New-York tribune., 1875-02-09
THE DRAMA.
HrNRY AT Eoora's ruEArER.

0
ing We forgot the flight of four hundred aud hf'y
Gears and stood with tie young king and his bishops
and mobiles at Westminster looked upon the camp OF
the Dauphin the plains of Artois. There was small
need such magnificent presentment go far beyond
the modest resources Of shakespeare's imc for the
apology of Chorus:
Piece out impeTfecticns with your thoughts;
Into a thousand parts divide one mau,
For tits your thoughts must deck our kings
Garry them here aud there, jumping Ger umes'
lntO an hOur-sl4ss."
II would hardly he possible 10 the spectacular
drama higher point OF spendor than 1t reached Oh
this occasion In scene one could trace the aDor
of scholars and historians The Throne Room at west
minister and the Palace rrOyes realistic pictures
of architectural interiors The royal into Lon
don and the Boais II an Elstcheap. ike photo
graphs OF the streets Of the ancient British capital The
men at arms nIghJ have just Stepped out OF
Proissarts Illuminated pages. Shields and banners
might have been Dor owed from sowe Old cathedral
or the eighteen twenty different scenes, all excellent
we can only men the most rmarkable. These
the beautiful Of the English fleet in the harbor OF
Southampton, with HeUys emheikation for France
two pictures OF the attack upon Hnfsur one IN which
Henry leads his unto the breach. the other
showing the flag Of truce on the half
ruined walls and the entrance Of the victorious
Eagish exquisite view Of the Englsh camp on the
night before battle; the superb t,iunphal return to
London and greatest OF all the triumphs of
time, the tab.eau OF the Bate Of Agincourt,
whose realism ana spendOr 10 commendaton
scan extggeraJe. 1t is the only representa-
ton OF combat on the stare IN which
recall no;hng ridiculous. II tae center Henry
struggles, dsmOuuted with a knight horseback, and
far away into the background stretch the opposing
.hOsts tne multitude OF men the fading upon
the confused siGh that hardly realizes that tne
rear is only painted canvas.
Such enterprises by means new, Macready,
JHean, Kemble, Edwin Booth and others have under
taken them ana won nota0c successes. j. T. P!anche,
who is not only dr4uiatst hat OF the highest
English authorities the archaeology of costume,
supcrntcnded the preparation Of the dresses, banners
Rrmor, and similar accessories wien King John !"
was thus produced by Kemole at Covrnt Garden, and
the play the wonder and deligh. OF the London
eeason. So hGte, however the value of
historical accuracy appreciated by managers that
time that John Kemble demurred to the suggestions
of the learned Francis Douce respecting certain cor
rectOns in costumes, "GOOd heavens Sir would
you have them take me for antiquaryi" We know
better nowadays; but while the policy Of eumptuOus
and careful display is good has this danger
that IL tends 20 make the limbs and hourshes
to the soul As applied to the poetic dramas
1t is especially unsafe. These. being IDEAL permit
license in treatment Garrck and all the of the
last play Oe0 in British military uni
form Haalet in q suit Mackhp was the first
man tO dress Macbeth in Scottish costume; and
these old made great effects nevertheless In
their day laid soul the clothes
and the great question the color Of HGmleFs hair
had not arsen Crimes aud performers concerned them
selves rather with the problem OF HGmIefs character
than the cut OF his cloak. Incongrutes OF garb
not noticed not cared for when the
Interior spirit present. Too much regard
easily be paid TO the details Of real life
IN the play, when life to be not real but
ideal Archaeological correctness and stage realism are
OF slight value for instance in drama like
"Macbeth." where deal with passions that
universal. tragedy o. the soul that proper
% all countries and all ages. Because Shakespeare
local this ideal the Scotland Of the
uth century, must Macbeth therefore come before
Us nearly nakedi Would you have Oaractacus"
says Sampson to George Warrington painted blue.
like an ancient Britain BOndlca with nothing but
cOwakin 2"
Henry "" however is play to which the policy of
reaism Is well adapted. Though portions OF 1t are
written in pOea language-the eloquent speeches OF
Henry, for instance, aud the wOoing between
Henry and RafhGrine-t is essentially prose history
which depends for great deal OF its due
effect upon the completeness with which the
Imagination Of the spectator is enabled to deck the
kings carry them here and there and jump o'er times"
Here the arts OF the decorator nave their
Without them the drama would probably be tame on
stage for its subject maUterthe gish invasion
OF Frances not particularly impressive, and martial
conquest really high matter. The action passes
chiefly episodes and the Chorus is introduced aid
In the story Nevertheless the play abOunds In noble
and interesting Besides the fine passages to
which have referred, have many Incidental Jets
of human and real life, familiar thousands who
DO know where they found. Here Dame
Quickly gives the description OF the death of Fasta
Here old rogues, Bardolph. Nyn, and Pstot, re.
appear Here figures Macmorrts, shakespeares only
Irishman The action of battle animated and in
SpiritiDg and the the OF AgincOurt Is
for It's atmosphere Of suspense aud anxiety The
character Henry not unworthy OF the closest study
OF great shakespearean actor. Beneath the assump-
ton leyity other disgusting outside there shines
The beauty OF a manly character, prncely department.
capacity TO command. inward dignity aud serious
ness. aud a religious exatatiOn.
In the newly come English actor, Mr. George Rignold,
this fascinating character found admirable repre-
sentative who portrayed the life the regal magnif
oence of bearing and the robust galantrY OF young
English Harry. 1t was noble personatOn, free
from the common tricks and mannersms OF
the stage, illuminated with the fire Of
youth and softened with the graciousness
of tender and poetical nature fine OF manly
beanty; a study gentleness and courtesy. Mr.. Rig
mold, moreover is endowed with natural
gifts; conspicuous among which must mention
winning cOuntenance, elegant figure, aud q most
musical voice. In the TlIeten Of Mr. Fred
erick Thorne had performance Of very
different yet hardly inferior excellence The
brave. honest, impetuous, vet comica Welsh gentleman
moved before us Shakespeare must have fanced him.
We could not have wished tone TO be changed
movement 70 be otherwise. The English Soldier (Wil-
lams Of Nj Frederick Warde another capital piece
of acting Juignet threw ittle art and humoT
into the small part OF French Soldier TAe
Pistol OF M {. B. Bishop hig.Iy farcicai Out
shall we ever the ideal Pistol H. ana the Bordoph o.
Mr. Charles Is Clercq bore IL it company. Nile ge'the
Girardin, who played K0ldrine comes from tie Paris
oruQe M VII .ut.