Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-03-28
The Drama.
RICHARD III.


We rejoiced to believe, last evening, as we
surveyed the somewhat fuller benches, at the
Ulera House, that our people are awakening,
though late, to a realization of the grand feast
which Mr. b both aud his Company are offering
them.
The play was, upon the whole, the most sue
cessful one of this enlargement. a fact which
may be less credltable to the audience than the
performers. highly cultivated taste would
doubtless prefer the finer and subter qualities
of Hlmdt, or even Of Otl,ciyo, but to the popular
appreciation, the life spilit, and yigor OF the
drama of Richard are more captivating and more
exciting. 1t must be said, too, that MIR. Booth
appeared to excel either of his previous efforts
Possibly this was only apparent. and because of
te pleasure of his audience with the character
itself rather than due discrimination between
the merits Of the three performances, but, what
ever the reason, he certainly seemed to do best
Of all, last evening. The character of Richard
bloody, ambitious brutal, subtle, false yet never
cowardly, even when Conscience smote at his
recollectiona, was portrayed with force, and
power. The active, headlong, movement of the
Drama seemed to suit the actor, and his spirit
rushed forward, without pause and seemingly
without fatigue, to each new assertion OF his
bold, remorseless, character
Nor has Mrs. Booth previously manifested
such tragic powers. AZ in the QneenS parting
from her children, in the Tower Her acting had
force and depth, there and in other scenes,
all the particulars that surrounded it, the part
she played last evening, well suited to her,
though affordng too few opportunities, perhaps,
for proof OF this.
Miss Rosa Rand appeared al Lady Anne, and
did very we'll. She has always acted, in her per-
fOrmAnees hero, with quiet aud ladylike fidelity
to her part, and, to our Judgement, merits kind
and warm approval
Mr. Shewell, as buckingham. Mr.. Power, as
RichmoHd and Mrs. Edwards the Duchess OF
York, all acceptably fllsd their several places,
though they are, after all, but minor parts, re-
v0Ning about the chief, central figure. Shaks-
peare wrote this play, only that the character
Richard should be portrayed, and he fills nearly
the whole space.
This evening, the fourth play of Mr.. and Mrs.
Booth will be presented, Much ado About NoHl-
Ing
Elmer Reean Coates, whose name is some
what familiar in the poetical and other literary
departments of the Philadelphia newspapers,
has written comedy called Bi,mders, which MIR.
Davenport has accepted and will bring out at the
Chestnut Street Theatre. We trust that this
will not prove an addition to the play.
1t is stated that Mr.. and Mrs. Florence sail
for Europe OH the 8rh of May. Mrs. Florence
will remain abroad for year. pelfecting her
studies in music and Italian. Mr.. Florence will
return home in August, and probably produce a
new play at Booths.
Maggie Mitchell is 40 years old, and has
been on the stage every since she could walk
She married Mr.. Paddock in 1868, after fourteen
years courtship, and has two children.
CHANGES IN DRAMATIC TASTE
The Boston Advertiser, in the course of crit
ical article on The Dramma, says
Our audience, though far enough still from
the ideal standard have advanced immensely in
their critical power; they are less frequently
caught with dramatic chaH and bran, and nat
uray enough, they have grown more enthusiasts
tic over real excellence 1t is inconceivable that
a crowded New York audience of to-day should
sit through an entire performance of 'ltchard
Third" by MIR. Charles Kean and never once raise
hand or foot to applaud. except at the high
cOlored ostrich -plumes of RichmOnd's army and
yet that very spectacle was witnessed several
times during Mr.. Keans engagement OF 1876
The finest American playhouse of fifty years
ago-in spite of the frequent presence OF emi
nent foreign artists-were but bear-gardens
compared with the best theatres of to-day. Un
seemly Interruptions, sometimes of the rudes
and coarsest description. often marrei the pro
gress of the play; personal feuds and enmitie'
frequently set the audience by the ears ant
practices We're tolerated aud even enforced b!
custom which now can be scarcely mentioned ii
pint at all"
UNCLE TOMS CABIN.
The presentation of Uncle Toms Cabin" hat
las been deferred for the present, Telegram
from Mr.. Ford, last evening, ordering the stop
page of the further advertising of it. A grea
mtny of our citizens will learn this with regret
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