The New York herald., 1872-11-23

small but very select audience assembled last
night at Steinway Hall to listen to the veteran
actors reading OF "OthcO.n This play affords the
fullest scope for the delineation OF the fercer pas
sions, and Mr. Forrest seized every opportunity to
present fOrcble pictures Of a soul wrenched
from the sway OF reason. AS a usual thing
readings are not very interesting; they are
so liable to degenerate either into maud
lin scntimentality rush to the other
extreme and show us the deeply tragic, which is
separated by such delicate line from the eXtrava
giant and ridiculous that it requires genius to mark
the just limit If there be one point more than
another which deserves cOmmendatiOn in the per-
formance OF Mr. Forrest it is the delicate shading
OF the more violent passages. Here he
gives us every gradation OF passion, marked
with delicacy OF perception which is in
strange contrast with the ranting in which some
Of our dramatic actors indulge. This power OF
looking into the sense OF his phrase and accomo
dating the emphasis OF his words to the exact
phase OF thought which he seeks to express is the
result OF careful and close study. 1t was in hsren
dition OF the r6te of lago that the culture of
the artist was most visible, although the
fiery ana impetuous character OF the Moor was
more In Keeping with his natural genius 1t re.
quires no ordinary power to enchan attention
during an evening by the mere force OF dramatic
expression without the aid OF any OF the realism OF
the stage In the theatre an appeal is made to the
story, as Il were, move about, in the
he senses are pleased by the bright. changing
oors, but the e0cutionis has to suggest all these
to the imagination by the skilful infection OF his
voice. TO do SO successfully requires no ordinary
power, and IL Is complimentary to Mr. Forrest that
he arrested the attention of his audience for nearly
two hours and hall, and there were few who did
not feel regret when he brought his reading to
close.
Musical and The eatrical Notes.
Miss Jane Rignold is coming to this country to
play the lead in round Of Shakspearian charac-
tiers.
General Burnside, with that customary rose in
his buttonhole, occupied a box at Waack's last
night.
Mr.. Lester Walack plays in Baltimore next week.
and in Washington the week following for the first
time in his life Already a box at the National
Theatre has been engaged for the President and
his family for Mr.. Wallacks first appearance at
the capital.
"As You Like w will not be performed at
Booths matinee to-day, as heretofore announced,
the management requiring more time Tor the
preparation OF Shakspeares comedy. 'The
Stranger with Mr.. J. w. Walack and Miss Kate
Newton, will take its place.
In addition to his impersonation OF LORD Dun.
dreary-a character to which Mr.. Sothern has
given q worldwide fame-he is TO play several
others OF his great parts during his present engage
ment at Wallack's. The houses he is drawing COM
pes departure from the old rule at this theatre
and he is announced for two matinees--one for
this afternoon and enc for Thanksgiving Day.
The London Times says pleasantly that Mr.. W. G.
Wills, year ago, was a gentleman with respect to
whom the trumpet OF fame gave feeble sound
but his new drama, "Chares L." performed at the
Lyceum Theatre, is "factn of the day, and albeit
folks vigorously argue about the view taken OF
ohver Cromwell, they 60 numerousy 20 see the
play 49,.
Among the many stories told OF Mile. Liebharts |
luggage s one that is particularly funny. Her
twenty-eght trunks some Of them unstrapped |
and broken, were carried to Steinway Hall imme-
diately after her arrival in this city, where Mr..
Grau hired room in which to put them. While he |
was looking after their removal Liebhart herself
appeared, and must have thought Grau was ex-
amining the contents, for she struck wild ballad
attitude and exclaimed, scott in Himmel, was Is
das9 You breck inside my Kleidergestep' "Oh,n
says Grau, ~ was looking to see which one you had
brought y0aI voice inp'