The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-02-13
'Let Justice be Done Though
the Heavens Should Fall"

Ed. ENTERPRIsE.-My paper has just
come to hand, and by some magnetic in
huence your article on the Townsend
Family" was the very first that attracted
my attention. ! read it through from
beginning to end, and when done came
near giving vent to my feelings in an ex-
plosive "Amenp This is not the first
lime we have commended you for refus-
ing to eulogize humbugs. We are conf
dent, moreover, that it will not be the
last time. Your criticism vividly recalls
q similar one Of our own, written about
four years ago, upon the same theatrical
troupe. We were at that time driving
the main quill upon q certain college
journal. We are tempted to infiict the
following extracts upon you, 80 that you
may know that there is at least one heart
that beats in sympathy with your own
about the Townsend Family"
The Townsend Family gave 9 series of en-
tainments at the Opera hall, last week.
Flaming posters, thickly studded with the
inevitable ''opinions Of the press" an
nounced that on the evening Of the 5th, the
truupe would render ehakespeare's tragedy,
liking Richard I'LL" OF course people all
like Shakespeare whether they have read
taste for the immortal bard: and persons
who are unable To quote q single line cor
rectly, would look an indefinite number OF
daggers at any one who presumed to dissent
from the orthodox opinion. Everybody, of
course, went to see the play, anda crowded
house awaited the appearance OF the immor-
talized Huncnback, who, since he could not
"prove q lover to entertain those fair we'll
spoken dsys(the weak, piping time OF Peace)
was determined to prove villain" In fl
nancisl point of view, we dare say, the en-
tertsinment was q success.
To do the troupe Justice, We are obliged to
admit that 1t is rather above the average trav-
cling companies; but we must remember
that the average is extremely low. We are
unable to give an extended criticism OF the
performance here; but these wandering stars
while they may do well enough in the line Of
comedy are hereby respectfully advised TO
leave tragedy alone, and under NO circum-
stances 20 attempt Shakespeare.
'sMouthing words" and ''tearing passions
to tatters" were the prominent faults OF the
leading performers. Those who occupied
seats farthest from the stage, and, indeed,
even those who sat close to it were unable to
understand one-fourth Of what was spoken.
They saw and heard nothing but "inexplica-
BILE dumb shews and noise" The words in
stead Of rolling boldly out, coward-like re-
treated down the players throats- This Is
one of the gravest faults IL not the gravsst
of which an actor can he guilty. One does
pot care to have his ears bombarded for an
hour or two by incessant strain of un-
meaning thunder.
"teering passions to tatters," especially the
elder Townsend who acted Richard Ill, seems
to have taken his ideal tyrant from Nick
Bottom in the "Midsummers Nights Dream"
ST will move storms. My chief humor Is
for tyrant. could play Ercles rarely or
part to tear cat in, 70 make all split"
''The raging rocks,
With shivering shocks,
Shall break the locks
OF prison gates;
And Phil,bus' ear
Shall shinc from far.
And make and mar
The foolish fates."
This was lofty! This is Erclcs' vein, tyrant's
vein" There was entirely too much false
thunder In his style. The veritable Richard,
II he could have behe!d the scene, would,
doubtless, have been surprised to see him
self act so and hear himself talk thus; and
the immortal bard of Avon himself, IL he
had been present, would doubtless have
served the actor, Us st. Peter Is represented
to have served Sou by, In Byron's ''Nision Of
Judgment"
Thus will it be seen, Mr.. Editor, how
''great intellects strike together. At
any rate it shows that we are of one
mind when it comes to dealing with
frauds. We do not believe in putting
men into glory. IT the press would only
speak out and expose such miserable,
sham, fourth-rate troops of actors, and
many other similar things indeed, would
soon come to q melancholy end and
disastrous twilight" Many dollar
would be saved, that now finds its way