The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-29


Cullough, Mr.. Booth, Mr.. Barrett, and
rule and direct company, and, therefore,
ITO many it seems strange that each OF these
does not gather about him men and women
Of talent and train them to perfection, so
that, upon the representation of O piece,
every character would stand or move in just
relation to every other character. It is not
quite impossible to get and retain men and
women in this honorable subordination,
though it is difficult in these days when
each Individual who feels little histrionic
fire within pops up as q star-not content
with aiding bigger stars to shine, he or she
must shine alone. Again, the management
OF q company such as we would like to see
Ia an arduous task, and few will undertake
if. and, over and above all else, it leads
sometimes to bankruptcy: Mr.. Booth, with
his transcendent talents, toiled and failed
others will not readily follow in his foot
steps.
But these bigger lights might at least
have qood companies. When an inferior
actor comes along badly supported VIC do
not lose much by staying at home, and in
that way avoid having our taste offended.
But 1t is different when man or woman OF
reputation comes down here backed up by
q dull, lifeless set. We cannot miss seeing
him or her, even if all our notions OF what
Is right are plucked up by the roots. Du-
ring Madame Janauschek's last visit here a
gentleman who showed turn for other
characters played Macbeth to her Lady
Macbeth. The consequence was not only
the murder OF Duncan, but very innocent
butchery OF Macbeth-an artistic suicide.
That gentleman played the Cripple in The
Two Orphans finely; he played Jaques in
As You Like 1t we'll, and SO great was his
versatility we believe be could have played
the Grave-digger either in or out OF Ham.
let; but certainly it was crime against art
to permit him to deal with the mastery,
regal language of the old-time King Of Scot
land. He rather shocked most Of us; but
we were bent on seeing Janauschek at any
cost. s...
Too true it is that we cannot any more
get at and enjoy the real beauties OF play
when it is not put before us as grand
whole than we can get at and enjoy the
thoughts in II page Of printing II half the
type-faces, before going to press, had been
Knocked off, And this unity-this "grand
whole e"-in representation, not only sets
the characters in richer light, in better con-
trast-not only aids us in retaining an i'm
nression OF them, but the charm OF it comes
npou us and remains with US, creating an
altogether indetinable pleasure.
When q mere child, the present writer
saw Forrest as Othello. Those that sup
ported Forrest had been most consummate-
" trained By that scrupulous and exacting
master. There is q rather dim reflection
vet lingering in our mind Of the scholarly
Cassie OF gentle-mannered Desdemona, OF
that incessant babbIer, the delicate, courtly
Iaoo-with his wonderful mockery OF hom-
age-with intense malignity now and then
s9ring ging up and cleaning In his eyes, and,
then Of the huge, rugged Othello, mighty at at
rest and in action; but there is less dlm
memory of the impressive regularity yet ma
turalness of all-of the solemn sweeping on
towards the fearful end-of the ma1estlc
evolving of the tragedy, resembling tne
harmonious and interblending movements
of some impassioned dream.
Now, with the eminent Mr.. Mccullough,
assisted by Miss Carey, Mrs. Allen, ME-.
Leyick, and Mr.. Lawrence, we have right
to expect that Richelieu, Hamlet, Lear,
Richard, Virgiaius, and the Gladiator will
he set before us next week as they should be.