The New York herald., 1878-01-13
AMUSEM ENTS.
3ooTz's THEArEz--EDwIS BOOTH AS CARDINAL
woLsEY.

8oorz's THxArEz-EpwIN BOOTH AS CARDINAL
woLsEy.
Mr. Edwin Booth played the part Of Cardinal VOL
sey, In ''Henry WILL" for first in this city
ss Booths Theatre yesterday afternoon. The appear
ancc OF Mr.. Booth role Is always a matter OF
interest, and when this role is which we have
some oi the best OF the present century
the interest is doubled, consequently the house was
crowded. or all Shakespeare's plays there are few
about which there has been much discussion az
~ about ''Henry VIII" IL is firmly established in
lbe minds OF Eany students that Fletcher wrote a
large part OF tho play, that eminent Shakesperan
schoar Speeding has marked out the acts and scenes
written by each playwrigbt, attrbuting TO Fletcher
wolscy's grand soIlioquy, where he bids farewell to
all hts greatness-a concession We not inclined to
mako without much reluctance The play as adapted
Tor the modern stage ends with the death OF
Queen Katharine, aud we are not called upon
10 rejoice In the triumph Of her rival, Anne Boleyn,
or the birth Of the Princess Elizabeth. There are
three great characters in Henry WILL" and which
is the greatest depends much upon how they arc
played As performed yesterday woiscy came first,
Queen Katharine second and The King last. While
Mr.. Booths Wosey dwarfed all the other characters
by whom he was surrounded, and while II was IN ad-
mirable performance intellectual grasp and artistic
finish, IL was not by any means great impersona-
lion, and II Mr.. Booth should drop IL from ms rtper
toire the stage would suffer irreparabie loss
The careful student was everywhere visible In the
reading Of the lines but missed that tremendous
iorce which Shakespeare gives US In ths character.
Mr. Booth was CRAFTY. rather than diplomatic, and
there only occasional outbursts OF that Lofty
sel-con hdence, which arouses our respect Tor the
famous preats He did not once stir us TO enthu-
siasm, although he won our admiration. The solilo
Guy with the paper alter the exit vi the King "a
rather stacy OF passion, and the contortions
of bis face gave MIN tho look OF very Gend rather
Ina In mn npry Cal III
demand the seals Of office his passion reached its
height and was ceverly m.nipclated When he
and choking with rage, We feared ior the lite OF
the little Duke who stood before him. but lie
could dcspise this man." than he remembered
himself, ana continued, with sudden change oi
,0ne 10 charity arninst il Tha. ut,le sceSe IN
the second act with which kean and Miss Cushman
wont 10 eIectrIiy their audiences where Cam
psius steps before woisey IN making an exit but is
quietly touched upon the shoulder by the Cardinal,
who steps before him, brought MT Booth round OF
applause; but The insignihcance OF Campeius TOOK
from the effect We tnink that Mr. Booth was at his
best III DO famous soiloquy, Farewell, long fare.
well, ,J4ll my grca,ness!d he gave the lines their
rapid succession proud, tender, dcjccted, manly, re-
beilious amt conscience striken. Mrs Waller played
the unhappy Queen Katharine With more iofce
than tenderness. Her impersOnatiOn was conspicu-
Gus for conscientious work, something we ind
death was realistic ana the death itself rather
startling. The dying moments OF this III used Queen
bright iair'' in tho rear Of the siYge. The King
played by MIR. Frank Pierce, who seemed 10 tnnk
that this much married monarch was cross between
Juck Cadc and Mctamora. The 'ushs'' with which
be garnished his speech were worthy OF Young Man
Afraid-oi-Ais-Horses. Mr.. Frank McVicker played
:he part OF the comforter, Cromwell, with no htIls
taste and in very pathetic voice. Tho rest OF the
east does not call Tor special mention.
ACADEMY OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CONCERT.
The Philharmonic concert OF which the perform
ance noted in yesterdays HERALD was the rehearsal
took place last evening at the Academy oi Music. be-
foro large audience, which filed all but the front
rows OF seats in the parquot The execution OF the
various pieces nnished than Friday, and,
although there was no novelty on the programme.
tho concert OF great Attractiveness. Tho
Schubert symphony, with which the concert opened,
occupied an hour in It's performance. Whle IN Schu-
berts music = whole We miss the tremendous grip
OF Beethoven and the rhythmatic flow OF Mozirt wo
ind ia cer.ain port0us force and melody that
reach very high standard Of art In the symphony,
Interpreted by Mr.. ThomaS through the Philharmonic
orchestra, We Schubert his beet Melody
crowds upon melody and beautiful harmony pre-
.dss over AZ me spri! o. ,ne composer was gwen
nsr better advantage than wnen Mr. Thomas wIelus
the baton. He knows how great musician hs 10 IN
terpveIing. and he Is determined that has bearers
shaI. appreciate HIM If AN intelligent rendering will
accomplish the object The Fine Faust overture was
performed a manner that brought out all its beau
lies, aud We were made 10 iecl tho power Of
that genius which, from the little German town
Of bayreuth shakes Inc musical world.
Even the bittcrest enemy OF Wagner would havc
ackn0w lodged she melody IN this overture The Vok.
mann serenade IN minor is a charming moyceau,
iuli 0f msi0oic passion and curious movement Mr.
BerRner who played the viooncello obligato, threw
. little more power INTO his performance Iuan at the
rehearsal ana succeeded IN bettcr nng the hall
There is delightful melancholy running through this
obixato which Mr. Bergner maac us feel The closing
selection Was the ball scens from BcrIioz's 'Rome0
and Juiiet" F" winch symphony created such q Juror
whom performed IN the sale du Consorvatoire At
Paris, ~ 1889, with It's composer on the conductors
stand. The performance OF this overture last even
ting was al full Of strength and delcacy aud all
quaint and sometimes startling effects were effective
throughout