New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-20
EDWIN BOOTH IN LONDON.
r,Yr wrrH THE EMINENT ACTOR.


- rp.cr-socfsL POPULARITY OF THE TRAGEDIAN
-x,Sp ATTENTIONS OF HENRY IRyNG--THE
DRAMATIC coMPANY,AT THE PHScEsss-vIEws
OF THE PREss-BootA's PLAN "A PROVINCIAL
TOUR ASD A TRIP TO GEgaIANY.
yvaon AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
q LONDON Jan. 26s-The renewal of Mr.. Edwin
Booths engagement for period OF SIX weeks al 'ne
New Prnoess's Theatre will enable the London pub
lie 20 acanaint themselves with his impersonaiion
of King Lear and possibly with his ndcbeh ana IL IS
therefore matter for cOncratulatiOn and qnte Ia
accordance with Mr. Booths desire; but Ii has Deea
attended, from business standpoint. with clrcum-
stances which have caused much annoyance 70 tbl'
eminent representative of dramatic art. Mr. BOOTHS
original contract with Mr. Walter GoOch was igned
after less deliberation than he would hav exercised
had be not been impatient for definite co lcluslon
of some sort as to the longtalked-Ji London OPEN
ing and had be not been somewhat influenced, Also
by the kindly and sanguIne enthusiasm oil us
brother law and fellOw-artist MIR. John s. Clarke.
who arranged negotiations with tine manager OF Tue
New Prncess's Theatre. In this haste ana con
Qious hopefuness Mr.. Booth failed TO give due con-
alteration to certain clause of the contract winch
. set forth that, in the event of non-renewal OF
the engagement of three months, he bound himself
not to appear at any other London theatre for pc
Rod of one years duration. HIS FIST appearance. as
Hamlet was, it will be remembered, deferred from
. October 80 to November 6, in consequence OF the
new theatres not being IN readiness. Wnen tue
time drew near TO consider the question of re-
pewal Mr. Gooch signifed bis desire to " talk bns-
pessn and was referred by Mr.. Booth To Mr.. ClarAe
who was amazed and panied when he found that the
clause mentioned was a verltable stumoinG-block
IN the way of the stars interest. Through it and
It's provisions Mr. GOoch was enabled to dictate not
only q renewal but the exact duration of The term
of renewal and what was, if less vital, even more
exasperating. such terms as to suit his own conven
fence. BY accepting, however, as Mr.. Booth con-
ciuded to do, after mature reflection, and following
the advice of those who have his best interests at
heart he frees himself from the obnoxious clause.
In 20 far that he act in London again any time
he chooses provided that he make a suitable en-
gagement. There however, but three hrst-ciass
houses here associated with tragedy: the Lyceufn,
where Mr.. Irving is now appearing in TennysoTs
play of "The Cup; /" Old Drury," where MIR. John
Mccullough will come forward AS Vir0inias at
Easter; and Mr.. Booths present artistic habitaton,
which, when he retires will be devoted to a melo-
drama, with Mr.. Henry Neville in the principal
part.
Whether Mr.. Booth acts or not, however, he will
remain throughout "the season" in London. from
purely personal considerations. HIS wife's ill health
s such as to engage the services of local physicans
his daughter has made many pleasant acquanrances.
and he himself finds that both the climate and the
society agree with him. Socially, he is IS great
lion" here as in the States; the most distinguished
people have feted him. and no one has shown
kindlier disposition than his fellow-artist, Henry
Irving whose ife-size portrait In crayOn. taken in
the costume of Handerdecken ("The Flying Dutch
man ", occupies a conspicuous place in our TRACE
dams dra wing room, in the ST. James Hotel Picca-
VIVA a Oiff from Mr. who also
sent as present to the latest exponent of R6elieH
French artists work representing the head OF the
Cardinal in three positions, full face and in prof
both left and right. As a return souvenir. Mr.
Booth will send Mir. Irving the similar picture of
Charles the First who deprived of his head at the
block, has since bad triple restitution made bv an
enterprising historical painter. Mr. Booths portrait
taken full length, in the character of Rceliea Is
now being painted. with view to the next exhb-
tion of the Royal Academy; the artist is MIR. John
Collier. a son-in-law of Professor Huxley. who will
In time present it to the original The present writ
or has met many persons here who have been re-
peatedly to see Mr.. Booth in each of his perform
ances; one of these is Mrs Freake, the accom-
plished hostess of " Cromwell House." who has re-
Gently made the acquaintance of the tragedian.
through Sir Theodore Martin and Lady Martin
Helen Fauct), who are amongst his warmest ad-
mirers.
1t no secret that Mr. Booth has been somewhat
dissatisfied regarding his support at the PrncesSs-
and with reason. 1t was his wish to be surrounded
with actors of high rank, such as Herman Vein,
ETC.. and he suggested to Mr. Gooch that instead of
spending money upon the scenery for the short
of the numerous pieces of his repertOry the expense
should be incurred for the employment of the best
actors TO be found. Those skilled and conscientious
performers. Mr.. and Mrs. Pateman, who acted with
him for long time at his own theatre in New York.
would doubtless have been his choice as loweome-
dian and leading lady, 1t is quite true that both
the late Charles Harcourt and Mir. Kyrle Bellew
were engaged, but death interviewed IN tbs case of
the one and litigation in that of the othe-; and
were given but poor substitutes in the most Ian
gushing Laeres imaginable and the most ponderous
Horaio ever worn by Hamlet in his heart of hearts,
The icy atmosphere of the theatre especially be-
hind the scenes. has 80 affected Mr.. Booth, more
over that he often unconscously rubs his hands 10
keep them warm while he is before the AUDIENCE
and to the cold he largely attributes what he de-
cares to be fact that he has not yet acted OhellO
here to his own satisfaction. His acting of this
part, he says is curiously dependent upon his phys
ical condition and the mood he chances to be in. He
still recalls the manner in which he played OthelIo
one night at the Grand Opera House. York. as
unique IN his experience with the role. He seldom
feels equal to the tremendous third act but it is
evident that he enjoys playing OthellO. OF Hamlet
he is so tired that the sight OF the costume de-
presses him; Iago exacts from him but little exer-
tion; and he enjoys Bertucco. q relief after more
stately characters. For this reason the only new
plays be disposed to consider domestic dramas
with grotesdue. homey central characters, in which
he could. perhaps. agreeably vary the monotony of
his classic repertOry.
Mr.. Booth has been considerably affected while in
London by the knowledge that the frst.night as
semblages were considering his performances in O
possible not to be influenced BY this fact. and in
stances the night he first acted OthelLO. when
he was informed that the critics wOuld probably
:. SLATE" him. On the whole, however, he thinks