The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-09
(Communicated.l
'Thnm q ~. Eeene.
THE GREAT TRAGEDIAN- HIS PHENOMENAL SUC
CEss-TBE PEOPLE CROWD TO HIS PERFORM
ANCEs AND ALL THE CRITICS PRAISE HIM.

THE GREAT TRAGEDIAN- HIS PHENOMENAL Sue
CEss-TBE PEOPLE CROWD TO HIS PERFORM
ANCEs AND ALL THE CRITICS PRAISE HIM.
(From an Appeal Correspondent
LOUISVILLE, October 29.-Wben Keene's
DEBUT was announced to take place on the
4th OF October the wiseacres OF the profess
sion shook their heads and predicted failure.
Hayden, his manager, had made mistake
in not postpOning his df6ut as star until
after the election. There would be too
much hustle among the politicians and too
much excitement among the people to per-
NIT any consideration to be paid new
actor. "Abbey," said they, "sees this In
his management OF Bernhardt. ard wisely
defers her first appearance until after
the election OF the President" Mr.
HAYDEN, however, had much more
confidence In Keene than Abbey has
in Bernhardt. He opened at the Grand
Opera-House in Chicago on the 4th OF Oc-
tober, then he appeared in St. Louis, then
In indianapolis, in the midst OF the greatest
political excitement known IN Illinois, In
diana, or in Missouri for years. And with
| what result? In every place in which he
| has played bis great tragic parts he has met
| with an ovation and has achieved success
sion Of artistic triumphs equalled possibly
| In recent years by no living artist on the
| lyric, operate, or dramatic stage, except
| Gerster, the great singer. At every per-
formance by Keene hundreds have been
turned away; at every performance the
audiences have shown an enthusiasm such
as has been rarely accorded those
who have climbed to the very top oil
the theatrical tree. III Thomas w. keene
has been able to crowd every theatre he has
played in so far, during all the present po-
| litical commotion, what will he do when the
excitement has died awayy Or course,
when an exceptional success IKE that OF
Keene's is made, there is always investiga
| ton as to the reasons therefor. The reasons
for Keene's great popularity are very sim
ple. and may be stated in half dozen words
He has a manager-W. r. HaydeD-ir
whom the public place every confidence
for in his past theatrical ventures he has
lneyer disappointed. Again-and, OF course
without this no manager on earth could sc
effectually popularize an actoI-Thoma!
Keene has in him the dramatic stuff OH
OF which the Garricks, the Kembles
the Macreadys, the Keans, and thu
great pillars OF the stage are made. Since
his season opened have watched every
performance carefully and critically, ant
his work has been at once surprise and
| low to me. In my time / have seen many
actors branching out and grasping for stel
lar fame. None have ever demonstrated a
the start the possession OF such capabil,tie
and so clearly Indicated such possibilities
Unlike every other tragic actor on The stage
ne brings a warmth, an intensity, nre,
sweep Of imagination, that compels the au
miration OF the. .critical, and takes captivl
the sympafhies OF the people. Net evei
the elder Keene or the elder Booth eve
portrayed the character OF Shakespeare
:. Richard ILL.," with such malignitv
| ferceness, and subtlety as Tom Keen
por,rays the part. Not even Macread.
or Edwin Booth ever more clearly brough
ont the grim humor OF "Richeiieu
than Keene, nor did any OF them ever, u
tbat great fourth act, reach such height o.
tragic sublimity as does this new American
trsgedian. In the treatment OF all nj
cbaracl ers--his Richard" his hicne
lieu,v his "Iago," his Hamlet" hi
" Shylock,v his "Cassius "-he exhibits
novelty and . freshness that amounts !
revelation. As several able critics nave ~
ready said, In all his works he displays
startling originality. and while ne shows II
everything he has undertaken the pnys'ca
and mental qualities which nave. IN tne &c
tors gone by. kindled the multitude I'M.
4 enthusiasm, he has demonstrated In hi
work the characteristic OF the best o
modern actors polish, artistic finesse.
4 In the great success Of Keene complel
refutatior has been given to the otten-rt
peated wall over the decay OF the iegifimat
drama. The legitimate drama can neve
! decay. Public TASTE tor II viii always .
fresh when an actor or actress comes aion
|. who can adequately Interpret their fnndi
mental tribute which appeals to all human
, ity. the meanest as well ~ the nobiest-wh
can portray their elemental human passion
| !upon which the standard drama = Dull
Thomas w. Keene has been found Will
genius enough TO do this; consequen
! IIy the people have attended bis periorn
auces in thousands, and they Will continu
3 70 DO 20. They will do 50 ~ Memphl
. where ne appesrs ~ Richard Ill: on mol
/ | day utght nexk the lst Of November ~