The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-17
AMUSEM ENTS.
CLOSE OF MR. BoorH's ENGAGEMENT -"KrNG
IEAnn AN s.p11x M % ,,

CLOSE OF MR. BOOTHS ENGAGEMENT --"KING
LEAR" AND "RUY BIAS"
Mr. Edwin Booth last night closed his engagement
at the theatre which bears bis name. The play was
"King Lear" au Hence that crowded tho
commodous house TO its full capacity greeted
thor favoritc with frequent applause and left
no means unused TO convey 10 him their
hearty good WILL well as their keenest
appreciation. II was eminonty fitting that the clos
ing performance OF Mr.. Booth 8 short season with US
should be made The occasion of fine spontaneous
demonstration, for his Influence has boon strongly
felt IN tho cultivation Of artistic taste among the
masses as his efforts in cmbodying great dra-
matte conceptions have been successful. In
many parts 1t Is difficult 10 imagine greater
perfection OF delineation than that which he fur
nishcs. HIS laeo, his Bertuccio, his Shylock, arc
marvellous. HIS Hamlet and his Richelieu
qo,ste studies. His Richards ore as nnc as they
distinct 1t is manifesty impossible that the same
fortune should follow him IN all characters. In
Othello he Is as finished AZ In iago, but beyond
all that there is something wanting bring It up to
tho level Of the greatness he aains In Inc parts wo
have mentioned. Tho same quality the inapratcd
strength the majesty that Isl the power expressed in
form as in mien. in t0no ~ in worlds In still
greater degree lacking in Mr.. Booths King Lear.
All that his consummate art can bcslow upon
which tho gods have forged their sw.st, mshtit 81
STRIKE and whose ul 'shakcs the piggy
forest round" When Lear cries out 10 The light
nnR:-
You sulphurOu. and thoughs. sxseu.lny ars.
Faunt couriers 10 oSk.cleavng thunderbots
SINCE my white head
catch an image Of mightness raised IN appalling
rebellion OF despair against a the powers That
troi the wOrld and the ntcs oil men thereon II Is u
voice that copes with the roll OF tho thunder, n
voice from out form ouly loss majestic than
the incarnation OF the Greater Power should be.
Is
Batting this quality the effort OF Sir. Booth was fairly
successful HIS makeup Is wonderful Az each per-
iormunce new details ADDED, aud tho
subtle changes OF thought AMI drift In the
scenes Of madness are wrought win wonder
full care. In the fourth act his acting
very tine attained mOmentary elevation, but
his most successful scene was Lie recognition oi Car
della. There majesty fulls away anu dwndlcs 10
the level or broken, iremulous OLD man, and the
tears winch rewarded his splendid acting weren nigh
u tribute the tumutuous applause That culied INN
again and again before the cur, ain.
The support was very Inadequate The Edgar OF
Mr.. Wneelock notat all what the part deserves,
although 1t pleased the house. We do not caro-
10 critcise IT. Mr. Mines LevIcK as Kent
awkward as an amateur, and did NOT appear 10
know his lines The Glostor OF Mr. Frank Pierce
good IN comparison with much that was around 1t.
The EDMUND, the --; but why waste space saying
a pretty Cordelia, but the part Otherwise
beyond her During the storm scene Ia tho
third Of "car tree Is blasted at Booths Theatre.
IL done this way last night First tho thunder
crashed, then the tree fell over on visible axle;
momcnt later the lightning came The gallery greeted
the performance win an nouicat cucoT, 70 inc EVIL
dent ustonishment Of Mr.. Booth. THIS Is very bad
business first class theatre.
1.-THE final fall OF the Mr. Booth in response
to repeated calls sald:-
81 can only thank you from the bottom Of r,y
heart. In the words Of tho play, " let mo pass; he
hates him That would the rack (of speecn) stretch
him out longer Once more thank you."
In the afternoon Mr. Booth played Ruy Blns be-
fore a crowded house, more than iour-nftns Of
which consisted OF young ladies' with whom
he is evidently great tavorite Though but
indGcrently supported, his own splendid per.
formnncc OF tho unhappy valet sulhced to command
the attention interest OF the audience who seemed
to overlook HUG Lev,ck made very cred
table saluse, and Mes Carey played the Queen with
grace and tenderness. Nevertheless she is much
alike In all her performances Miss. Mary Wells, in
trying 10 represent The stately Countess. only
ccedcd III changing very amusing comcdy part into
one of the broadest farce Bunoonery Is not ccre
nervousness. After tho third act Mr.. Booth was
called before the curtain four times