New-York tribune., 1871-01-12
THE DRAMA.
ROOInlS RICIIELIRn.

A picturesque throng OF persons filed the beautiful
theater in every partan afsemblaee rcpresoDting s
intellect, beauty, culture and taste o. the city, aud
therefore, really remarkable and Impressive in ~ ~
paey to enjoy and its ability TO judge effort aYs
Tho production OF "Rchelieu"-rceeyed, By this con.
course OF wit and sensibiilty, with many toseus
Of lively interest and emphatic cpprOyal-was
splendid triumph OF pictorial establishment. sceris
art as usrned in the spectacle portion OF tie per.
formance was clearly 10 have been carried 10 the
highest pitch Of excellence. -Four really great %
scenery made, In the OF the representation
The first showed room in Cardinal Rcbelieus palace
at Paris. The second showed q room in h's lstle a,
Rouel The third portrayed tho garden Of the Jules
The fourth reproduced the tlroneroom ~ Louis Ehs
Thirteenth. The time of "Richce" n will be rem im-
bered, the last half Of the seventeenth ceDtsy
In this production Of tho drama the require
ments Of that time, with respect o. cOstuWe,
and other accessories, have been scrnpuOusly
respected. Each OF the pictures mentioned
Is gorgeous combination ol f-like details, germans
TO the period Of the great Cardinals career. Tie mos
poetic is the sOmber and luxurious apartment at RoIe
with It's Gothic window its monastc recesse-, aud 10
numerous appliances Of royal wealth and soholar1xe
taste. The most gorgeous Is the thTonerOo Oyei
which expands beautiful srch frescOed with surprs
Ing fidelity and taste, and every element of which
bright light and clear wind" Five art-ts-
Witham, Lewis, On Focque, Connolly ana HOugh-hay,
combined to produce these Of painting; a,o
the rich result OF their abor reflects the greatest credit
on their signal and various talents and their con
scentious fidelity. They have been very fortunate
in the auxhar aid Of Mr. Dunnes ccyerly
designed machinery, which, In the attn act, is marvs
OF fitness, and of prompt regular, and graceful
ment The dresses employed were prepared under tbs
superntendence OF Mr. Joyce whose ample learning
refined taste tried many occasions, and never fount
inadequate,-haye long since established him Of
the best Of authorities upon matters Of this kind ~
the workers, indeed who have participated the setting
Of the drama, have wrought with fine intelligence and
ardent ZEAL and have deserved tine laurel crown OF
truly noble success No play presented in thu
country ia attire appropriate magnificent
than that with which Mr.. Booth has invested Richie
len" Considered a spectacle his work withoUts
honiish broad design, justly and generously carried
at resulted In this instance, In pageant Of perfect
veiness-at once unprecedented and unriyaled.
With Richeleu' a drama the public Is perfectly
well acquainted 1t stands in the front rank Of romans
plays It erbodies story Of the most perspcuous sim
plicity and yet of the most entLrsing interest IL Pro
clearly defined characters, In natural relations "
one another. 1t s inspired By steady dramatic moV>
ment that increases IN speed and rises in force ATTAINING
an electrical climax and beautiful culininatOn q
adequately provided-wthout being oycrwhelmed-"its
sltuatons that excite mind and touch the heart iu
spirt is sympathetic with virtue and gentleness, and
thereby il capyates the general instincts or human
nature. Above all, it Is imaginative IL Ideal
ICES reality, and does not pretend to Iie
sent character and experience In tho hlh'
drum earb Of prosy fact Considered as IN ideal
creation is drama without serious defect Its sole
important bensh is blemish Of literary art There Is
some tinse IA the lnessomething OF the pastedamond
element that to be portion OF It's authors mind
Little faults however, dwnde out Of sight in the pres
ence Of great merits. "Rcheleu" is work that con-
stantly affords pleasure, by celebrating the victory OF
goodness evil under deeply interesting and vividy
picturesque conditions OF circumstance ana to haVe
written drama that thus accompshes the distinct re-
ss Of making It's spectators happier and better Is reply
10 have deserved the gratitude OF mankind.
No consderate critic. therefore, will dwell upon
blemsh slight as an occasional tawdry
line In work truly powerful and
brilliant. BulwerLytton is benefactor TO all who
love and enjoy the stage, and such he merits honor
and gratitude Mr. Booth has likewise proved himself
benefacor in his production OF "Rchelieu" Not only
has he employed all the of stagea to give IL
an adequately magnificent setting but lie has himself
acted the part Of Cardinal Riekeliea in a manner
that surpasses competition, and that satishes-smpy
richly and royaly-every condition OF the character
BulwerLytton has drawn it, To this point we desire TO
record testimony In explicit and emphatic termS
Mr.. Booths Richelieu Is truly great piece
OF actng-one OF the most symmetrical, power.
full, and picturesque works OF dramatic arr
with which the stage is adorned IN thf
generation. 1t may not reprodcce the Cardinal
of history. That result was not essential. IL
certainly docs embOdy the Cardinal of the drama Grys
doubts may well be entertained whether Reheiieu WA
the noble spirit in actual life that he is in this o
ton. No doubt whatever be entertained that the
poet has depicted him as just wise, kind gentle tolerant
OF weakness, sympathetic with goodness sensitive 10
every sweet and poetic influence. and only nimica to
tyranny and wrong The lower side Of his nature Is i
craft but IL the craft Of philosopher and not OF
II he ndirection, s such indrecton as
deep knowledge OF human nature and affairs has Taught
him to be essential in the conduct OF life and tho gov
ernment Of mankind. He resorts TO the skin
OF the fox till he has first exhausted the skin
the lion. In this drama he is shown 10 be engaged
upon comparatively small maters-the protection OF
pair Of lovers and the defeat OF political intrigue hut
he is steadily presented man OF the most potent IN
tellect and the purest and veies sensbity In other
words he is have background Of strong charao
ter, stately and picturesque Individuality in despite Of
his little yanies and OF the ttleness Of tho designs
amid which he The magnetic charm OF the char
acter doubtless grows out Of precisely this relation Ii
Is the embodiment Of vrtuous power shown in its grand
est phase and function the protector of INNOCENT
weakness. Mr.. Booth has grasped this idea and made
IL the vital spirit of his personation. That hs
looks the character is @ matter OF course
His weird, thoughtful, spiritual face ana
his slender priestke fgure,-made up with the con-
comtants age clothed in the requisite and accurate
ecclesiastical garments,-conbne in perfect present.
ment Of the Gery soul In the aged and pny body ms
physical realization could not be improved. And IL mas
this great mert-that it has grown out Of acombnauon
Of ntuitions and crystazed upon distinct IDEAL foi
we need not say trivial matter unless II be eiouen'
with spirit That eloquence pcrYades ana iluihi"''
Mr. Booths Riehelieu Seeing aged priest and hearing
his voice, one nsnctively feels, without pauss 70
reflect upon 1t, that this is grand and
noble old man, in whom the anee'ohs
live an immortal life, who Will DO true a.
steel TO all that Is good and pure VINO
wears with authentic right the imperial garo OF po"er'
and who nust inevitably conquer as the sun must 0'
To take this ndentty to preserve 1t, to show many