The daily gazette., 1878-11-14
N1.cready and virginu us.

TIM ACTORS FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE
PLAY--ITs GREAT SUCCESS.
We take the following from Temple
Bar - ... f.u. 80
1t was less, however, as Shakes
perean actor than az the creator OF a
ly from the pen of Sheridan Knowles,
that Macready achieved his ultimate
fame, and upon which his posthumous
reputation must rest. His first introduc-
ton to Know les and to that writer's mas
terpiece is best told in his own words -
sin the course of the month of April
an application was made to me by my
old Glasgow friend, John TAFT, on the
suS uSjsct of tragedy that had been pro-
duced at Glasgow with much applause.
The author he described as a man of
I, original genius, and one in whose for
| tunes he and many of his fello w-citizens
took deep interest. 1t so happened
that l had undergone the reading OF two
or three tragedies when late at Glasgow W,
Ind n was with ropseQ Quent distrust that,
to oblige very good friend, 1 undertook
to read this. TAFT was to send the manu-
script without delay, and looked for
ward to my task with DO very good will.
1t was about 3 o'clock one day that was
preparing to go out that a parcel arrived
from TAFT, and tha manuscript of Vir-
ginius. After some hesitation, thought
1t best to get the business over, to do at
once what had engaged to do, and ! sat
down determinedly to my work. The
freshness and simplicity of the dialogue
fixed my attention; ! read on and on.
and was soon absorbed in the interest of
the story and the passion of its scenes.
till at its close l found myself in such a
state of excitement that for time 1 was
undecided what step to take. Impulse
was in the ascendant, and suatchng up
my pen hurriedly wrote, as my agitated
feelings prompted, a letter TO the author,
to me then q perfect stranger" After a
moments reflection, however, he consid-
cred It might BE- deemed extra VACANT,
tore it up, and after dinner he re-read the
manuscripts in a more collected mood
His first impressions were confirmed,
and he wrote to Knowles his opinion OF
the work, assuring him that he would do
his best to procure its acceptance and the
highest payment. The next morning he
again read through the piece with Proc.
tor, who was equally delighted with it
The terms arranged by Harris were f40(
for twenty nights, and f1O0 more for 1t:
performance the next seas on. But moi
one six-pence was spent on the getting
up, and, to be correct in costume, Ma
cready was obliged to purchase his owl
dresses, and Fawcett delegated to hin
the stage management. -..t-
Charles Kemble was the "Icilius;'
Terry, "Dentatus:" Abbott, Appius Clau
dius;;" Miss Foote, "Virginfa." Ma
cready's every thought was epgrossed ii
Virginilts, and from the first hour of tn,
morning to the last of the night his mine
, was 6lled with its images, and every va
cant hour was employed in rehearsin,
its pathetic touches and its whirlwind
of passion. "On May II, 1920" he con
,, tinues, "Viginius was first acted, and 1t
early scenes were not unattended wit
danger, Charles Kemble, being SO hoars
: that not one word, spoken in the loves
t whisper, could be heard; but the actio
: of the scenes told its story with sufficieI
1 distinctness to keep alive Its interes
3 This grew as the play advanced, and /
the third act, In "Icilius" great scene
Kemble's voice came out in allits natura
, strength, and brought down thunders {
applause. With the progress of the play
the rapt attention ofthe audience gradua
f ly kindled into enthusiasm. Long cor
, tlnued cheers followed the close of eacl
succeeding act, halfstified screams an
/ involuntary CALCULATIONS burst forth whe
the fatal blow was struck to the daugl
! ter's heart; and the curtain fell amid th
most deafening applause of highly e1
5 cited auditory.