New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-03
MUSIC AYD the DRAMA.


BOOTH AND IRVING IN " OTiIELLO"
LONDON. May 2.--On the occasion of the FIRST ap
pcarnncc Of Edwin Booth at the Lyceum tonight AZ
OH,fo the house was packed Immediately after the
doors were opened The audience was a brilliant
one, and included Minister Lowell and party from
the United States Legation. The performance had
excited great interest in the literary world. and
among its wcll-hnown members present were Ed
pupd Yates George Augustus Saa and Dutton
Cooke. The piece was splendidy mounted.
Ipon their first appearance all three Of the prnci-
nal performers, nancly-Mr. Booth Mr.. Irving and
Mis-, Trrry-wero greeted with enthusiastic ap-
plause Othcllo's speech 10 the Senate was much
applauded. rs was also Iagos Mr.. Irving soiloquy
in the second act in which he reveals the designs
aoainst Ohclo. containing the sentence "'Ts here,
but vet confused There were calls before the cur
tain after the first and second acts but though the
performance TO this point was very successful, the
remarkable demonstration was TO come.
In act three, during the long conversation in
which lao gradually allows Othello to draw FROM
him his suspicious, the attention of tho house was
perfectly rvetcd. There were frequent movements
70 applaud both performers. which were imrnedi-
atoy suppressed by protests on the part Of those
who wished nothing - be lost. This interest was
perfectly sustained up TO the closing Of the long CON
versation between the two principal Characters but
the subsequent episode, where Otheiio PUSHES upon
and eizes Iago did appear TO create so much SEN
sation. Mr.. Booth was apparently suherlng from
slipbt weakness of voice. After the act was con-
cuded there were enthusiastic calls before the cur
The fourth act was we'll received. but passed with
ont any very noteworthy incident. In the closing
ar the audience did not as usual, cause Interrupt
fion by shutting about, preparing ios departure :
and when the curtain ten tn,Io TaS ga, a,d
~in, ~ bats There were separate calls
49, tho curtain: then Oiheii0, Idg0 and
D,sdemona came op together. In reply 10
the renewed clamOr Mr.. Irving came ont alone and
80 evfremely kind and enthusiastic reception. lie
said II was extremely gratifying To him to sec that
the engagement lmcanlng thut oil Mr.. Booth hah
met with 30 gratifying reception, ana 10 nave DIS
old friend Mr. Booth, win hlh' AI,Sr I9" ihoIe
vorIs of thanks generally, on behalf OF the COM
many Mr. Booth was again called. INT merely ac-
Inov lodged the applause, and disregarded the calls
20 speak =,
Tie rest Of the company sustained their parts well
and with less disparity than usual. MI. william
Torfiss as Cassie, perhaps had the best reception:
Mr.. lryings rendering Of ldgO for winch nc had
adopted n rsther more fancful costume than Is usu-
ally associated with the part contained many points
OF interest. lie introduced much interesting Dy-
play in his manner of lrtiyey watching Ohoit0 to
ascertain the effect OF the suspicious ne
was communicating TO him. In the scenes
with E0dfgigO lac introduced some innovations Whcn
causrd much pleasure and were evidently ihtendod
For example, ho clutchod RodaI0o and marched of
nfIectonately with him. his own cloak being drawn
over Rsder,gO's shoulders. Mr.. Booth adhered 70
| his we'll known reading Of Oteto. The hOnOn OF
| tho performance were fairy DIVIDED Dct"seh MI
Booth Mr. Irving and Miss Terry.
| IoNDON May 3.-Tke Daily Telegraph. speaking OF
| the plav at the Lyceum last night says
MI Booth never have received moro iLnsconate