New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-18
THE DRAMA.
BOOTHS TIIEATER MACBETH.


The announcement that Mr.. RignOld and
Mis- Norris would assume the great parts in Macbcth
a. Roo4ls Theaer su.Iiced 70 call together an immense
audience last night in that house Popular fancy cult
waited taste. fashionable society. and shakesrearean
scholarship were all represented In the pright
and eager throng. II was such com
many as actors in Shakespeare might well
ho -oud to address and it paid. the actors no i'd
dressed IT, the compliment of attentive consideration and
often indions applause Earnesness OF feeling was ev
ident on both sides OF the curtain and the representa-
ton may fairly be said to have been as remarkable ior
the manner which it was received as Tor me manner
in which it was given Sincerity is virtue that dgnnes
all II touches; and this performance II II was "''io u
nothing else was at least sincere.
II does not chance To be possible for us TO dwell with
much partcularty upon the details OF this effort Few
NJ the salient facts and only few can here ana now DO
recorded MI George Rgn0d, who had never before ap
neared "a Macbeth undertook that character and he
made many fine points in the ILLUSTRATION OF It's
text and its action. The dark weird somber
imaginative inferior spirit - the quality
that lifts Macbeth above the ordinary world and makes
him amenable for the subtle spiritual FORCES OF heSh
temptaton-he did not evnce The merits OF the person
alton we're mostly technical and were upon the surface
Mr. Reynolds Macbeth was, In other words very earnest
in spirit and correct in expression but the man oe-
hind the utterance did not anywhere through inc all
norant scenes Of the first three acts appear to have
anv constitutional affinity with the grim. pathetic e1-
allied fenddrven being whom Shakespeare mas so
crapdly and touchingy drawn in this tragedy
This beng 90. 1t would be idle TO pause
rnon telicitjes Of reading attributes OF dress
or manner Mr.. RignOld had maniesty, gwen
careful study 10 the part but it was clear that he had
no sni,ual munitions about it, and did not reach up to
ia hight of awful emotion and stormy frenzy Inc de-
foot u-as radical one because IL one OF quallty
This ht be illustrated by citation-but tnat process Is
taaiors and we have not time for IL now One OF the
hos, things done by Mr.. Rignold was the rapid
frenzied speech after the murder and his whoe express
sion OF dssimuation was exceAent-Oetause '"cio wa"
i.ev and conviction beneath il. For first attempt
~ u,cIet. this performance well Thought ana well
conveved but time and its inevitable Accomplishments
y, core and sorrow will day enable MI Rlg-
mold N act the part in closer consonance WIN
cba.esneare and therefore with truth Inc
conc remark might be made TO Miss Clara motifs ID
the character of Lddy Macbeth. In this performance
,h vere revo atoms OF the grOundswe OF emotion by
Witch the mind and person OF this unique and ftful and
ter startling Young are swayed ana tahHgu'u
DIT 4bo nersonatjon was OF the earth and common HE IL
.. 40. tdaal The verse was turned into prose Inc
rso,oiity was shown 10 be thin and ASST iulOus ;
tb oce was nasal and weak: the attitudes ana move
.,s uere punv We would not be thought TO deny
NJ, .,or-ie puncent magnetism There Is no doubt OF
,t PM her recent acting has impressed us az lndlcl
ito NJ Lack of both the imagination and the intellect 10
conceive and fashion purely ideal, poetic character
e,,cb a character, 1t might be said, Is not
-.h fosbioning since it lacks flesh ana blood; bnt
,hot ia an error The reality and the white heat OF
Jo yaebe srpass those qualities In all the Aii1cs Oh
teratre but il needs great genius to illuminate such
creation and make it human without making 1t comnon