New-York tribune., 1874-05-08
DRAMATIC READINGS.
MISS CHARLOTTE CUsHMAN.

A numerous assembage heard Miss Cush-
man on Wednesday afternoon. All the seats in the Acad-
envy Of Music indeed, filled, excepting the upper
gallery and certain boxes owned by stockholders. Miss
Cushmau received the usual aGectionate welcome, and
the usual tributes OF delighted applause. musical
prelude by Mr.. Simon Hassler band, offered delicate
and neatly rendered selections from tho music OF Rcci
strauss and Kallwoda. Mr.. Hasser, throughout this
series OF Miss CushmanS readings has helped TO difuse
over occasion atmosphere Of soft refinement
and il ought 10 be said that the auditors OF his music
have proted by his Judgment taste, skill, and quick
sympathy with the spirit Of those intellectual efforts
which it has been his province 10 embellisn.
Miss Cushmans programme on Wednesday was
less dramatic than either OF Its prcdeces-
sors. Her IA interpretation Of 1.-THE Merchant OF
Venice" was notable for correctness and for nno
discrimination between the various lnterocutors-in
Poras first scene SyoeS first scene the casket scene,
and the trial These selections of told the
story OF the play and thus secured the essential basis of
harmony 1t is slight matter to succeed, through the
medium OF a reading, in presenting eight or ten differ
eDt persons, each distinctly ndivdualzed and made
living reality to the eyes Of Imagination Miss Cushman
always effects this result and she wrought it in her
treatment OF "The Merchant oilVenicc." II did not
seem us. that, in his instance, her por-
traitures when they finished and set before the
mind amounted to anything .morcgthan conventional
creatures OF stage. Her Shy0ck certainly was in
vested with no color Of that religious exatation and
oriental majesty which make him great IN the pages OF
Shakespeare. His vIndictlve cruelty made con
spicuous and permitted to swallow IN all other
attributess This suggested question OF ideals Is an
endless one though and perhaps it should al
ways be avoided The fact probably is that Miss
Cushman feels real sympathy with the play
OF "The Merchant OF Venice" and finds nothing IN IL
90 arouse the imagination, the p1tho7 the weird and
romantic glow Of emotion that are the peculiar ana
thrilling qualities powers of her nature. You cannot
sec her Katharine Wolsey without experiencing
kind of rapture of anguish and awe; but you can sec
her ShgOek with calmness that is only disturbed by
cold admiration for experienced mimetic skill Her
readings OF AntonioS letter and Portals speech on
mercy were gems of elocutonary art and there
the true spirit of conedy-the simmer OF sparkn 2,
evanescent liie-in treatment OF PJrqs fret col
loquy with NerisSd That comedy spirit is IN de-
cadence upon stage, and the sense OF IT, III Miss
Cu,hmau's actiug is Ike an echo Of remembered music
ons following the scenes from Shakespeare, that those
who recognized the magnetic power OF Miss
sudden trcInor the fash OF the eagles wing
That IN her reading of "Ine Whitby
life OF the seashore IN when are touched tc elemental
experiences and sorrows of common humanity. on
Miss Cushmans humorous sketches there is need 10
cOmmeu In her, as IN SO many DINERS VINO are essen
TALLY tragic artists the brilliant flowers ofcomlc humor
blossom out OF the deep heart OF patnOs Her Scotch,
lrish and Eugish provincial dialect lcd1lng mas long
noted for admirable accuracy and fOr the
grace and homey truth OF the character studies that
undcric 10 and crop through ts verbal foliage. she
several specimens OF 1t wednesday; and, after
the cOOrless vail from Mrs. BrOWnng"The Cry OF The
Children" which lacks universally OF application and
all dramatic attributes and is here little more than
humanitarian tangle Of tumd wOrds-hey needed.
Mis- Cusnan was twice called before The curtan Her
final reading Will gwen saturday, and the follow
ing programme will be offered:
Selections from Much Ado Abont Nohng' .. Shakespeare
"Kentacky Woolsou