New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-17
The Shakespeare CIab-Richard M.

shakespeare MADE Mn. Is LudG o1 q H4Ou-
ster who murders with no more feeling
than one of us would stab beefsteak, and
who lies, cheats, cOzens, defrauds, and
stimulates az if such practices we're his "mis-
sion and for that reason something for
which he was not responsible. 1t is the
favorite character for actors-this ranting
hypocrite and steel clad barbarian, for this
class Of men, whose efforts are to make US
"wiser and BETTER" know by short intui-
ton what will most please the public. just
as newspaper men, by the same influence
know the best order Of news for their news
papers to catch the public eye 1t was the
favorite character of the elder Booth, and
the theatrical world used to be filed with
anecdotes of this actors style and mannerism
belonging solely to this one among his
speciaIties. These stories have died out.
Almost quarter Of century has lapsed
since Booth trod the boards Of the old
American, which stood on the site of the
present Moresque building and the oldest
men among the actors of the Shakespeare
Club were boys. We speak of Crookbaek
only as he is known In New Orleans, and of
the way in which successive stars have
shown up the traits Of this monster, who
in the most of all his crimes has a dash of
heroism in his deeds, which win at the same
time applause and derision. Critics draw
il mild on amateurs, and let down easy
their faults, but it must be confessed the
representation on Monday night, looked
upon even with stated appetite for dra-
matte marvels, displayed nothing but what
was admirable.
Colley Cibbers play Of Richard pins the
last part Of Henry vi. to the first part of
the tragedies wherein Gloster is the pivot,
and hence the murder Of Henry By Richardlin
the beginning of the'play, as well as the bar
barity to a corpse Witnessed by the stricken
beholder causes him to commence with
hideous impression which is drowned in an
awful interest as the march of events move
on Mr.. g. H. Braughn, well known to the
community as an actor of no mean merit,
played the tyrant with an earnestness as
devoid Of real feeling and sympathy, as it
was full of horror IN soulless demOnstra-
ton. In BraHghn's delineatiOn, Richard
was truly one who had neither pity, love
nor fear a dreadful compound difficult to
imagine. AL the incidents are so well
known and have been written up so often
during two centuries Of sight seeing, that
description makes it appear as if warmed
oyer. The brightest expressions sound second
hand, and hence a mere mention is all that
is necessary. The oddly of making love
to a widow Queen Anne) at her husbands
funeral, when he-the royal Henry-was
killed by the lover, was well pictured. The
widow heaps curses on the head of her
wooer, but Braughn Richard plies a Hatter
ing tongue with such success that before
1. hrsehav,13c hoaxr io opTI
she gives hand of friendship to the author |
of the death she has mOurned, and, in
modern parlanee, tells him to ''cOme again."
1t was curious to hear the remarks OF those
among the fair sex who had never seen this
scene before.
IF I'd been in her place, said one, I'D
have killed him.
Il wouldn't dd do such thing" said
another lady; "Id fa1t."
Hadn't she brothef,I wonder2" queried
a third.
did it really happen ?" asked fourth
"Why, Of course" replied lady friend,
''its history
well, l neVerw
When the scene closed the house was so
full of awe at the terror there was in such |
a cOurtship that the solecism Of Richard |
was heard as if in dream, but the words, |
'fIll have her, but will not keep her long" |
brought out a derisive laugh from the men, |
echoed to the flies, The dead King Henry, |
in his mildness and martyrdom won the |
sympathies of the immense audience, and |
the capital fail was pieee-Of horrid pantO- |
mime, well done, making the hearers start |
in body at the mimic reality. Mr. Ono
ratio deserves well. There are two ways of /
acting in Shakespeare, one represents the /
character as the author intended it, either in
the text or context, either in what he says
himselfOr others say of him; the Otheris by /
Z 5Naas i -.
tsOund and fury which delivers nothing
but big noise. Henry VI. was played in
the true spirit The acting of the greatest
among dramatists creations leaves little
room for a display of originality. 1t is like
the fOrtds of the church--a mere novice can
tell exactly what to dOand when to do it,
and is a critical locker on when the priest
or deacon is going through his PAGES. The
wealth of brains expended on Shakespeare
since the days of Queen Bess is astounding, |
and it is almost impossible to stir up any
thing that has not been seen before and
noted, unless on the principle of some news
PAL ers, that utter. paragraphs which are so
Did in the world they have had time enough
10 become new again. The reading of
hr. Braughn seemed to shed new light
IN the various scenes which followed the
chastity courtship of Queen Anne, and Buck
ngham's Mr.. COwenl description of trying
TO get up a sentiment in favor of GlOster
N his brother Edwards death was given in
uch matter of fact way that some of the
hearers were Immediately struck with the
parallel to political affairs in our own day.
tells the mortified Gloster
hat when some voice in tho throng cries
nut "Long live King Richard r not soul.
but a short time after some nine
" ten of his own followers tossed their
laps and halloed a wish for the length of |
Richards life, which he, taking advantage
IT returned thanks
Resolutions carried, said a Politician
ten votes"
ooh, of course, unananimously adopted
added second. "Good Lord how often
I've seen that thing done in that way"
"NO newspapersin those days to let the |
at out of the bag said a third
"And besides replied the first, tiust
hink how unhealthy politics were in those |
lays. If one man opposed another, they'd |
tick him or chop OFT his head"
The remark of the second was, as he sur
Keyed the scene, "Buckingham's a bully /
,Oy-Td like to have him down in our
YARD
he air GU udtlrel in which the story of the |
Richard III, and used men that his aspir-
ng blood might mount, was told. True it
S. reading is one-half the acting, for blind
nan can comprehend it.
The style in which the play was put on
Exceeded in grouping the ordinary profess
ional. The coronation of Richard was
rand, producing a thrill as if the curtain
# time had in reality been drawn back, and |
he eye swallowed the barbarie splendor of
hose days The scene between the wretched
n9ther whose children are about to be