New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-13
THE DRAMA.
EDWIN BOOTH AS HAMLET.


Entering last night. on the third week Of his en-
gagement at Booths Theatre, Edwin Booth ap-
peared as Hamlet-the character with which his
name is inseparably associated; the character by
means Of which he has so long diffused the en-
nobling influence of q sublime ideal of human ma
ture.
Now, as on many previous occasions, reflection
upon this performance was stimulated in the direc-
ton Of its poetry and spirituality of conception,
and its sustained grace OF executive treatment.
Mr.. Booth succeeds las the actor who would depict
Hamlet must succeed) In depicting o condition of
misery so profound that 1t fairly burns and CLOVIS
with the fiery vitality of its reaction upon the bur-
dened and tortured soul. There is hopeless dejec-
ton In this Hamlet there is remediess grief; there
is an over-fraught sensibility, which, more than
once, in its tremor under the vast and awful mys-
teries Of the universe, and its confused and per-
picked apprehension of its own woes lapses into
madness but. there is no languor and. from first
to last the personality. unique and invariably kept
is majestic noble, strangely forlorn, lovable In it's
wasted sweetness, pathetic in its ruined hope and
grand in its sustainment above the delirium of q
haunted mind aud the havoc of despOiled and de-
jected life.
Mr. Booth has acted Hamlet 80 often and so thor
oughy that his mechanism has become as firm, as
finished and as definite ms the links of chainmail
accurate in place. at every point, and complete,
through every intricaoy, in form and unison The
power of tho human Imagination, to enable men
and women to assume states Of mind, and pass
through phases Of feeling and experience, which it
would be ruin and death actually to reach, was
never better exemDlited than in this matchless i'm.
personation. To contemplate that power is to look
into ourselves and consider our spiritual destiny,
and thus to rise in the dignity Of immortal life.
There was again q crowded house. The attend
ance throughout Mr. Booths engagement, has been
steadily large; and, Mr. Booth holds up the dig
nifty of the dramatic profession, without ever
sweryng one hairs breadth from the severest taste
and the highest principles that can govern in the
pursuit Of art this Is more than usually gratifying
circumstance to record. The public, in some Of its
moods, is superficial frivolous, and capricious; and
the instances are few III which its collective judg-
ment upon art questions is intelligent and sound;
but, its intuitlve perception almost ALWAYS be
trusted, and almost always that perception recog-
Dzes and stanncbly cleaves to solid and permanent
worth. Mr. Booth will repeat Hamlet tonight, and
on Wednesday, but on Thursday will change to
King Lear.
JOHN T. RAYMOND AT THE BROOKLYN PARK.
John T. Raymond began weeks engagement at
the Park Theatre Brooklyn, last evening, in George
F. Rowe's play of Wolfert's Roost." Tho play is
quaint, humorous aud romantic, Astounding Ia
bright incidents. Mr.. Raymond appeared as Icha-
bod Crane, which he found thoroughly congenial to
his eccentric humor. The cast included NJ. B.
Snyder as BrOm VoB BrRat George Holland as
Baltus Yam 1asseI J. j. Holland as DOlf Hduystraw,
Miss Aflle w eaver as HatriRa and Miss Laura has
comb as Emma HarerStro,c. The play ran smoothly
throughout and was literally appiauded. These
are MIR. Raymonds farewell performances In this
country prior TO his departure for England To fill an
engagement at the Gaiety Theatre, London.
WOlferts Roost win be repeated until Thursday
evening" when Colonel Sellers" will take its place
for the remainder Of the week.