Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-11
OTHELLO


~
There were two factors that conspired
last night TO draw out a fair audience TO
witness the tragedy of Othello at the OPP
era house.
Primarily the sky was threatening and
the atmosphere damp and muggy. ard
then the mass of theater-goers are not
overload of the strictly legitimate. To
properly illustrate or draw out the beauty
and deep power of this great drama re-
quires gifts Of the highest qualities. deep
discernment, and the adiuncts of voice
and action to rightly interpret them.
The movement of the action brings into
vivid play the most powerful qualities of
the human heart and mind, and affords
alternately, but with equal force, scope for
love, tenderness, hate, cunning, revenge
and ambition. The honors were divided
last evening between the Othello of Col
John L. Burleigh and the Iago ofsMr. Geo.
C. Min, and as previously announced the
former gave a novel Interpretation of the
character. inasmuch as the Moor was rep
resented as venerable veteran in
marked contrast to the hitherto conceived
ideals of the strong, robust, hot-tempered
and impetuous warriors of Mccullough
and Salvini. Departures from the beaten
| paths or methods of art are almost always
taken with risk, and looked upon by
suspicious public with misgivings. This
is especially true of the higher departments
| of the drama, where the ideals have be-
come in manner settled, and looked upon
as fixed.
It required some courage then, for Mr.
Burleigh to make so radical departure
that the verdict will be in his favor mus
be left to the rounding out of his imper
sonation, and then to the discern1nent of {;
captious public. The performance las
night may be compared to a banque
where the guest is made to pass upon a
variety of good. bad and Indifferent dish
the conditions of seasoning.
As presented, the impersonation is no
entirely satisfactory, the main fault beiny
that it is not subjective enough and i
wanting in the air of illusion that engu,f
the identity of the man in the force Of tn
1 dCtiOu. OulSlOc VI LuIS IuecNan1cal ten
dency Col. Burleigh possesses a physiqu
admirably adapted to the part, and h
was peculi arly effective in the scenes O
} tenderness.
The scene in the third act with Iago
marked by fine passion and fire and tn
passage beginning Farewell the Tranquil
mind,' is given with great beauty of e.
preston and pathos. The last act wher
the catastrophe eliminates is also give
: with fine effect. The Iago of Mr.. Min wa
marked by the hideous craft, cunning an
| treachery of this most villainous characte
:. The hate, duplicity and revenge of til
r detestable Iago were we'll illustrated, an
his conception is reasonable and natura
1t is not thought, however, that the pa
will compare with his Hamlet, which Va
much more artistic conception and be
; ter acted. His voice was husky at intel
d walls, which marred the impersonatiol
4 The Desdemonia Of Miss Lettie Allen ";
much more satisfactory than her Opheli
0 being distinguished By earnestness, tel
t derness and affection, al of which WEI
: artistically portrayed. Miss Pick enacte
q the character of Emelia fairly. The Bra1
antio OF Mr.. Mcfarland was also accepts
>, bic. The remainder OF the cast did not
ing worthy Of especial record.
This afternoon Hamlet will be give
and tonight the engagement will conclus
Q | with Macbeth.