New-York tribune., 1876-11-21

EDWIN BOOTH AS HAMLET.


At the Lyceum Theater, last night, Edwin
Booth, reappearng Hamlet greeted by numerous
assempage.-the house being filed though not crowded
with welcome not less affectionate in motive than
demonstratiye In expression He came forward In his
old, familiar personation Of Hdmle-a work with which
his is closely identified as that OF his brilliant
and famous father with Richard the Third, and one
with which his nature is closely sympathetic as ever
mans heart with poets ideal-and he followed the
general path that he has so often traversed His
execuon.-as 1t has long been, in this character-was
marvellous for concentration OF intellect grace OF action
symmetry OF molding. growth OF emotional experience
and condition, thrilling flashes of frenzy, and perfect
precision in uterance and method The processes OF art
have long since become to him second nature and he
represents this character with such cOnsumnate
ease that only in the retrospect Will critical
observer appreciate the splendid p0ise and firm
touch with which all the beautifully complex
mechanism OF the work has been conducted.
This felicity art results in the disnctness OF nature
and Edwin Booths Hamlet stands out "a clearly alike TO
vision and thought, some tall spro against the even
ing sky.
IL we were to pause upon special points in the execu
tion-whch since they illuminate the actors IDEAL ana
noby vindcate his genius, are representative and ueep
" signihcant,-we should Indicate the subtety win
which, almost from the FIRST the sense OF benS haunted
is conveyed to the imagination the perfection with
which tho weird and awful atmosphere OF the ghost
scenes is preserved by what well be called the ac-
tors TRANSPORTATION into supernatural suspense ana
horror the human tenderness and hearbreakng rathos
of the with Ophelia; the shri terrific cry ana
ateke swftness fury that electry the moment OF
the killing of PoloniaS; and the desoate camness OF
despang surrender TO bleak and cruel fate with which
Hamlet as he stands beside the grave of his love. is made
pitiable object that no man with heart in hs
bosom him without tears These are tho peaks
of unmistakable ana unquestionable majesty In Mr.
Booths mpersonatlOn, and from these the spectator
looks upon true Shakesper can conception Us ever
was afforded on the stage.
Thought is not compelled in reviewing this perform
apce TO stop short with the statement that the thing is
well DONE 1t may go further than that and rejoice IN
conviction that the thing itself is perfect There are.
OF course in the nature of Hamlet whichs grace. sweet
ness and grandeur corroded by grief and warped by
insanityl-depths below depths of misery and sefc"n-
1ict and doubtless it was sense Of this that made
Kembe say that an OF the part is always finding
something in it but whatever possibilities OF the
ideal Mr. Booth may have yet 10 reach and supply dis
ideal itself is already right His Hamlet possesses the
ndescrbable poetic element which fascnates ana the
spiritual quality which makes the ready instrument OF
"airs from heaven blasts from hell" The heart has
been broken by grief The mind has been dsordered by
a terrible shock. The sOul-sO Tedsp0sed 10 Drooung
upon the hoOwness Of this fragile life and the darkness
futHrty that already it counscls to suicide before
the great blow has fallen and the frhee
confronts his fathers wandering ghosts full OF vast
fantastic shapes and swayed by all strange forces OF
the unknown world The condition is princcy the man
ner exalted, the humOr full of tears the Thought
weighed down with wide but undecpherable sense OF
the mysteries of the universe and the power OF action
completely dcspOed THIS is Shakespeares Hdmfef, ana
this is the nature that Mr. Booth reveas-in aspect as
somber as the midnight sky in spirit as lovely as the
midnight stars This he lives brilliantly, too, know
ing that sorrow, howsoever powerful in the element OF
oppression, cannot ascnate The Hamlet that Il merely
sorrowfu though he might arouse pity would never
inspire affection. II is the personality Deneah the
anguish that makes the anguish stately so awful,
and so majestic. BY itself the infinite GRIEF OF
Hamlet would oyerwhelm with the monotony OF
gray despair; but. since the nature that
shines through IL ia invested with the myste-
rious and fascinating glamour OF beauty III rum
the grief becomes active pathos. and the snnerer Is
loved as well as pitied does it detract from the
loyeless Of the ideal that IL is cursed with ncpen ana
ul insanity. Thought shies at the word and not the
thing when rejects this needfu attribute OF chaiac
Ter otherwise eternally obscure No one means that
Hamlet needs strait jacket. The insanity Is cloud
only, and only and then prescnt-as with many
sane men whom thought, passion and suffering urge al
times the border land between reason ana madness
This lurd geam is first conspieuously evident in MIR.
Booths Homlet after the first apparon Of the Ghos
and again after the climax OF the payscene but now
ing out OF artnstnct too spontaneous always to have
direct intention 1t plays internationally along the whole
line OF the personation and adds weight and wcrdness
and pathos to that mmedicabe misery which iee can
find no relief this side the grave.
Mr. Booths audience we have said, received him
with aectonate cOrdiality, calling him out twice al the
end OF act first and several times later II also mani
tested satisfaction with the acting Of his coaboer in the
great tragedy Miss Clara Jennings who looked Ophea TO
the life and sang the music with simple paihos and fine
execution, was received with especial favor Mr. Fred
Robinson acted the Ghost and the part could never have
been better read II this occasion. Mr. Nc
Vicker's dry, chuckng humOr and character touches
made the First Grare Dg0er droly funny and his dress
ing and action made it exceptionally picturesque The
King OF Mr. Mines Levick, long known excellent, was
notably ne night for the facial portrayal Of fear
and remorse The general acting even, aud the
scenic sets were substantial and handsome. Hamlet"
will he repeated all the week except Saturday after
noon when Mr.. Booth will appear Claude Meinote