The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-24
AMUSElfENTS.
The Gorgeous Presentation OF Henry VIII.
In Booths Theatre.

Shakespearc's Henry VIII" is one OF the
few plays by the great dramatist which shows
upon its face that 1t wns intended as n spec
tacle. Ulricl declares with good reason that 1t
is POLITICALLY untrue. devoid OF real life. de-
fective in symmetry. and wanting in internal
organic construction. 1t is not. says the Ger
man critic. Il complete whole. but snowy piece
OF patchwork. Hnzlitt takes DR.. johnson to
task for saying that the genius OF Shakespeare
comes in and goes out with kdudrme; but
Hazliu unlike tho German critics. seems to
think that isolated creations Of character are
alone sufficient to mako great drama.
whereas. in our day. unity rather than vivid
hcterogeneity is held TO be tho essential OF
dramatic excellence. Gcrvnus. before Ulrici.
expressed himself boldly with regard to the
work when h. said: 8" No play seems so loosely
united in its pnrts none 80 wholly wanting In n
fundamental idea connecting its several parts:
In no other play has Shakespeare accumulated
So much pagcantry. ceremony and pomp. hmm
quets mosques. lawsuits, visions, and corona;
ton and baptismal festivities" Both Jlrici
and llertzbcrg believe the work to have been
written for some express occasion MS n theatre
cal characterization OF the marriage OF the
Princess Elizabeth.
helped to determine Messrs. jarrett \ Palmer
In their choice 81 tho drama for representation.
There is suspicion that their tastes lrnn
somewhat to the spectacular. ljut they might
have spared us tho reference in their hand
some preliminary announcement. 10 shake
sprarc's "scrupuous fidelity to history" in
this work. For this OF all his scenic histori-
cal plays Is just the ono IN which he has not
shown .scruruous ndrli,y and has not
they actually lived and moved" The treat
mcnt Of Henry IN this play Is neither histori-
ferrcd upon Anne BoleW is equally untrue to
ifc and TO poetry. Henry Will" Is. in short.
neFare in wn, r nf@nn{ S yi nI2S. n5 d
dramatic truth and continuity. As q spectacle
II WAS produced last n ight Mt Booths Theatre
inter mn int"rregnum OF seven wears. II having
boon produced in the same theatre in September
ISL undcr the same management with MISS
that role and was supported hy Mr.. George
vandcnhoff ms the ,.drdmdl li'ols.y. Mr.. James
H. Tnvlor rs KING H,UU Mr.. Mines Ievick ms
the Duke Of Bncf6gham. and Miss Ely Coeh-
Ian ~ iune Bolevn
Miss Genevisye Wnrl. tho acting was no., such
! rs to hold the attention Of the audience away
| from the gorgeous embellishments OF tho play.
! Miss Ward had a qu'enly look md bearing In
| the declamatory passages Of the trial she was
| vigorous and dicnined. and in her pitiful death
| sorrow she gained many tears and much APP
! plause: hut certainly She was not great enough
| To stand out from and above the things animate
| and inanmntc. that made this. in the Language
| ot the bin. "A spectacular production" Mr.
George vandenhoir, with more Of oppor-
! tunity as cardinal tolseN WINS no more able 70
ways best Just before his head is going TO he cpt
! of. and in the delivery. of buckingham :
BEAUTIFUL lines, at the departure Tor the
! Tower. he was exceedingly touching. Mr..
James Tnylor was a sufficiently blum Km9
! H'irY TUI. and the noise that he nude
seemed rather unmanaGeahle at times. Mis-
| Ely Coghlan. a pretty sister OF the Cogh-
lans Of wallacks Theatre. was rather col.
| orless Anne BoleWi. The acting was not
only a lesser part Of the show than the clah-
oraie setting, hut was kept waiting by g. and il
was past midnight when the curtain fell finally.
II WIS. however. what the management n ply
calls the potent attractive nest " OF tho repre-
ssntation-that is 20 say its prctentious picto;
rial emhlazonry-thnt mnde it unique. Regarded
a. series Of splendid stage pictures. there is
| every opportunity for commentator. The
scenic artist. the costumer. the musician nnd
| the mechanirinn have here made most master
| ful cooperative Efforts. and the result IL won
dcrfu accuracy. hriliancy. and scnsunus po-
tency. tn vary the managerial phrase. The eye
Is fed with motion and color uninterruptcllv
story. topography tradition. architecture
! Ill east their share 81 potency into tho scale
Professions. visions mohs. panornmns. max,
up a vivid intoxicating phantas magoria. End
| the memory retains the impression ~ vus
| show. in which the actors. however conspicu
Gus. had after all. very li'ie TO DO.