The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-30
ADJUSTMENTS.
booths THEATRE-"rHE MERCHANT o.
VENICE"

booths THEATRE-''rHE MERCHANT Oh
VENICE"
To present the creations OF Shakespeare in fras.
mentary and almost disjoInted fashion 10 as mucn
wrong committed against the public as h savors OF
disrespect toward the supremacy OF his genius.
OF course, such unimportant omissions aud trans
positions of passages are rendered necessary BY
the difference between the old the
stage can only be objected by the hypercritical;
but whom play Is shorn of many essential featureA
without winch IL dwindes into dramatic sketch, and
especially when the play Is Shakespsses the altera.
ton seems almost ike The marrng OF group OF
sculpture the Grccans placed in the pedmeats
oil their temples "The Merchant Of Venice" contains
but one figure which is clothed IN intense passion
Without Shylock It would be a trivial comedy. But
Saylock is al-suficent for hllIns the eye Of
The spectator tha. u need: only STICKS BESIDES 10
place OF players. Al the same time the
symmetry Of the plo. ought not 70 b:
complex threads OF motive that were so artialy In
by the author amt to make their nns sevage
Theatre witnessed sucn Misrepresentation OF "rna
Merchant OF Venice" In the nrst place, the audi.
Carey y ns "a
acted the part OF Portia Tho announcement that
warmly appiauded, but anticipation was premature.
Tho nsnuation made by tho sage manager tnut sue
might please better than the absentee, couia not a.
II turned out, prove very complimentary 10 either
The farce, "Lend Nc FIVE shnlings" was enacted
before instead oil alter the drama, ~ order TO give
AIRS Booth time to come from the Union Square the.
s,re, where she had played in the first act OF IA
smoothly. Mss Lizzie Rich assuming the role Of MRS
Major rhobbs, which was to have been borne oy
Miss Carey. MIR. Owens seemed to be in his element
as Mr. Goightly.
When the curtain the first scene OF "rho
uttered by SaIarno gave prcsage the nhction which
The ears OF those familiar with Shakcspeares text
"a haF asfara bpi
mangled. IL soon became apparent that some OF the
most meaning sentonces would be omitted entirely
Passing over most of the mere verbal mistakes We
Will quote the descriptive smile which gives the only
clew 70 Tho personal appearance OF Portal
And her sunny locks
Which makes her seal of Belmont Colchos' strand.
Aud many come in quest Of her.
Row without relevancy then sounded the line OF
Graano the third act which Glanced not to be for
gotten-
We are the Jasons have the fleece.
In tho second scene of the first act Mrs Booth
failed to pronounce many sentences Inch show forth
most clearly the character OF Portia The language
Shakespeare. excepting alone the euogy Of
Mercy, and even In that there occurred
tho suddenness OF the demand upon Mrs Booths
memory ought partially to disarm criticism In her be-
and despite the fact that she had not rehearsed
with Mr Booth she was unquestionably the
best support he had. Mr.. Frank Evans was as un.
comm endabls Bassanio well could be conceived.
His tongue almost constantly stumbling, and
once made senseess gibberish Of sentences which
not In the least involved IN their construction OF
to say very little III the court of the
Duke Of Venice his scofng at tho Jew was the only
touch Of art that he showed. NMiss Belle FIohr as
Jessica booked anything but Jewesa The lKhtness
aud instability OF the character OF course, precuded
any strong features OF Forfeiture, but the lspiag
tameness and want of expression which she betrayed
were reflection OF tho image Of Shakespeare's muse
Dir. Booth as Shylock Is too we'll appreciated 10
mako furtner comment readable except It be worry
brct 1t is the only figure that had any ds,inctne:s
that ho spoke runs with their iull and
natural force. Tho part hts him perfectly. Hs
physique. voice, complexion and temperament
make TO figure the natural mould into which
he pours the molten metal Of his genius, and be-
hold the noble work OF the two ruling passions o,
ever, he exalted-mado Of it almos.
apotheos,s-and IN calling upon the God Of Abram
seemed worship the black demon, Bee!zeuub by the
name rival Because OF this element Of awe and
superstition which entered into 1t, 1t was In
capable OF lntenser exhibition toward iia
object Antonio In the outburst OF grief for the loss
DEAD wife, the only purely human phase OF Snyock'i
nature Is sccn. All the rest OF hts qualities are
Acndish. Mr. Booths conception cannot be amended.
cHIcKERINa LL-APToMMAs HARP RE-
CITAL.
A charming concert given yesterday afternoon
at Chickerng Hall by Aptommas, the celebrated harp.
st assisted by Miss Isabel Stone, Soprano and Miss
Zelina Mantey, violnst. The enjoyment and sue.
cess of the occasion, however, were due almost en-
trcy the wonderful performances OF the artist hrst
named Who alone and unaided, gave TO thc audience
selections classical romantic and national music
In manner well calculated illustrate the resources
OF both player and instrument AS lar back az
1853 was conceded az nome a sna s,n aorI "a,
return from among tho musical centres OF Eu.
rope certainly one will question the well earned
praise now everywhere bestowed on Aptommas. The
wonderful skill, he exhibits, tho brilliant effects ne
produces, the bravura as well as decacy with whi:h
no adorns his themes, the ingenuity With which
he makes his beautiful instrument describe the bold
ness OF the tenderness OF ballad are parts
cia,ed. While The programme yesterday was varied,
comprising miscellaneous proludes extemporiza'
tons, Beethoven's grand sonata 10 Nat and com.
binatons for harp violin anu voice. the gems most
appreciated BY the audience were the old familiar
Welsh, Scotch, English and Irish Melodies such a.
ssrne Campbelrs Are Comlng,' "rhs Last Rose Of
SUMMER EST Patrick's Day IN the Morning" "Be.
hove Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms" and
others That wero rendered with q technique and
beauty OF expression has rarely been surpassed.
Miss Isabel stone did not prove remarkable soprano
and has style that lacks culture, and Mile. Man,ey
mepI Her Is thin, weak and coiorless and half
the time played out OF tune She needs plenty o.
practice before she eau cope with any member OF
Thomas or DAmrosch's string orchestra.
srrINwAY HALL-THE BROTHERS CARR.
Tho third soiree musicale In the series given by
Messrs Ferdinand and Herman CARR took place az
steinway Hall last evening, and was attended by o
large audience One OF these artists Is pianist and
the other u vlolinist, but both have been digent
students upon their resp instruments, and their
parforman noes, although marred by occasional imper-
icct,ons show the result careful training under cx
ccileut masters. The young gentleman are likewise
~ he commented Tor their praiseworhy endesvor 10
elevate the musical standard even though IN SO DOING
| they may make selections with the dlmcuities oil
which older much more experienced artists might
hesitate 10 grappe They were assisted last evening
| by Mmc. Belle Cole, mezzo sopranos N:. CNl Stein
bucb barit Que; Mr. Heinrich Schroeder, voloncco;
| ana Mr. Charles Torriaui, accompanisi. PROBABLY
the three bcst features on the programme were tho
| Iaptasic dramatque on theme from "Lucia de
! Iammermooro by Liszt, played by Herman CARR
| with sucp handsome effect as to demand recall the
500 OF Nine. Belle Cole, LA separazlone" from
Rossini which was also encored, and the violin solo
| ssTho Dance OF wiiches"-that famous fancy OF
| Paganini, who used to say that u always Inspired
him. because could soc the devils tails protruding
from the holes In his fiddle. This brilliantly
| .N H. Carr mr. hainr