli-even
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ideal inspired by Shakespeare teAi
,uess he knows whether 10y intuition or by experience,
Tie vanity tn, Inutabty, the hoOwHess OF this world
Ihe deepest deep Of philosophy is sounded here
and tho loftiest hight Of pathos IL attained
a n high praise 10 cay mat Mr.. Forrest
iutgTuTet~ these
,a tons Of the tragedy 10 such manner as tro-
sqas ny 70 enhIal the Imagination and melt Tie hcart
9ss miserable desoat0n OF noble and tender nature
srar,ed aud blasted by physical decay and by unnatural
cety looks out Of his eyes and speaks IN hls voice
Tbr NAY ne only the successful stimulation OF prac-
tcad at bat whatever IL DO it, power and beauty, and
sInStaos influence are signal and rresstibler Dor
rest hss the Efficient AID Of M Barton HI, ~ Edgar
Afr j. Morris, Kent, and Miss Lihy a. Cordoba
5sle otAeI performers require 40 mention. ...
TIIEATRICALs IN GENERAL.
INC opportunity of seeing Money wish |
Er Waiiack Agred EVeiyE will he afforded at the /
In6e az Wailacks 1heater TO-DAY We counsel Itt inn
nc pveHent There should he a crowd Booths Thea
thn evening, on which occasion Mr. Lawrence Bar
the snI0Ons This AFTERNOON and this evening, at tine
Pour oeDtl TheatPr Miss EtiBe Johns agan
out frAyArd tho racter OF Fdach0a hnal per
fOgnaes Of HOrah Creina" and the burlesque Of Luz
aftTrnOan VI this evening III the FIRST play MigA Annie
fFmin appeal 70 unusual advantage az the heroine IN
Tie latter the chf paris are wei sustained by MI
EDDY begins on Ia nday, the OOuni Of A0uls OhTstO
Marie Aeehschfh remarkable pei sOnatiOn OF Jane
l.gre may DC J9-Inglt at the btadt 1beater. IL