Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-11

"a VI NN NAA a
Mr.. Edwin Booth, the tragedian,
made his bow to London audience at
the newly built Princess theater on
Saturday night. and receiveda i~latter-
ing welcome. A vast amount OF inter-
est has been felt in this event, not
only because of the actors great repu-
tation in America and his possible ri
valry oftbe much adOred Irving, but
because of the great name he bears,
The m Of his father, Junius
Brutus Booth, in English dramatic
annals, holds a foremost place. As you
NAV imagine, therefore, the elaborate
and beautiful new theator was filled
to Overlooking. A great portion Of
the audience seemed to belong to the
aesthetic clique, who, besides being
conspicuous for their remarkable an.
tidue and ugly costumes, with trizzled
hair, slashed sleeves and wreath-en
twined heads, are ardent admirers Of
Mr.. Irving and had evidently spared
neither effort nor expense in procur-
ing tickets for the first night.
The house presented a gorgeous
appearance, and is undoubtedly the
most beautiful in London, with the
warm. rich oolors in the corridors,
saloons and stairways, and the artis-
tically furnished relreshment room
and public smoking room, with a bal
cony looking into Oxford street. The
poverty Of the scenery and the garish
costumes we're in unfortunate cOn-
trast with the front of the house.
Londoners have been so long aceus
toned to the elaborate and beautiful
stage pictures of the Lyceum, and
the costly and harmonious costumes
which form so marked a feature Of
all the plays which Mr.. Irving pro-
duees, that any other performance OF
the same plays must fall short. But
il must be remembered that MIR. lry-
ing is his own manager, and has q
great capital at his hand for any artis-
tic fancy which may occur to him to
heiehten the effect of his set scenes
and groupings. Thus it happens that
those who saw Hamlet at the Ly
ceum during its extraordinary run
missed the rich effects and accessories
which went so far toward making the
success, and so lost a great deal Of
interest in the play at the Princess
theatsT.
Edwin Booth. however, was himself,
Of course, the central point Of interest,
aud when FIRST he appeared on the
stage be received a welcome that
lasted for nearly a minute, while he
bowed bis grateful acknowledgements
1t was a welcome perfectly spohta-
neous from all parts Of the house. To
eriticise the performance or to give
you any idea TO night Of what Mr..
Booths success will be in London
would be quite out Of the question.
The probability is that his success will
not be decided by his Hamlet. In
this Mr.. Booth will be contrasted with
Mr. Irving, who, in spite Of his I'm
pleasant elocutionary defects, gave
Hamlet a Wondrous picturesquenes;
and artistic interest, Mr., Booth
brings a method Of elocution which
Mr.. Irving might well study. but at
the same time he brings With him the
old traditional moods, gestures and
business which only exist as a memory
on the English stage and can never be
revived.
Thus we have the remarkable fact
/ that Mr.. Booth brings back ID Eng.
land. though doubtless much modified
the very method Of playing Hamlet
which evoked the enthusiasm Of the
past generation Of theater-goers. TIL,
Londoners judgment Of Edwin Booth
however, will not be known unit
Monday morning, when criticisms arr
published. Till then We may recorC
the fact that he made several brilliant
points new to London audiences, anC
had recalls after every act and at thu
| close. Mrs. Hermann Vein played
the Queen charmingly, and Mr. j
Beauchamp played Horatio, which
was originally intended to be filed b.
MIR. Charles Harcourt. Miss GerarC
as 0phalia made one Of the creates
successes obtained by representative
of the part in recent years. Hamlet
will run until the 10Th, when "Riche
ellen will be produced.
A general pross dispatch says: Ed.
win Booth made his Erst appearances
as Hamlet tthereconstructed pin
cess theater tonight, and was wellr
ceived, The house, which is YER
spacious, was full, but not 0vererowd
ed. Mr.. Booth was called before tn
curtain after the first and twice afte,
the second act, and again at the con
c%lusion Of the performance His act
ing in the ghost scene in the first &C
excited great enthusiasm. He was OIL
the whole well supported BY IL.
company. Miss Gerard's Performance
as Ophelia was exceedingly success
full. The audience was fashionabl,
and included a number Of Americans
Mr.. Bancroft, the actor, was ais
present. Mr.. Gooch, the lessee of tn
theater, at the fall ofthe curtain, mad
a speech thanking the audience 70
the reception rendered Mr.. Booth.
Reeds GiitEdga Tonic prevents malar'