The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-08
RICHARD AND COL. SELLERS.
EDWIN BOOTH Nv BOOTHs THEd TIRE,
RAYMOND IN THE PARK.
The Restored Version OF Richard III.-Queen
Eii,nbeth's Curse and the Council Scene
Refined Audiences Warm Approval.


Edwin Booth has always shown sincere
desire TO do Shakespeare full justice. and his
production OF " Richard ILL.," last night with the
restored text IL only one Of a number OF schol-
arly efforts that have had for their object tho
improvement OF stage representation. His re-
turn to tho theatre which has been made
famous by his labors was enough In itself
TO attract tho attention OF the most
Intelligent theatre goers. His appearance
In an essentially new version OF " Richard"
heightened the interest II s hardly necessary
to say. therefore. that he played to an audience
very similar in character to those which as
scmbled to applaud him during the memorable
initial performances when this theatre was
thrown open to the public. and his greeting
wns quite as warm. rs II the temperance here
OF this actor were promise Of bett er days for
the Legitimate drama.
MIR. Booths restored version of Richard
ILL.," unqucstonaby gives fuller and better
exposition Of the character which dominates
the play but It does this at the expense of the
action Cibber's version. after all. Is. for thcat
rical purposes. probably the best that can be
made for ii relieves the drama. in n measure
Of one serious objection which has been urged
against u with reason 10y tho Gcrnnn
critics. Richard in the original IL with
out counterp?sc. The play Is, indeed. an
particular and individual form II Is. therefore,
IA play Of character rather than Of action. and
can never be nH popular in tho original form ns
Is the accepted stage version. for the reason
that the publ carc less for character or ethical
prlnrirlrs than for circumstance and action.
Mr. Booths rcstoratun- include QIeen Eliza
be'h curse scene in the first act. and the cOun-
81 scene in the third. IL cannot be said thnt
either OF these episodes enhances the interest in
the acton. They merely furnish us with addl-
tional details of character and serve t. show 10y
fine transitions the subtlety OF RichdrFs charac-
ter Mr.. Booth, or the editor of his edition Of
Richard ILL.,, objects in his preface TO Glib
her's adaptation that II makes Giosi.r n coarse
monster OF cruelty. devoid Of the finer strain Of
inmate royalty and human feeling" This IS
draws Giostef M "A demoniacal monster He liz
entirely without conscience. and ms has been well
observed, when his conscience awnkrs he is no
longer Richard The DEATH which in his pangs
of conscience he seeks and finds in the tumult
oi his Notorious enemies. In hut tho outward
sign ~ his already complete destruction. Tho
sam" authority obets to Cibber's line. on
with hi. head so much for Buckingham" :" but
IN" restored version gives us pretty much the
sum" line. and quite unexpectedly IN the coun-
gil scene. only tho order is hero directed 10
UdNngS
Mr.. Booths mpersonaiion Of Giosfe' is an
admirable one. and he appears 10 better advan-
tage in this than in the current version. because
Ia" iull text enables him 10 show the sardonic
and consciencelrss nature Of the man. and in
portraSing the intellectual villain Mr. Booth
has no equal in this country. The general per-
iprmance BETRAYED "A want OF famii iarity with
crs. and Mr.. Booth himself once or twice
trippcd and hesitatcd. The representation was
nTe.yerhelc.s n. an iniercsting and enesiive one;
Mr.. Wheelock. and the Queen Margaret VI Mrs.
Wajler were ESPECIALLY ,csmmendable, The
b b' and n t6e he % QSea % EaJc % S7 VI Miss s' Ieanor amor
tnry did not exhibit any special prominence.
Mr.. Booth was recalled after every act and re.
ceivcd throughout the evening every mark Of
csiee-m and approval that refined audience
can bertow upon favoritc.