New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-02
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA,
EDWIN ROOTU Az RICUFTIFIr.

| change from Macbeth to Richeleun wa,
made, AT Booths Theatre. last night, and Edwin
Booth appeared as the aged Cardinal. 1t is part
that this actor long since made his own, and In
| whch-Gy reason of tho profound correspondence
! between the temperament of the actor and that OF
| tho characteristic stands unrvalled among his con-
tcmpomrics. TO all the conditions exacted by llac-
| beth. who must DC shown at onco tortured i'm.
agination, haunted spirituality. and q robust and
sincwy warrior, he is not equal and therefore his
Mdcbch is, in some respects, suggested rather thon
! actually embodied. But to all tho conditions ex-
acted by Rcheiiea he responds with spontaneous sy
! pathy. and with tho ease of second nature Tho
embodiment is not merely noble with virtue and
wisdom, tender toward the innocent protective of
the weak, and defiant and terrible toward the
wicked and the strong, but it In ovable with innate
grace and ngrained beauty. Goodness alone would
not conquer the ideal erected by Mr. Booth
goodness made radiant with the electrical
qualities of genius He makes Rickclieu lion like
but ho also invests him with tender melancholy
and lonely grandeur. The side-lights that ara
shed upon the character. in the moments of Riche-
liens musng over his lost youth, his lost love
his lost friends. his lost Illusions his solitary and
solemn age have all been observed by this actor
aud they have illuminated for him the deep heart
of man who no longer lives for himself but only
for tho happiness of others. To have reached
through experience Of ambition, care, trouble. and
suilcrng,-that altitude of sad but noble supremacy
above personal interests, the prOmptings Of passion
and the caprlces of fate, from which stately soul
can look down upon tho turmoil of human life with
calm tolerance and tender pity. is to be what Bul
wer meant by Richeliea-an old hero, who IS in the
world but not of il. and who only keeps his grin On
human afairs because he is too generous to deserr
that nee DIS his and loved ones who renose
upon his strength. 1t is because Edwin Booths
presentation il built, with exquisite taste
and grace, upon this central idea, that
it has. ali along, exercised such potential sno,l
of fascination upon the public mind. The ino
tracery of art-combining intellectual purpose
will. grim humor gentleness. craft nice touches Of
human vanity and ecclesinstic pomp and splendor -
so gracefully drawn as to create and sustain n ner
feet illusion, would not alone have made this nor
formance SO splendidly victorious Its beautiful
exaltation of spirit Is its dominant power The die
play of this last night. full and as potent "a
ever; and upon the delivery of the anotbcmo
there not heart in all the vast audience tLat
did not rejoice, rs we'll in the sense Of the nossh,
grandeur of human nature, rs in the spectacio -
valor Drawing rum in the defence of imnerlIed In
noccnce and virtue. Acting that has this effect ia
of unspeakable value
Mr.. Booth was called before Che curtain NJ tbo
end OF each net of tho DRAMA and twice at tba and
OF the ionrth-which is 30 grandiy crowned and
rounded with the threat Of Accommodation If thero
was less force and less volume of sound. and less
demonstrative gesture than have been usual with |
him In this great moment, there was even mora than
his accustomed intensity Of emotion, and there. |
withai very brilliant blending Of human feeling |
-VlrtuOus tender, PASSIONATE and noblo-with the |
awful dignity Of religious power. The
'r''S.o 'ntention-here, and all the way through
TO subordinate the theatrical character NJ Tho No.
10 irrational treatment may be named as in its mora
than usually rosoute and consistent exhibition tLe
'nly divergence from tho general tenor of the nor.
OF Richcsicu to which Mr.. Booths audi.
'nces have so long becn accustomed.
Neither Mr. McCollom, as De Mauprat nor Mr.
iardie, as Saradas, nor Miss Wilton, as ,I.l;n a.
my time rose above he layel OF commonplace. TI"