, 1877-09-23
4 Generous Testimonial to Edwin
Adams rendered by All
the Managers.
Musical EyeRts Of the Week-The Eddy
Concerts and tie Aew Musical
Predigy.
Dramatic and Musical Gossip from
All Parts Of the Civilized
World.
THE DRAMA,
LAWRENCE K4RKFTT.

THE DRAMA.
LAWRENCE BARRETT.
Inc past two weeks deserve to be rcmem
bered IN our theatrical annals. They have been
marked BY revival Of public interest in the
higher class Of dramatic entertainment which il
highly encouraging. Henceior1h let us cease to
dep!ore the depraycd taste Of the age, but rather
seek to inspire our managers with better faith
in the nublic, and tempt them on to further GU
deayors in the right direction. Both Mr.. Booth
and Mr.. Barrett have been playing to crowded
houses all the week. and it is quite possible that
il the engagement Of the latter had extended to
another fortnight the rivalry between the two
actors would have resulted in continuation Of
the popular interest in this very interesting
tournament. Mr.. Barretts season is over, how
ever, and Booth has the field all to himself.
This has proved to be the most successful en-.
Cagemcnt Mr. Barrett has ever played in Chica-
go. With the exception Q! - run - OF four
weeks when he brought F" Rosedaie - some
years ago,-the said run being due chiefly to the
plcre itself he has generally failed to BE- more
tnan the favorite Of few. This time he has
obtained Il wider hearing. and lis acting aas
elected much discussion. The rapidity with
which he has ruiz through variety OF important
dramatic impersonat.ons in these two weeks
4A4lC PtEIIudES aIlf CAstul141tf1u u
anScs in detall Running through Shakespeare
at railroad speed with shrek, aud roar, and
rattle may be very euterprisiug, but it Is not
habit that should be encouraged. The chief
performer may he *' well up " iu his parts, but
he can hardly expect competent support from
even a picked company III su,h quick
trai,sitions nor call he expect man
agcr to expend that care in their
nfc
quirc Manager Hooley has toiled after Mr.
Barrett braveiy in this matter, and he certainly
should be permitted to go scattcless for any
shortcomings, considering the extent Of the pro-
Eramme he WAS called upon to till.
In presenting such all extensive repertoire
Mr.. Barrett has been bold enough to invite an
honest ami fair Judgment Of his merits. Perhaps
it would have been moro to the purpose had he
chosen To give us QUO good thins,-say his
Cdssfus,-and so have left an indclbe impress
sion OF his excellence than to struggle as lie
did, aud make himself and his coaujutors a
co,ppany OF thratrie i laborers.
Mr.. Barrett's merits as au actor are consider
able. Few MEN III the profession have deserved
their honors SO we'll, or have won them so dear
II. Some men seem to aight unon that ce1c-
brated ''steep where famc's proud temple
sLines.'' Edwin Booth was marked, quotcd aud
signed hy the hand of Nature to be an attor.
Others have to s'c1imb the stee2,'' and climb
it painfully, working under adverse and pcryefse
conditions. It was so with Charles kcan, aud
many others who have achieved high distinction,
aud it is 50 with Lawrence Barrett lie has
reached his present honorable niche in the tenn
Die by dint Of hard labor. An industrious and
talented man who dcyotcs his i;fc 10 the making
ot verses mag arrive at 4 certain degree OF cx-
cc1lepce iu the work,-as Bulwcr Lytton die, -
but be may never become j poet. He remains
simply man oi talent and industry, good eS-
ample for all aspiring young gentlemen OF the
rising generation. And it IS With actors as with
poets. They must have tho inspiration. That
light that never was on sea OF land ''cannut
be acquired: it must be given, Your lorick !
never cultivated 4 talent that could produce
finishes OF nlcrrlnent-" They came to nm.
And it is true, though perhaps !3ty, that the
best aetorsof any generation have generally
achieved their highest triunpis not 5y STUDY, |
but BY what VIC must name, for want OF more /
exact phrase, inspiration
Mr. Barrett i, not an inspired actor. What |
ever degree of excellence he has achieved is the
result uf yerY hard labor What j beautiful re-
silt could be arrived at by the eoInminsinS OF !
the elements tnat hat, compose an Edwin @ Adams
nlicatlon, aud love Of his work, Adams might
have oycrtopped all the actors OF the day. Dut
Nature lIspcuscs her faroEs With sparlng
land. /
By far the finest performance of the past week
was Barrctt's Ctzssins in stJulius C:rsar." This
is q character which seems to fall III with the
actors iosyucrasics and it is the best thing Ae
has ever done. He is all nerve, and fire, and
character 10 which there is ITO re-
pose, the very quality which Mfr. Barrett lacks
in his acting. Unfortunately for 1hs artistic
success OF the performances, he was lndf.lerently
The B1ufus OF the OCCASION (air
appeared to have no conception what
ever Of the character, and Mr. 0Neill's
d,to,.x was piece Of ridiculous ranting:
We havc said that b. Tantcd well
In Otheio, but his rauting in Anfony was mere
His speech to the populace OYER the
dead body Of Crsar was deplorable exhibition
Of bad taste.
Mr.. Harre;t's attempt at comedy on Thurs
day evening. when tie appeared rs Lon Fet4r,
was conspicuous failure. Tic comedy Is vcTy
amusing one, but it is essential tolts enjoyment
that all the parts he taken by weli>traIneu
comedians. And in this case there was not a
comedian in the party. From Barrett do"h
they played it in a very tra@icai manner.
Edwin Booths principal roEs Of tue week
were A;eattitx and BeTtuecso, tWo OF tie best in
his repertoire
presented *'The Ticket Leave Mani in
somewhat loose and hap-hazard style. The play
itself has not, and need never, become anti
on the boards at all as mefc makeshs;t, anu
With set OF players who cannot do Justice to
Lhe parts.
SOCIAL NOTES. f.
TUE THEATRES.
Mr.. Booths programme for the present week
as follows: Monday. Tuesday, and Wcdnes~
,ay, "Mcrchant of Venicc"; Thursday, Fri
-.x7 S,%,,1yJor - Saturday matt |