New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-16
BOOTH AND IRVING.
r,,,r GREAT TRIUMPH AT THE LYCEUM.

pprsrNT-SPLESDID SCENERY linn 49,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ENTHUSIASM
,vpnN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF HE hid. NJ
Tnynov Nav 3.-Rarely has London theatre
IN the scene of such extraordinary enthusiasm as
a;sn,aved last evening at the conclusion Oh lhe
we of shakespeare's "Othello." The au-
- hod civen some indication Of its temper al
r;ons stages during the progress of the play Each
S .,o nr;ncinal actors, on his first entry on 'h'
v - = ,rected with repeated rounds OF applause
49,, or1 Of the third act and again after the graz
~ w =; .bo fourth act both Mr.. Irving ana MI
~ nod beep summoned more than once 10 III.
s"otl;rbts Miss Terry, who played the par' VI
y,e.denopa with the happest combination Vi h"'''0
ond art had shared literally in the honors 'a'
freely awarded by the audiences Dut 'h' C4o"
demonstration of approval which followed 'c 4'''
- The curtain was Of such sustained ana hc"I''
character as 20 leave no kind OF DOUBT a. ~
,onnlete success of the bold experiment WnVH ''i'
ring had been ged to make. In MS 'ol"c-
Inv as manager Of the theatre the English ACTOR vas
- ,os4 compelled TO address few word, 10 the au
5ience in simple acknowledgment oil the roc'l''''u
aocordod IN the performance. He spoke without
nreparation. but with manifest shlccil! -"
re extreme pleasure which II gave hlln
~ receive his old friend. MI boo H.
nt the Lvceum Theatre and he expressed co'i'''"'
hone that the good feeling when eAls''" WV"
n ,,o,ld grow and strengthen with advancing
time Ii was indeed N no spirit OF 'o"''N''"''i
ro,ytsv that MIR Irving spoke of his fellow ACTOR as
-, ia ;riend Some wears ago on the occasion Of
A. Dootbs previous visit TO this country, they haa
n,vc1 together in one Of the theatres al Manchester
hut if may be doubted whether either of them al
that time could have forecast the remarkable char
toter that was TO belong 10 their next meeting
o. tho stage For it must Dec said without eXaes'I''
tion that the performance of last evening Wa III
many RESPECTS a noteworthy event III the annals Oh
the stage,
Visitor, 70 the Lyccum Theatre are wei accuse
Toned 10 brilliant first nights AMI II Is no new
thing 10 find on these occaSiOnsa distinguished ana
representative audience But the asSembage 81 I1N'
night possessed special character OF It's own Inc
notable figures in literature an3 ait Were rs matter
of cour.e attracted by the intrinsic interest Of the
performance. but the curiosity which II excited h1d
ypread beyond these circles and had awaited to
bring together an audience which NUM-
bered some distinguished personaees whose
faces were not altogether familiar 10 the theatre.
In private box to the right OF the stage were 10 be
found the American Minister and the Secretary OF
Legation Nj Hoppin. On the opposite side Of the
house Lady Burdett-COatts and her youthful nus
band occupied their usual places, while the stalls,
packed as closely as their limits would allow cou-
tanned all the principal representatives, Of London
journalism and a number Of well-AnOwn lovers OF
the stage who had crowded together L. witness this
exceptional experiment in dramatic art.
MIR. IRV1NG's GOODWILL APPRECIATED.
Nor was the keen interest awakened by the autici-
patton of the performance In any way disappointed
1t was felt on all hands equally by the friends Of
Irving as by the supporters of Mr.. Booth that the
manager of the Lyceum Theatre had done a graceful
oct in inviting his rival TO become. even if only for
a short space of time, member of his company.
There is no denying the fact that Mr. Booth IN the
series Of performances given at the Princes
Theatre had not appeared under the most fortunate
conditions for the successful display OF his art.
When a management suddenly casts aside melo-
drama in order TO make room for n Shakespearean
actor il is almost inevitable that both the company
aud the audience should lack something of the
necessary sympathy to do justice to The higher order
of intellectual entertainment. The appreciative
criticism which was widely bestowed upon
Mr. Booths series of shakespearean performances
could not wholly this initial hiudIance to
success and when Mr.. Irvings proposal was made
known it was generally felt that he had taken a
course worthy alike his fame and Of the higher
interests of his art in Offering 10 the great American
tragedian a better opportunity Of making his merits
known TO the highest class Of London play-goers
ME. mvING's FAULTS AND MERITS.
Passing now to the performance itself, it may be
observed that on this first occasion of combining
their forces both players suffered under several lis
advantages. On Mr. Booths side it is web known
that his Ofktll0 had not been among the most suc-
oessful Of his representations. Probably il he had
had his choice in the matter Be might have elected
to make his first appearance before Lyccum audi
ence in the role Of Icgo BIZ, on The other hand be
enjoyed this advantage over his rival that both
parts were equally familiar 70 him. Mr. Irving. Oh
the contrary, was nev to IGqo THIS was SO fai III
his favor that his appearance in the character nat
uraly excited keen intcrc, and curiosity, bu' IL re-
mains nevertheless, as a fact worth reckoning that
he had to set a first trial Of an unfamiliar part
against the studied and settled conception Of the
Jealous Moor which Mr.. Booth was able
10 exhibit And this element of incxpericuce
it should be added, tells with peculiar
force IN the case Of an az tor Of Mr. Irving tcmpora
ment and method. He always improves greatly by
practice upon his first presentation Of character
Like painter who develops a rough sketch into
finished picture, he is wont to enrich the original
plan of his work by the sympathy that is bred of
contact with his audience Ii woud for this reason
be almost rash TO pronounce absolutely after only
single visit upon the value Of his rendering Of Idg0.
What may be safely ayerred is. that he has already
fixed the main lines of a sustained and consistent
piece of Characterization and that far his in
tention carried out It revealed a close and subtle
study of the poets meaning
In the earlier scene. of the play he exhibited a
certain degree OF nery and hesitation, out
wardly expressed in excessive estessness Of bearing
and in certain uncomfortable hdgetincss of man
ner. The gestures were sometimes too familiar. the
system of elocution too colloqual and il seemed
almost as if the actor disirusted his power of
personifying the inner nature of the and was
disposed to insist too strongly and to mark with too
mach emphasis the alleged reasons of his villany.
Iaso Is the one Of all Shakespeare's characters
which Is the least fitted 20 be constructed
fhis ll.n.cnl n,.L. L IN