New-York tribune., 1872-12-04
THE DRAMA.
BOOTHS THEArER--As YOU LIKE T

BOOTHS THEATER--As You LIKE 1T.
4 The patience with which a tolerant mind
accepts dramatic representations patience based
knowledge Of human tleness and inrmity, and Of the
mpossbity of attaining absolute perfection in matters
Of the stage-s often severely tried and is sometimes
I exhausted. 1t cannot well endure, for example,
4 wooden, mechanical performance Of Shakespeares
lovely comedy Of AS You Like It." That piece is 80
beaufu-so fragrant with the odor of poetry, and 50
wise and gentle with the humorous sadness" OF
great mndhat inefficient stage treatment Of 1t seems
almost moral wrong well intellectual failure.
There is good reason. think why this piece should
be undertaken at ALL unless with undOCbted preliminary
assurance of success. do justice very difficult
To let it alone should be easy. On the stage in tho
world, things ought to be held sacred As You
Like I is one of them. Its exquisite decacy and ex'
cepOna beauty place it far beyond the reach OF ordi
nary talent-yet ordinary talent seems disposed
never 70 let it rest II brought forward
| with elaborate and handsome scenery. at Booths
Theaer, Saturday afternoon in the presence OF
very numerous assembage-but it was tamely acted,
and the sight OF it only served TO confirm in opinion
that 10 is much too fine play for the contemporary
stage. Miss Nelson appeared RoSGliHd, playing tho
part for the first time in this country She very
lovely to the eye-but she was little else. There was
little vigor in her vivacy; there semblance OF
masculiny in her stimulation Of man; there real
variety in her utteranee of the text there 10
spontaneous emotion in her undertaking. her prose-
cuton, OF the wanderings in Arden. 1t was "A monot-
onous personaton, and It somewhat artificial We
that the story is IDEAL and that il is exceed
ingy difficult to give dramatic reality ideal sub
ject. Still, it is not too much TO expect that illusion
will be preserved at least in part Rosaid should not
wear adys hat OF the present day. and should be
so evidently q woman,-and the woman Of Oriandos
love,-that observer could possibly mistake her for
anything else And assuredy there should be no lack
Of either active ardor in her temperament sparkle
IN her bearing and talk. Miss Nelson was some
times coy aud sometimes coquettish. and at all
times handsome and winnings and IL goes without say
ing that she manifested the skin and self-polse of
clever and well-trained actress. But, though softly
sensuous wOmanhood be one element Of ROsaf,nd, it
must needs be associated with airy grace and ardent
demonstratve, rresistbleiyivacy and dash Of spirits
This we sought in vain, IN Miss Nelson's acting. The
rapture OF oyethe mingled ecstasy and sadness OF
passionate affection-she can depict That in
her Juliet and it was suggested her acting at Rosa
hnd's first interview with Orlando But with ROsallnd.
love is like golden bird flying In a full blaze OF sun
shine aud its manifestation admits OF scarcely shadow
Ii is not denied that Miss Nelson's ROsoid offered
the view lovely embodiment Of womanly sweetness
and caprice or that in aspect, professional skill, and
softer qualities OF temperament it ranks with the beet
that have been here OF late years Only does
not correspond with shskespeare's conception
as understand it-and therein it does
not satisfy tho high standard by which Miss
Nelson's remarkable Jaliet warrants the
trial OF her acting. We have disposition 70 nger on
the details OF performance which grave disap
pointment. IL may be remarked. though. that with
subdued Orlando. Jacques who atitudinizcs ana makes
pictures. To,chsione who beef and beer rather
than quaint wisdom and the laek-uster eye AHdrp
that carcatured. Dke Frederick whose dignity Is
deformed by bluster Ba,lshed Duke who rolls his eyo
Ike pirate in melOdrama, and Adam who whines,
As You Like IL" is rather rough sailing The music
was done In the concert fashionAmcS Instead OF sit-
ung on his messy tree stone and singing naturally 10
Ills friend coming 10 the fOOuights and singing at the
spectators 10 difficult and much too loud accompaLi-
ment by Mr. Mollenhauers orchestra The cast Is air
pended:
tosaad' Miss Nelson Amieas Nelson Dsker
Ieia