The New York herald., 1875-07-14
shakespeare and the stage.

N@AOSPOGAO 0hO NV
Mr.. Henry Irving, whose performance of
Hamlet has been the sensation of London,
closed his two hundredth performance few
evenings since, and was the subject of pop
ular demonstration, which reminds the critic
OF the London Times 'of the excitement
OF which we hear in the biography Of Edmund
Kean." In acknowledging this courtesy Mr..
Irving made speech, IN which he announced
that in September he would play Macbeth
supported by Miss Kate Bateman, and after
ward Tennyson's new drama of "Queen
Mary" Furthermore he said it was the in
tention of the management that no play, '1t
possible, should run beyond one hundred
nights" Mr. Irving's success is gratifying
to all who love Shakespeare. 1. is pleasant to
think Of masterpiece like "Hamlet' run
ming for two hundred nights in London 1t
shows that popular taste has not run alto
gether to jig dancing and burlesque. Mr..
Irving is now the dramatic rage in the British
capital. He is not as good an actor as Mr..
Booth. In fac, beyond q certain grace and
earnestness of style, he cannot be called any
thing more than q fair average tragedian.
His success, therefore, is more q tribute to
the reviving taste for Shakespeare than to any
high and rare genius on the part Of the artist.
This success in London recalls Mr. Booth s
hundred nights of Hamlet some years since at
the Winter Garden-the beginning of that great
actors fame. 1t also recalls the success Of
Mr.. RignOld as Henry ", last winter, at
ROOfb' q Thaof,a Il Oh that Sho kac 70
has as much life in New York as in London,
and that, although we have moods when we
yearn for Irish comedy and ballet troupes,
under all is an honest, hearty love of the
great master. We shall this winter, probably,
have q season Of Shakespeare. Mr.. Booth
will come again to New York, where he will be
welcomed. Mr.. Sullivan will return to New
York for q second season in America. Mr..
Sullivan is remembered as O brilliant and
original actor. The announcement of Mr..
Irving that he will not play character more
than hundred times in single run is sug-
gestive. 1t shows that even in London there
is protest against ''long runs" They take the
life out of the drama. The managers crave a
sensation. Once found ard the season ex-
hausts itself on the one play. The actors
grow weary. The people turn to other
amusements The play is run through,
skipped and clipped and hustled by perform
ers weary of part. Now the success Of
Irving as well as that of Booth and Rignold,
shows that the love of Shakespeare is as much
popular taste as the love of music.
Why then, should not some one of
our theatres take up Shakespeare for a
season and deal with him in an honest
fashion. Why not, instead of exhausting
season on Hamlet or ''Henry "" arrange
at the outset for half dozen plays, to be
well cast well mounted, with all proper at
tenton to stage accessories and competent
acting, even in the smallest parts? Let plays
be given alternately during the season, just
as operas are given. Let US suppose "Ham-
let" 'sOthello," ''Richard," "Romeo and
Juliet" "Much Ado About Nothing, ",The
Tanning Of the Shrew'' and ''The Merchant of
Venice for a repertoire. Here are plays that
would suit ali tastes. ''The Tanning of the
Shrew," which is only played as farce from
the outrageous adaptation of Garrick, could
be made one of the most amusing and delight
full comedies on the stage. IT any one would
rescue Romeo and Juliet" and ''Richard
Ill" from that fearful Colley Cibber sepulchre
of melodrama and cant in which they have
rested for a century, and play them as
Shakespeare drew them, it would be a re-
wal worthy of the name. As for "Othello," {"
we have in Booth and Mccullough the best
actors of Othello and Iago now on the English
stage. There is no lack of resources, either
in men and women, competent to play, or in
audiences willing to see and hear.
What we do lack, however, is courage on
the part of our managers. There is no reason
why Shakesperian theatre should not be-
come an institution in New York. 1t must
begin, however by playing Shakespeare and
not indulging the idiosyncrasies of stars.