The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-02
ADJUSTMENTS.


Tha Lyccum Theatre reminded last night OF ono
OF those houses built in the Arctic regions by adven-
furious sailors. Outside will snow storm WAS raging.
the streets white as the skies were dark and
tho northeast wind whrlcd the countless fakes before
It; inside WIS warmth, light, comfort and pleasure.
The audience was not large but those who dared the
storm well repaid by tho splendid performances
Of Dir. Edwin Booth in John Toward Paync's nne
tragedy, "Brutus, the Fall OF Tarquin" Mr..
Booth who acted better than he Is acting this
season, put much fire ard energy mo the charac.
ter, that at the end OF each act he enthusiastically
called before the Like Milton. he might have
said that he had at audience, but few" wintci
might reign without but the summer OF genius ruled
within.
"Brutus is probably the best tragedy written by an
American. Its author took Shakespeare for model
and his treatment OF very subject - always
bcautiial and sometimes powerful. Tho verse is full
OF UNCONSCIOUS limitations az Shakespeare hut " this
is fault II Is not one VIII Gu needs Ia he condemned.
The action Is spirited, and II the dialogue redundant
the appeals heaven and the gods Of Rome too fro
qucnt. that Is better than the mcagre, meaningless
monotonous dicton with which tho plots OF modern
plays covered. as the boDy legs Of bad actor
padded There are plays that We have seen from
which no one could carry away one sentence worth
remembering, but "Biutus ~ rich In noble thoughts
arraycd IN stately rhetoric.
Tho character OF Bru,us IL especially dramatic The
FOLLY whlcE he iegns, me PATRIOTISM he chcrshcs, tho
determination TO make homc Tree which hc con
ccais AT first and executes at the last, are
elements which 10 themselves would make an
heroic character, but Payne added another ele-
ment OF tremendous power when he displayed
the father ms well AS tho ibcrator. The attn act In
which Bruius condemns ms uniathlu sou to doath,
as traitor 10 Rome, Is tragedy complete IN tse.
Mr. Booth finely expressed the contrast of the pre-
tended madness OF Brutus and his uncomfortable
eninity To the 1arquins the FIRST Iart Of tho
drama, but IN the last act he surpassed himself Tho
struggle between the love OF the father for his and
tho stern duty OF the Judge OF the best
ampcs of tragic acting iha. tho New York stage has
seen for years IL was at once pathetic and TERRIBLE
ana the subtle art OF the tragcdian almost
noticed in HE intensity OF his passion.
The general performance was uneven. Mr.. Frederick
Robinson ~ not adapted to tragedy, and his habit or
balancing ms voice between low Whisper and loud
shout produces effects which not very agreeable
Sumo Of the Romans fearful 10 behold and moro
dreadful To hear but from tins category u IL only tar
that Mr. George H. Pierce should he excepted.
lie set his countrymon an example which Il
would be wise for them to follow We have
respect Tor the ancient Romans but we reason
why they should be allowed to bu-dozc and lntimiato
an un0tendng American audience. The ladies were ut
homo IN their r6ies, but woman who can read blank
properly Is as rare who can pass MILL
merry store without p,sDg TO look nj tho new bonbcs
The words they know. but they are ignorant OF tho
music. We arc inclined to think that II is as hard to
read blank verse us II Is to xrc IL.