, 1877-10-07
DION Boucicault's Row with the
Eastern Critics Over His New
Comedy Of j" Marriage"
The Testimonial to Mrs.
Rive-King---Eddy Or
gan Recital.
Hershey Popular Concerts The
Hess Troupe.-Kel!ogg and
Cary--Theodore
Thomas.


I,nnuestiouably the most notable dramatic
sTeut Of the past week was the production by
MIR. Edwin Booth Of the Shakspearean version
Of Richard ILL., 1t may be sale to say that
such q dcpartur: from the venerable ''1radi
lions ~ will not be indorsed yers generally By
FIN. dramatic profession. We should be sur
,7isct, indeed, If i: did not meet with ssThis-
wllI-neycr-do'' from the majority Of the older
actors: anl this has already proved to be the
r,se to some, extent. McNickcr himself had
,rrayc apprcheusions for the success Of the cr-
ncru,eut. and, although he has found good 1ca-
s,n- since the performance to modify his opin-
iyps, he still casts Il longing, lingering look be-
hind at tue good old acting edition - OF Colley
ciobcr. So it will be no doubt with must Of his
f.lIuw-actors and managers until Nr. Booth has
made this inuoyatiorU) SO universally accepta-
lille Us to wipe poor old Colley and his work
completely out Of remembrance OF this genera
ton.
The usual reason assigned for the preference
of Cinber's elaptrap version to the original Is
1,at The former is the better = aclng plays' of
thu Two, by which, We presume, is ,ueant not
that his .s Pic1ard is finer dramatic creation.
but that the representation is better calculated
tn bring down the house-'' II the experience
of TWO evenings may be accepted Us j fair
indication Of the reception to be accorded to
Booths version for the future, this WORKOUT
theory is completely demolished. We may
rc-er again hear the thlndcrs of the gallcr4: in
resDo,;Sc TO the familiar = OF with his head
much fur Euckingh1n',:' Or - Shadows ayaunt:
Kichard's himself agan;" and tha: 4' "1.ahi:!oH
youtu who fred the. Eulcsian dome" will
l,e consigned to everlasting oblivion. Yet
the actor will find ample compensation Tor
tue loss OF this kind Of applause-wh:eh is di-
rette,l, not 1T the acting. hut at the bonbastic
utterances-in the appreciation ot the 1Eurc i'll
te;liccut observers it was noticeable that Mr..
Booth won more applause 1or his acting on
Tuesday and "Wednesday than he ever cid it
his former Representations Of the character.
Aud this DESPITE the utter absence Of rant und
claptrap which have hitherto disiigurel the pur-
trait i'll the hands If the best theatrical artists.
Indeed lis se!f-rcprcssion throughout WAS truly
a,.uirabic III place Of the old, noisy Iscisufd,
wllo III truth was nothing but i vulgar butcher.
ia fiuc oll-fashioucd tyraut all OF the oldc'i
time. we were presented with 4 sa1llful de-
linxatioa ol the profound disscmb!er that
Shakespeare urcw:-
VINO clothes his naked vilairy
With old odd ends. stolen forth Of Holy Writ
And seems SAINT when most hc plays the devil
There are nome Of the subtle traits Of character
in Aichard which Shakespeare painted in some
OF MS philosuphic rogues, as, tor example, III
I1qo. lie is simply bold, ambitious scnctner,
wiz, makes up his mind from the first to waite
1ErourlsIaugll;cTt to The throne. lie Las no pity.
M ren,orse; he docs not start like Macbeth ut
the sight Of blood; he revcls IL it, and laughs
at the idea Of such things As eonpinrtloui
yis:ln.s. Ills hypocrisy is as barc.actd Is us
other y1liaI.ies. He takes Keen delight Ill llle
art Of descending. and Ill his march onward IL
The summit oi his ambition ne only pauscs tn
rhuck!c over his SUCCESS and laugh Ut the p"ur
dupes III .lccciycs into concert with his designs
such Il character, one u!lght say, requires b}
III means the highest histronic capacity 1or lts
Representation. 1t is 4 picture that Is IT, be
drawn in rough, bold outlines. aud tlIls Is Mllit
Mir, Bputis has done. His aching is vivid aud
strong full OF those sudden flashes Ut fleTy ve'
henleuce which have been 4 characteristic o1 tilt
les: OF the Booths. Among tue best OF hls
sceres r,ay be noted that in which he suddenly
lru!;s the I,lsk with Hastings and commands
Cafcstu to chop oil his head. 1t was as Il ;
1iend had sprung out Of monks co"l. lhs
wouing III U1r.t @i,Ae, aud the other no less III
trresting wooing Of queen Eizdbeth for the ha1't
Of her i .unltcr were each masterpieces. There
IVES II, admirable bit OF acting, too III tie scent
where he yields TO the citizens, and accepts t!lt
crown. In the Cibber version, Richard is mads
to utter Il wild apos:roplc to the crown
On. how its awful glory wfaps INF soul,
which is one Of Collcy's flights. This, Of course
de,art iu!r citizens, aud turns rounu with lool
pf keen c1ultAtiun. when Le suddenly peE:eIVcs
the Eishoj,. Int prompt supprcssi" OF li's rc:'
feeling aud the quick resumption ol the 'nask q
sau.tity-'' Come. let us to our holy gear again
was 4 consu,ur.,a1e piece Of stage ei1cct.
In the tent syc1lc Booth adleres strictly t.
Shakespeare, and delivers very effectively
difficult soliloquy; aud in the death sstn'
llc drops ! great deal Of neeuless stag
fencing His death OF Rtchard tai
I've compared to nothing that has been seen q
1i1e e,lge since Salyinl's death OF O'htiio. II
receives the fatal thrust: there is oEe brIc
culver oi a@ony, one spasmodic effort to rus
upon his adversary; then ! leap nut" the air
then horrible fall head downward, aud tier
VA, an end vi him. THE bloody dog is dead.
tie dies like dog. 1t is painfully realistic, bu
thoroughly characteristic.
On tie whole, Mr.. Booth is TO be congratu
lat,d on his Richard. II 1t does not Suppressed
tl,. CuIiy Cibber yer sun it will he mainly OWN
to tic gr,uils lance that it requires the assist
uucc vf Il larger Number Of goou actors Bu
wr have uo hesitation in predicting THAT, one
the public become 1u1niIiarizca with the prese!l
version of sr. Booth, they will be content t
let CuIlcy CiDber remain on the shel1.
LOCAL EV VENTS.
THE THEATRES THIS WEEK.
thh 6ps