New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-28
EDWIN BOOTH AS. RICHARD III.

Shakcspcare's. tragedy of Orchard Ill" is
not the Kind Of work that be deemed entrel c0ns0-
nnnt with the spirit the Christmas II great
but IL cheerful Many persons, however are eA
ant 70 whom the mood u goose plum pudding and
GOOD will toward man is not absolutely en-
crossing; and to them, at any rate the
revival OF Richard ILL.," which has been made by Mr.
Coott at the Iyceum Thcatcr, win amss. The
dark and tdr0ulont old piece has been reproduced
with good scenery and a respectable cast, and
Mr. Booth Las acted richard with much vigor,
fire. and subtlcty The Clbber version u
prescnted-a version that sacrifices spirit TO
movement but one which experience has found service
able and effective Once within twenty years an effort
was made here to give this tragedy according To Shakes
reare That was at Niblo'5, under Mcssrs. jarrett
Palmer James Bennett. scholar but not genus
acted Richard, and after him Mr.. Nell war
ner bounded and beloved through The. part
and finally the stupendOus Count OF Jones
l.omcd t,rouqb H. charger than human" the three
sheet posters But 1t did succeed. IL was grand
but tedious and tho public cried, with tho erude sly
cit IL a very good pay-wOuld IT were ended" ClDOers
version IL all abroad from Shakespeare but at least IL
does not tge and those who know the original can supply
its defects passes before them and so get enjoyment
out OF what IL little than skeleton synopsis
Ri1hard as Shakespeare paints him, is compound OF
urnd and man. He suferg terribly. Ills vile,
Anne, says OF him, thai she never rested
I'm quiet where he present, because OF
lig dreadful dreams and nightly paTONyhns OF agony
lie "a yiper enough at times OF acOn-but there are
human drops in his viper blood; and they make him an
image OF remorse less than OF balciul wckcdneSs
In CIbber no is almost all viper. Ii Is not III
toward the last that no breaks; and even
then the gpcctatOr-unlcss he derives his Illustrative
light from knowledge Of the Orginai-wond ers at his
weakness Mr. Booth acts aiehaTd ILL., in Shakespeare's
spirit but with Cbbers form The codmagnity the sar-
donc ease dreadful ana ncrthess OF ey
are for "A long time blended into unshaded current
of ght but presently the fiery anguish OF rcmorse burns
through the ice Of gterng wickcdness, and the man
becomes a type Of most frghtful conflict and misery
Mr. Booths AZ Richard, now, mpresscs the close OBJ
server rs simpler rner and rounded than Of old
There is no distortion, whether of limp or hump,
mr. costume or elocution and there Is effort TO make
points We recall performances OF this part by Mr..
Booth In which he surpassed what Inc accompshes now,
as to tho element of power; but those perform
ances wero not consistent as this one Is nor as
finely finished The cTowring beauty OF the tmpcrsona-
ton was reached In the tent scenes the moment super
natural oversadowngs begin TO influence human nature
the munitions and the subtle magnetism Of this actor
lift him TO the level OF the highest Imagination.
He was literally superb in the dolirium after
the ghost scene; and II may added that he was mar
vicious I'm the energy the final charge and the yperike
n,upee of the headOng DEATH Mr.. Booth IL well sup
norted I'm "Rchard IL"-especiay by Mrs. Jennings as
An,s and Mr. Robinson Richmond. The performance
will he oeaed each night TIL Monday when Mr. Booth
will enact IciuS Brus-which Is one 0l ms best WOrk
and one OF tho thrilln achievements OF coleh-
pOrary dramatic ART