, 1881-03-06
Sa1vini's Engagement at Nc
Vicker's, and Its
Results.
Dramatic Attractions at the
Various Houses-COm-
ing Events.
American Actors Abroad-Henry Bergfl's
lnhumanity to Man.
Theatrical News-Arrest Of Hermann
-Cazauran's New Play.

sALvINrs ENGAGEMENT.
Salvini yesterday afternoon finished his en-
cage1nent at McVicker's Theutrc. The play was
"Othello,'' and the house was crowded During
his engagement Salylni has performed eight
times, and has appeared In four different char-
acters,-four times as OtheIo, three MS the G'ads-
ator, onco as Hamlet, und once us Macbeth His
OueAo, owing to the fact that 1t Is his best
known assumption In this country, and because
it is one for the perfect embodiment of which
his Southern temperament is entirely suited'
drew very large audiences. His other perform
ances were badly patrouizcd when we take into
consideration tho fact that Salvini holds today
the foremost pUsiuOn among living actors.
There was q reason for the lack OF interest III
his Hamlet, and that reason may be found IN
tho fuct thmt he spoke in foreign
tongue. '.Hamlet" abounds in lengthy philo-
sophical speeches, the beauty and tho force OF
which are lost to nm American audience when
they are delivered In any other lan5nage but
their native Anglo-Saxon- There was no reason,
however for the thin houses when he presented
his Gladiator, piece Of acting which. as we
have said, except FOR the limitations imposed by
the tlramAtist, would be ranked with his Otiello
His Macbeth was given upon q night when tho
most severe snow-stornl OF the winter ctlnc. anu
that can nccouut for the comparatively light,
not absolutely bad. audience ~ attcnuanee UPON
been reviewed ns they came up Tor co1sfflcra-
ton, nnd we need hero only make one reflection
in looking over the entfre engagement, and that
is III regard to the artistic nlteetauon. rs shown
in this engagement. that exists umung tho play
goers Of this city. When Bernhurdt came hero
and played twelve times In two weeks at larger
prices than SuIvini charged. ut no performance
hnu she as small audience its attended any OF
the great Ita1ans efforts except us Ulheuo.
And yet Hernhardt nnd Snivlnf US artists i'll the
true, glowing, full sncuning OF tho word. can
not be mentioned III the same breath. Bern
hurdt is q piece Of dramatic clock-wosk. prod
uct OF truninS and hard, inflcxible study, arti.
lcial and tricky She is Bernh.r1t, And n nl
the characters she portrayed sho was nothing
more and nothing less. Saivini, on the otner
hand, has quite MS fine knowledge OF the
mechanism Of netting rs bis French ssster. BE-
SIDES he has versatility thar his French sister
knows nothing of. und thar spark OF genius
which iliu,ninAtcs everything he undertakes
and raises it to the plane Of greatness. Nature
aud art have lovingly combined 70 make Ssllvini
u great actor: nrt has turned out 11crnhnrdt:
Reruhhrdt came. Her managers hAd worked
an actress Public curiosity was mistaken for
artistic venerauon. and plnygoer5 locked 70 see
her No such outside interest WIS worked up
over Salyini lie came simply upon his merits
as TN actor. We have seen tho result
Among the company III support OF SalVlnt
ton for her Fa,tstiE1 in Tho Gladiator anu
her Lttdu Macbeth In these parts she displayed
qualities emitting her TO i prominent place
among our few trAgic actresses. She has goou
presence, is IL fine reader, and. u1thousn her
action is occasionally constrained and her
voice has limited range, sho brings to
bear upon her work a keen intelligence,
and that intelligence enables her to make
excellent use of her gifts. Miss Ellie Wilton,
in our judgement, is 4 little out OF her element
Crjsp. and, indeed, Of II number Of the company.
Eafyini goes from hero to Milwaukee,