New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-15
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
MIR, BARRETTS FAREWELL.

To conclude his engagement at the Grand
Opera House, last night Mr. Barrett gave his imper
sonaton OF the baefu Duke Of Gloste In shakespeare
tumultuous and fiery tragedy OF Richard ILL
There was a great crowd present, aud the per
Torrance was greeted with tumult Of
earnest applause Mr. Barrett acted Richard as DO
appears IN Cibbers adaptation of the pieoeG
which the character is married. as to enormous and
hdeous wickedness and shorn of all subtety aud al
human attributes This Is not true to Shakespeare
Is 1t true TO history or to life. Tie actors
who use Cibber's play, however, generally
give 1t the benefit of their study Of the original and
draw a higher and finer person than Cibher intended
Mr. Barrett exceently well suited to the intellectual
intensity of GOster, and he portrayed splendidy well
the audacity OF his soaring ambition and
the depravty of his sinuous deceit The scene
with the Lord Mayor and the clergmea
was perhaps, the most brilliant passage In tho
performance The speclousness that pervades the entire
structure of Mr. Barretts Richard here made eon'
spicuOus In vein Of serious plausibiy, and emphs
sized with sudden and startling transitions from
Christian meekness to internal exultation. In bis
assumption of occasional strident harshness and IN
touches Of isy ferocity the tragedan is likewise both
felictous as an actor and truthful o Shasesperean
scholar These hints may TO denote that his GIo
is not the Understanding butcher and self-goriyEg
ruan of Cbbers piece, but an intellectual Gosir Trans
planted this cabbage garden of tragedy that has
been fosted upon Shakespeare's basis. At the Close
IF the wooing scene aud again after the scene win
the Lord Mayor Mr.. Barrett called out with many
plaudts, and these especially awakened at inc
delivery OF Clb0ers lines They can't but say had We
crown" The awful selfmockery and helsh gee oil ths
line about the women who " rail against the Lora'
anonted were entirely missed. In fact Mr.. BafreIs
nature is strongly charged with serious s"ee'
ness, intellectual dignity, and phosophic ee'S
ton that IL does not readily conform n'en
TO the mould Of Richard ILL.,; so that as
personation is remarkable for the beauty OF ceraa
special features and shining points rather than Tor as
lutte and sustained Identification. There were last msA-
several extraordinary displays OF vocal POWERFUL !"
such lines What do they l. the North (with wHeA
old Booth used thrill the entire neighbornOoa, 10
makes such flashes Irresistible His Gl0stT IL us
work schoara deep, careful. interesting study,m
up with occasional glare OF splendid emotional hsa
but Richard Is of the parts that he has not YET
dlstinctively his 1t was received, however WIN
thoughtful attention and a heartiness OF admlrthsF
plause, such denoted its unequvocal power upon
public mind. Mr.. Louis James, acting n"'
mOnd, filed that manly ideal OF hef0n
entirely well, and spoke the splendid lines NH'
rich, robust musical delivery, such as II was iaA
ury to hear. Mr.. b. G. Rogers, actor who n" P
ticuary dstin gushed himself during this eneage"e'
by the ripe judgment and fine taste which he DAs w
played In a variety OF characters particularly 80
In Lord Stanley Mr.. Barrett has numctOuS, sess
uncOwmony able company, aud his people dEess Ian
plays much better. as TO beauty ana correctness "
any company now before the public