Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-03
T, ". KEEaE As "R1oHAsp TIE THIRD. !"

The character of Richard the Third is
one Of the most repulsivs and monotonously
wicked in history; which is a very sure IL
dication that the true picture Of the man has
not descended to US. Shakespeare has repre-
ssnted him in accord with tradition-that is,
without one redeeming quality. Shakes.
psare's Richard the Third" is the most uu-
natural of his dramas. It is a study in ma
! lightly for which 10 parallel can be found.
! His Richard is deformed alike in body and
| 10 mind vicious and cruel, with all the cold
| indifference of gnome; but at the same
time tull of subtilty and the fire of an evil
genius, and in fact with the elements CT
greatness perverted in him. Now upon
| this foundation has been built the acting YER
sion Of "Richard the Third, and in it all
the monstrosities of history and of Shakes
peare have been intensified. made extrav-
agant and outrageous, by deliberate piling
on of ferocity and brutality and wanton in
humanity to the character of Richard. The
acting version is not Shakespeare's; it
is not history; it is a hideous ira
vesty of both. And this is what
Mr.. T. w. Keene was called upon to
play last night. He has been accused of
ranting, and he does rant. But no man can
what between Colley Cibber and his success
ors it has become a mere farrago of mou +
ings and jingling catchwords, and whoever
takes the part must strut and below and
roar so as to split the ears of the grounding
Shakespeare's Richard is another kind of VII
lain, for Shakespeare never drew a villain
without plenty of brains. But Shakespeare
is not responsible for Mr.. Keene's Richard;
neither is Mr.. Keene. 1t is, as we have said,
ranting part. It tears passion to tatters,
to very rags. We are sorry that MIR. Keene
chose it for his only appearance here, for we
recognize in him abilities which could not be
worse illustrated, and might be much better.
He has talent He has the industry to study
carefully. Heis at present too subservient to
stage traditions, and must free himself from
that tendency if he would succeed. Above all,
he will do we'll to eschew mere mounting
parts. Let him essay Shakespeare when
Shakespeare is played, but let him avoid
Colley Cibber and Company. Mr.. Keene
cannot make anything more of this Richard
role than the mutlated play-half Shake
speare, half fustian-allcws; but last night
he did the best that could be done with it.
As fer his support it was. so far as the mas
culine part went, poor His daughter has
gracious presence, and with more rerre and
animation may make an actress. The mount
ing Of the piece was atrocious and it de-
tracted from its effects, which are all of the
stage STACEY. Mr.. Keene's acting was APP
preciated by the audience, who insisted on
his appearance at the close of the fourth act,
and would not be denied. He had very full
house, and an attentive and cordial one
When next he comes to Sacramento we hope
he will give us better opportunity of test.
ing his real mettle. This evening Kate Clax-
ton makes her appearance in the g Two Or
phans."
ATTEMPTED SUIcIDE.-It is stated that
woman, whose name could not be ascertained,
attempted to commit suicide by throwing
herself in front of railroad engine, in the
vicinity of Sixth and + streets, day before
She stood by the track, and
when the engine was coming and about
twenty feet away, threw herself across the
track. The engineer saw her, and, as he was
not running fast. stopped before reaching
her. and two or three persons near by quickly
took her from the track.
STILL ALIvE-At latest accounts last
evening Morelli, who was shot tie night be-
fore, was still alive, bpt it was thought he
would not live till morning.
ARRESTED only arrest made yester- |
day was that of Jose Abdon LAVA, for bat |
terry, by officer Campbell.