The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-04
Bellows SECOND READING.

mt so"u M DeheW was greeted last night at As
socation Hall by crowded audience, sin Spite"
as the phrase runs. "0f the storm Without The
word genius" has been freely showered upon actors
who, in the rendition OF characters have shown
themselves capable OF selzing and pre-.
senting Municipalities of the highest TYNE
and stamping them with renewed vital
ity. In this 1t must be acknowledged that
the truth OF character must be reached by inter-
preting accurately the ideal OF the writer for, no
matter what excellent points an actor may squeeze
out OF the text they Will fall into the rank Of
whimscalities II they do not t In with this ideal
whole. or all characters on the English stage
Hamlet has absorbed the deepest study OF eminent
men, scholars as well as actors and the result has
been the most extraordinary Emergencies Of ges-
ture and utterahc9 in the Interpretation Of the
part. From Colley Cibber's time to the present
DAY he has been bone OF contention among play
ers and commentators. He has been studied in the
light OF archaeology as well metaphysics, and the
ingenious have endeavored to square the anach-
ronisms of Shakespeare with the actualities Of
time of which he knew very little. What Ruskin
says OF Raaele's cartoons has been said Of Shaks-
peare's Danes. If Rafaelle's Jews were
Greek philosophers, Shakspeares Danes were
Englishmen; but the noble touches Of nature
in each Will defy such unkind criticism
forever. Mr.. Beew. therefore, In addressing him.
self to this task Of retouching "Hamlet" deserves
at least this credit, that he searches in an olden
reiiquary, where. II he finds gem at ALL it is
tain to be one OF the brightest lustre. and almost
merits for him the name Of diseoverer as much as
Livingstone, only in different line. Last night
In the closet scene between Hamlet and the Queen,
Mr.. Bellew came before an American audi
ence to prefer his claim to new read
ing Of Hamlet" He had hitherto appeared as
reader In the usual sense OF the term. In "Hamet"
he proposed to do something more. OF course he
lay under the disadvantage Of explaining before
hand the supposed stage accessories much as they
had to do in Shakspeares time, but by force Of en-
phass and gesture in the reading he overcame this
drawback surprisingly. He discards the old stage
"businesso of the miniatures of the King dependent
from the Queens neck and that OF his dead father
from his own. He supposes two full size
paintings OF his father and his uncle
to hang over either side Of the room. This
before; but in the close OF the scene he makes use
or the disposition to develop reading OF the lines
which Is very forcible and teing-we might say
electric. The scene throughout was rendered with
great intelligence and with distinct individual
ization OF the Queen, Hamlet and the Ghost. 1t is
first notable that when he stabs Polonlus through
the arras and returns to the Queen that
the question. 'sIs it the Kingf" is deliv
IN e with
fingers pointing to the arras, very different from
the demoniac shout with which Edwin Booth yels
u
chit" as Mr.. Beew renders it, but 1t Is better art.
In the comparison between the two brothers,
where the pictures are first used, the advantage
over the miniatures In opportunity for sweep of
action and display Of the lines is marked, and
maintained thencelorth to the end of the scene. In
pointing to the picture Of his father, Tor instance,
he gives q new force and real meaning to the
IneS:-
And when you are DESTROYS to be blessed.
III blessing beg of you
I. may be here stated that he makes Polo
MUS fall under the picture Of Hamlet's father.
That OF his uncle is then on the opposite side of
the stage The Queen departs remOrse-stricken,
and IN rendering the much-abused line
Thus bad begins and worse remains behind,
he points first to the corse OF Poonius and next
This is exceedingly effective and points
felicity. It seems, after all, small matter,
this question upholstery; but yet, Incorporated
tor useful ward In the key to the authors mean
ing. The effect of this scene alone Is to create a
strong desire to hear MIR. Bellew read the play en-.
tire, or, better still, II he could find company that
title role throughout. We cannot say what objec
ton Mr.. Beew might raise to this last proposition
The line between his representations on the plat
form and playing them on the stage Is only matter
OF stage carpentering.
We have dwelt at length on this one feature of
Mr.. Bellows reading because 1t was the most am
bilious and effective. He read eight pieces in ALL
intended to display his versatility which is great
as the range OF his wonderful voice. ''The Yarn Of
the Nancy Bell" by w. s. Gilbert, quaint burlesque
of the "Ancient Mariner" he gave, for the most
part, in a bOatswaln's Groom, which was very
Imaginable. In picturesqueness and poetic effect
POpe's "Vita Spark" with an organ accompani-
cessful last night.
Mr. Bellew gives q matinee on Wednesday after
noon at Association Hail. with new programme