New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-25
THE DRAMA.
BOOTHS THEATER.
Mr.. MCCULLOUGH LAST PERFORMANCES

II ia the nature and not the art, after ALL
that carries the soul and conquers the world or
rather let say. II is the nature breathing aud shiu-
ing through the art that this great vctory-com
pelling prold homage to what s highest in human
power and nobest in the possibilities OF its achieve
ment The actor may manif' 1T rare and line taien' III
many directions and resp 9, and even adnnaton'
Tor the skill and thOroughness with which he taxes on
identities foreign but he will never reveal
himself wholly at his BEST except IN the interpretation
OF some ideal that ne loves IL takes the dec
ton Of his sympathes and calls forth all ms spirit
Other and fret him; this one sets him Tree
aud through this his nature shines ont TRANSPORTED ana
glorious Mr.. Mccullough finds such an ideal In the
character Dnoa. aud by this single performance he
dsoloses himself be actor Of magnetic,
delicate, and bcnehcent genius That his pow
-crs artist OF the finest order
we had his previous imnersonatiOns-the sig
ndcance of which, This point, neither occasional
errors Of intuition occasional blemishes of over
emphasized meIbod could obscure AMI more than once
we had felt that these powers animated and niu
mined by spark OF the divine fire. In the presence OF
his noble and beautiful embodiment OF DGmOn-which
free driving cloud ana as faultless as leaf
must not hesitate to .eeogaz, him as great actor
Less than jhis would not he justice. His powers. in
decd yet fully developed and not yet entirely
within his control. AND versatility is checked by
physical AMI spiritual limitations. tending 20 prescribe
for him special pathway in dramatic art; but OF the
value OF his powers there cannot be shadow OF doubt
Lo has wOrJhy MS rank and his laurel ana there
IS bright future before h IN.
The that stands. who play Damon
greatly H. Is the rest OF being placed in situations
which instinct with the elemental and simple emo
tons He must possess that weight Of character which
resides innate nObeness and natural dignity.
Dq0n is the perfect type OF strong and tender man
illness. H virtue y inherent and not assumed. II
him effort 20 he COOL for he is good by nature
stately and splend himself, he respects the
stIteliness ana splendor of manhood in others, fer
Venty feels Us right TO freedom ana scorns, with all
hts soul. the meanness, servhty. and evil that are
ming led IN the common web OF life. He IS passlonatey
tender IN his home affections but he holds the welfare
OF his cOdutry to be precious than his personal
ties, and DC loves honor more than lie. The dramatst
has deInea;ed this pers mag with emphatic and vivid
precision and has placed him in clear ana white
Light The vehemence Of natural passion, controlled
by proud intellect AMI guided by q nae moral sense, is
the spirit o. tue subsequent aeon-through a sequence
or exceedingly simple events. All plly-goers OF expe-
Jence remember how, in tas exciting and enuOblins
drama. Damon, condemned TO death for attempting TO
R!L the tyraut Di0aySuS, Is allowed respite of SIX
hours In which 10 visit us wife and child and take OF
them eternal farewell and how PytiaS his friend, is
accepted hostage ana the surety for his return.
They Will remember likewise, the three great scenes
which easue II one of thon tins husband and father
parts from his wife aud child In another the friend is
overwhelmed with horror and pianged into deirum
OF rage at the loving treachery of his aIsc.
prevent his return, and thus 10 insure the
sacrifice at once OF his hostage and his honor In
the hiri, the supreme moment OF agony he reaches
tle scaGod-On which IysIS is about 10 be sacrificed
N his steAd-lnd rcdeems his word. preserves his
friend and fuls the suggested ideal of Heavens hero
8nd EIrtl's prince gentleman. There is IN Shake
speares BriSthe matrx type Of all tile sefsacrfcng
Heroes whom art las rescued from andqmty-a higher
broader more philosophical. ana more hney-iouched
poetical nature than appears in the drawing
Of Damon but the humanity is the same
an both. There can be purer sweercr
ideal. and the actor who fills IL attalns lofty
height. Nj. Mccullough looks the part perfectly and
whereas IN ms previous performances there were
stretches OF level quetuIe. al1ernated with wild bursts
OF feehus elabOra ei flights OF elOcuOn IN this
performance the flowing. ductile. sinuou',
and graceful undua0n of an identity OF character en-
trely assumed and a varying state OF natural emotion
spontaneously expressed. Il was not acting but living
Any actor who il strong man and able TO below ana
snort can produce effect with the outOurst upon the
cr.muay of-ou but it requires the lne tenn
peramcnt OF genius make LOOK with tender love
and pity on the noble eXats this frenzy into
sublime human agony and phase OF celestial Istice
This Ia The OTOwDIng excellence in NJ. McCuAough's
embodiment OF Damon. He is not only adequate IN
personal dignity truhfulness OF feeling ana IoVey
symmetry Of execution he is not only tender, 10 the
utmost Limit pathOs in the parting scene, and terri
BILE and gricvOus In the dehriuns bo;h of horror and
oy he Is nos only fortunate vocal fecity-his tones
being martiay sonorous and mournuly tender but he
suused the w4ole performance with the ndehnable but
always perccptible grace Of exalted personality MT
Mccullough IS showing many pictures, and show
ing them rapidly tnat exhaustive examination OF
each Is well "a impossible. Il Is OF less Importance,
however al This stage Of his career that special works
should b. weighed and measured than that something
like lust estimate should reached, at least Eug
Cested OF an actor who is destined 10 benefit the stage
and greatly hep keep alive in the public respect
tbse ideals that adorn il and make il honorable, beauti
fu and bcBchctIt
Nj. WneelOCh made hit as PyhiaS In Two scenes ne
was eycciicuilg earuest.-MT. Mccullough has since
acted Jqce cate excellence OF which performance.
as NAV be surmised from what nave said or ms
peculiar v.-fulv confirmed the Impression made
by ms DIp0n. the younger DAYS or Edwin l."
I.veuuor.- noble artist !-OuT has witnessed no
such mang success that OF MT Net uLough 4O-nIgAt
he Will az F4uicOHbridge III " kinS john
npAMATIC NOTES