, 1876-04-12

original OCCURS In tho first sceno Of Act II, Tie
ace-drop falls tho eocond time aftor tho second
scrne OF Act Ill.,, whon Richard abanlona hops
md declares his intoDtiou Of submitting to To-
ifn3broke. Act ILL., includes only tic third scene
OF Act III. Of tho original, which for convon-
iouce ia divided into two eceres, representing
tho Interview Of Richard with NprtAumberland
from tho castle wallis and tho anbmBafon to
Dolingbroke In tho base court. Act ". Ia tho
eceno Of tho abdicatfon before Parliament COM
picto. Act Y. and tho play properly cnd With tho
death Of Richard. There could not bo any bot
tor arrangement Of tho play for stage repseaon-
tatlon.
Yet, with this extraordinary advantage in its
favor, "Iichard H." docs not provo to bo q
good acting drama. 1t does not catch popular.
applause, partly because 1t Ia too roilnel aud
spiritual In itH construction TOR quick approhon-
zion and appropriation. but mainly because It
Ia cks the essential dramatic olenlent OF action.
It has pootsy.-nos only Of language but OF sit
accurate historical narrative; but 1t has not
that supremo appeal to tho feelings which ia
mado by tho exhibition Of emotion In coarse
physical form. TO rocito feeltpgs, enumeratlng
them, the anal5zinE them, gtoping them ia fantastlo
inga by acting from them, Ii those foollucs
a1e expressod in verse, Is to. apply
d5sma9 %hah posry ycas9, 10 she f.ro oaa for
in bis porverso fashion, contcnlod that mono OF
Shakspeares plays ought 70 DO represented upou
tho stage; he hes found TON subscribers to his
opinion; but. il he had said "Rchard H."
hayo merely uttered trnism which tho whole
body Of ShakspcAroan critics. by their concur
rept authority, long ago established. Nor hAve
tho merits Of tho tragedy boon overlooked.
Many editors have preferred It to all Of Bhak-
spearo's historical dramas aa a study for rho
cloaet
Tic mnin dofoct In tho construction Of tho
tragcdy-wllfcl, By iteelf would DO fntal to
stage Hncccss--consfsts in the fact that tho nc
Bolingbro&e. This tskos placo In the third act.
Tlencofogth the audience aro merely wit
ncaaes TO tho signing and soaliog Of tho loo-
umonts which arc to eotlsummato :llo
usuzpation Of Boltngtroke. Tho fourth and fifth
dauts. but thoy arc au epiloguo to tho real traR.
cdy which hns nllcady takou place In tho baHo
court, below DasAlangh'y Casslo. Tragedy does
not lopond for ita climax on biool-]otsipg. The
hutcl,e1inE OF Richard in tho castle at 1'omfret
ts not to him 60 painful, 80 Illuminating. SO much
tho eol Of life, acd psaco, aud joy, as tho teafg-
nation OF Lis cfowtl. hs royalties, bis station.
to his inveterate aud ail'conquoring enemy aud
rival. l'oling1roke. 1t should be remembered, Ia
OF an ago with Richard has boon his cotnpan-
Ton since boghood; has been alwayB Ills subjecs,
and yet nlwayB dangerous couBD. 70 place
.ho foot Of ouch cousin on ono's ncck aud
eTcar allegiance to hisn-'a not this worse than
delthi
Mr.. Booth's persouation Of Richard IL trnsy
admirable. Some minor lctccts thcro arc In 1t,
but In comparison With tho croWning merits
those arc 30 small as Bcarcoly To dosoryo notice.
Ihors ia porhaps ahado too much Of n dispoHi-
tltn, 1u tho less important speeches OF Richard
to bn molodramatto and 10 conquer applause bv
mere showing OF the wlites Of eyes, aud fond
lingering IN tie cultural courta OF horror. But,
tue ether hand, tho artist ia supreme, and hia
art without tlaw in all tho noblost passagos ot
tho play. Wlsorc most ia required OF him ho
Sields most. In the Inst scono Of tno second act
(stage yorson) h1r. Doot, followed with unfuil-
Ing accuracy The rapid Transitions Of tho char
acter 10 hts altornatlonH ot opo and doopair, he
ming. tDear earth. / do saluto tLoo,"
:. Digcomfortoble couAtn," otc., II had
forget myself; tam I not a Ktpg :" and "Of
no t wth
ncvor fails to make o fair point, and OF course
tho force Of tho lines
Not MI thn water ID tho rough, rude sca
cau wa0h the balm fsem an anolntea ling
did not oacapo him. So. a!so, ho improved hls
opportunity III ths familiar passIge.
Fur within tho hollow crown
That rounds the nortal templcs Of King,
Kcepa Dcath Ills court.
But the strongest md n,oat unexpected expoBi-
ton Of tho text was 10 tlIo third nct whon Ar.
Booth, doscendlng from tho caatlo wa!is nado
oyery step rcsouud as Ao repeated tao words,
Doten Down CONF; like gllstering phseton.
Wanting ths ms,sRo Of unruiy jadss,
Nr. Booth in.eruraty tho char,ctcr ~ 5,,ca,rx,
mn il H. nilnwinv lin, tn he wess vaoitI.tnr
troa:uorous. md ,oyor constant oyar, tn h;s nwn
bravery Of hla Own pusianimity, iIo has
little sympathy with tho Wow of tl;s most emf
reforri,,r to tho Winueto tobiilty Of In c,1,r.
actor Of Richard ii. II tia king Ind anv snrh
mobility after he errlyotl At tha yanrs ~ Man
1oj < vos nat krnwn IN tne "i,r,ninio.. - ~
tirnes and not to Shnsnoare To Enu ~ y, H. III
churnc.or il ciyan In Tho worn of s ifo IL. t,,e
u.,t o,......
Dcposed th!no lnts1!oct7 li.th liz horn in
Tho lion dying. thsuste.h forth hi. paw.
1na A. ~ wonaaa .ne t.stn: = @ @nTltng . cse wh rsse
iii" INV corrcction Inillly: eiss ihs hsiiA' RI:
Ara trown " rage Win lasa humility.
"n.en t,. ' ~. non .na soo a''a .! beasts. -..
- IT, ay "nS s hono ~ 'un etaeo .o'otapY mnen