Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-21
THE DRAMA,
Mr.. ThomaS W. Kecne as Richar: III:


An audience Of medium numbers greeted
the first appearance in this city of the ira
gedian Mr.. Thos. W. Keene. which occ,,rr-
ed at Fulton opera house last night. This
was not rs it should have been. Mr.. Keene,
though a stranger here, came bearing ere
dentials that should have given him easy
access to the confidence of our people, and
it may be said with truth that his per-
formance justified the abundant promise
that preceded his coming. Mr.. Keene is
an actor OF no ordinary power his Richard
bears all the marks of careful and intelli-
gent study, whilst his rendition of the
character is frequently illuminated by the
glow of originality and conveys with
startling fidelity to the sense of
and ambitious GlOster Of history. Physi
cally Mr.. Keenc's rendition of
the role of the royal murderer
is picturesque and effective. A clever
makeup in which tho defects and
dcformities of Richards person are visible
in all their ugliness is supplemented by
his thorough command of facial expression,
aud the workings Of Mr.. kcene's counte-
nance, the baleful expression Of his eyes,
distorted Irouth and features, serve to
aid the conceit and to verify photograph.
the evil passions constantly contendins in
the cunning brain and cruel heart of the
man of unrighteous life and unhallowed
memory. In those passages calling for
the exhibition Of the powerful physical
passions, inOrdinatc rage and consuming
fury, no less than in the scenes where the
craft and subtlety of GIoster's nature arc
portrayed, Mr.. Keene's work is finished
and artistic. 1t is robust without being
ran:ing, classical without lacking in power.
MIR. kecne's voice is always under thor
Ou.h cOntroi and he molulates it to suit
the exacting demands OF the situation.
| He can plead with the soft insinuatinr tone
OF the hypocritc, or compel with the
| furious utterancc of that Richard to whom
rcmOrsc and dread were unknown; while
his counterfeit presentment of terror in
the tent scene after lie has been visited in
dream by the victims of his vengeance
and ambition was marked by a startling
realism that wrought the audience up
| to the highest tension of excite
Elcnt. Throughout, Mr.. Kecnc's perform
ancc produced genuine effect, and he
was repeatedly complimcnted by the
heartiest bursts Ofapplause. The support
was in most respects satisfactory. Miss
Henrietta Vadcrs is always conscientious
in her acting, and on this occasion filed
all the requirements Of the role of Eli=a-
beth, imbuing the part with the passion
and power that 4 proper reading Of the
lines calls for. Mrs. Octavia Allen acted we'll
the character OF the Duchess Of York. but
Miss Agnes kecnc, who was cast as Lazy
Aane, must overcome the habit of looking
and talking like backward school
girl in the passages where very differ
cnt traits are looked for. Mr. Frank
Roche was quite good as the
Duke Of Bucksngham, and in the last two
acts wherein the Earl Of Richmond is seen,
Mr.. Frazer Coulter created very favorable
impression. Miss Grace Roth rs the
young Prince Of Wales was pretty aud ut
tractive and is 4 good actress, and little
Katie Evcrliam as the Duke Of York found
early favor with the ladies of the audience
by reason Of her winsome ways. As
CatesJy, Mr.. w. J. Hurley was "grcat, -
and impressed the audience with Il due
sense of his commanding Importance. and
the other mobiles were sufficiently dstinyue
in appearance and martial in bearing
to round out the cast to satisfactory pro-
portions.