Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-03-10
ADJUSTMENTS.

MEMPHIS THEATER. Last evening a
small audience attended the theater in
order TO witness Mr.. Geo: D. Chaplin in
the role Of "Othello." The thinness OF the
attendance may be accounted for on two
grounds, the threatening weather and
the fact that Mr.. Chaplin was unheralded,
and is unknown in Memphis as star
In St. Louis Mr.. Chaplin has been,
during the present season, the Leading
man at Ben DeBar's theater, and he is
clever actor; no better, however, than
Mr.. Frank Evans, the leading man Of
our own stock company. Othello is
rather a new play in Memphis, not hav-
ing been presented, we believe, since
1866 or 1867, when Frank Mayo essayed
the role, and presented it comparatively
well. "Othello" is grand character, and
no small dramatic light can carry it to
a successful termination. Memphis is
noted for its critical audiences They
have seen the best and the worst, and
have been educated sufficiently in the
dramatic business so as to be able to
draw clear distinction between the ex-
tremes. To the mind the courtship be-
tween "Othello the Moor" and BESIDE
mona is revolving to the senses. Mr..
Chaplin did not represent the coal. black
Moor of stage history; his color was
rather that Of the Indian in war paint
than the Moor. Mr.. Chaplin is not
correct in pronunciation, nor in
deed does he read the text correctly.
In the fifth act he was guilty of an
emendation certainly not authorized
by critics when he said of the hand
kerchief, " An antique token my mother
gave my father" The text generally
used both on and off the stage is just the
reverse, An antique token my father
gave my mother" These are small OBJ
jections, it is true, but such would be
fatal to the hopes of any great actor.
The great character n the play Of
Othello is Iago," and, indeed, it re-
quires greater ability to play it properly
than that of the Moor The role last
evening was as follows: Othello,"
George D. Chaplin; "Iago," Frank
Evans; Brabantio," Harry Moreland;
Cassie" E. F. Knowles; Rodrigo"
Harry Everett; Duke of Venice" T.
]. Nolen; "Desdemona," Mrs. Hamil-
ton; Emelia," Miss Kate Taylor, etc.
The portrayal of the cast might be
graded as follows, 0thello," fair;
"Iago," ditto; the rest, commonplace.
During the entire play there was lack of
spirit and force. 1t dragged along
quietly and heavily, and sigh of relief
broke from the audience when the cur
tain dropped. When "0thello smoth-
cred "Desdemona in bed with pillow
one Of the gods in the gallery cried out,
Enough" The deity was right. 1t
was criticism which found an echo in
the bosoms Of those who sat in the dress
circle. To sum it up, the play was
poorly presented, and it is to be hoped
that second inAiction will be spared
the theater-going public. Tonight
Enoch Arden will be the attraction, and
we believe that Mr., Chaplin will give a
fine portrayal of the title role. he is
an actor of no little power, and in the
emotional school, to which Enoch Arden
belongs, we believe he can do justice to
himself
WIRES OPERA House. - Manager
White has brought out twenty splendid
stars, who appear nightly at his Jeffer-
son street Opera House. The pro-
gramme of entertainment consists of
vocal and instrumental music, fancy
and clog dancing, specially acts, COM
edies, etc. Strangers visiting the city
will find Whites Opera House a pleas
ant place to while away few hours.