, 1874-04-24
JOHN M'CUtl0 0UGH.

JOHN MCCULLOUGH.
| 1'othe Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
SIR: During the past week, now star in the
dramatic tirmamsnt-one who, like many of Lis
predecessors, has won his first laurels On tle
Pacific slope, and who came heralded with words
| OF great pgaise-has appeared at the Academy
Of MuBic IN five tragic characters, three Of them
shakspeare's. He has been crested with crowded
I houses, awakened great deal' Of enthusiasm
received considerable unqualified praise, and
very little adverse criticism.
/ Sitting down quietly now, after the excitement
is over, let US see what position in the rank OF
| the present-day tragedians this newcomer, John
| Mccullough, occupies, and what new light he
| has thrown on the conception of the char
acters he las endeayerel to imper-
| sonato. For, we take it, tho student
! OF the drama, and particularly OF Shakespeare,
! rarely, if ever [speak1ng for ourselves, we can
say ueyer,) secs a perfect embodiment OF hia
| ideas; 30 that all We can expect is that some
new ideas viii be given as to the reading OF Ger
tain passages, the portrayal Of certain passion,
| or the putting into action the doing Of 4 Ger
tain decd Geniuses, alas! are rare
we know Of but one at the present
day, and he is not so much an exponent OF tho
English or 6hadspaarenn Us Of the French 70
mantle drama-so. we repeat, this is all we can
expect Of an actor; and expecting. ouly this,
can ne judge him impartially aud dlspasslon-
ately7
First, then, John Mccullough brings as Na-
ture's gifts to tho tragic boards tine. we'll
nodded figure, Of medium height and large
frame.-in fnct q wcu-nigh perfect physique !;
large, pleasant, mobile countcnauee, seeming
~ unusually fitted to write the passions on and
rich, FULL well-modulated voice, well cultivated,
but which is capable OF still further cultivation,
aud which he has under control as few actors
have.
We consider that an English or American
tragic ACTOR can only be considered great when
he has successfully impersonated some of
Shakspeare's creations; but, speaking OF them
in the ordor in which they we're presented, re
attributes, which, as We have said, Mccullough
possesses to the fullest extent. It Is not great
part, and We considered alcCulloughs rendition
Of it ncarly, not quite, perfect. Certainly it
WAS better to us than that Of Forrest, who never
seemed to hare his voice under coutrol, or else
abused it.
Pass We then to Richeficu, Dulwcrs ideal of
the erudito and crafty Cardiual Of France, which,
despite many critics, and admitting that it is ut
times too horid and bombastic, is still
ono Of the few plays on the stage to-
day worthy to be played with shaks-
peare's. The very attributes that mado Mr.
McCulioughs sDartacts perfect we're utterly
against hls mpersonation Of Rlchet1eu As we
read the character, Richeiieu, although perhaps
not altogether docrepit is very nearly So Tie
least physical e1ertion utterly prostrntes him he
has one foot in the grave; but his massive intel
lect and indomitablo will carry his mortal body III
this ideal clearly enough. So Mccullough, being
the perfect picture Of Young and healthful man.
hood, utterly failcd to present tho picture Of
tottoring and consumptive old ago. 1t was a
studied effort, and he struggled. hard With hls
robust tones to assume the trembling accents Of
one in the sero and yellow leaf; but
the struggle was apparent, and It was
unsuccessful And here, Edwin Booth, with
hia sparse, 1.-THE fr9me his aquil1ne, careWorn
face aud ph1eEmy tones easily succeeds 13;ss & IN
And, again, Mccullough is not q particularly in
tellectuA actor but rather, 30 far, pre- eminent
for his uaturalness, ease, and grace Booth, On
the contrary, whatever tho character he is'per-
is always endoavoring to probe and pluck out the
heart Of its mystery. This is Booths cast Of |
mind and his why Of treating all characters.
He makes his Rictelieu his best assumption, |
and the best on the stageto-day. Barrett comes |
next to Booth in the persouation Of this charac-
ter. Barrett, indeed, although by no means an
imitator-he is growing rapidly, and will one
day be great,-is very similar in his treatment |
OF characters to Booth.
0ntello, McCnllough's first shaksrearean effort |
SAAASfA
direct comparison with other great |
actors than any other be assumes, with the cx- |
ception, perhaps of Hamlet. Still, as we think |
it more croditable snd worthy Of praso to nearly
acters than to be perfect in any other, We con-
slider his OItelo the finest effort OF the week.
Only one thing is needed: to tonc down slight
disposition to rant IN the more passionate |
early association with Forrest. McCullough's |
and Davenport's renditions OF 0tieUo are the |
two smoothest and most even On the stage, and /
are we'll worthy to be placed 'side by side.
Booths Oltelto is an intellectual effort but is
strongly imbued with his mannersrns, which |
grow Oh him rapidly of Late years, and is almost
utterly lacking in that tenderness for Desde-
mona which Mccullough exhibits 90 exquisitely,
and no other actor has yet brought out 10 effect
lively. OF the many O1euos of tho present day,
and of the four that have been offered in this |
city this Season, there are three that atnnd ont
as very distinct: Mccullough ns natural and
loveable Ohelto, Booth as cold and intellect
ual ohello, and salvini as passionate and ami
NAL 0lhel7o.
McCu11ough's Hamlet is crude and uneven as
yet, but it betrays thought, and, with study and
practice, he will undoubtedly soon evolve COM
plete conception. His idea Of the character is,
that Hanale: was really monomaniac; but, al
though he supports it we'll by argument, we can
not accept it as ours.
His Richard III. was the traditional Richard, |
aud OF the ForrestiRn order. It lacked;the.sar- |
castle power Of Booths. but was forcible; and
his death-scene was very strong rendered. We
are not in sympathy with the character, consid-
ering it very melodrtmatic, ,-Colly Cibber's vor-
zion particularly so.
In summing up, then, We consider his 0ineNo
hr. Mccullough besr Shakspearean im7ersonA-
tion, and one Of the best 0laellos On the etage.
His Si'0rlacus seems without flaw, and he
makes the character, to us. greater than the
authors When age, etudy, and practice have |
him, be win make d fine Richelieu.
When he Eislts US again, We trust he will give
1s his conceptions OF Cor1diunus and jack Cude. |
Eh1ch ne think be would render effectively, In
II his impersonations, he renders with IN intel
isence and naturalneas, and musical cadence
delightful to listen to. W.F. SAGE.
The London Echo rays: 's Mr.. Ralph Wal
10 Emerson has CONSENTED to be- Nominated |
'or tho Office OF Lord Rector ot the University
II Gls8gun.S