National Republican., 1882-12-23
ADJUSTMENTS.
"MAcBrTH" AT THE NATIONAL

Keene's presentation of Macbeth, and less to be
questioned than in most of his other work. 1t
Is pleasant as well as unusual to find in a
Shaksperean performance anything indicative
of independent thought; and when such an
occasion arises differences of opinion give
way to n sense of thankfulness toward the
man who can step aside from pre-
cedent. Mr.. Keene's Macbeth is less
a new reading than now picture.
So far as it is possible under the conditions
that hamper his work, he shows us kettle
man, semi-barbarous in appearance, and suit
ing his action to the conditions of semi
barbarous time. While this is tendency
toward realism, and therefor open to criticism
as antagonistic to that large spirit which
should obtain in the representation of a charac-
ter which is less historic than illustrative
Of elemental human qualities, it may be taken
as indicative of close study and individual in
dependence in the artist. Considering it from
the point of view occupied by the actor him.
self, the question is not whether it be inap-
proprate, but whether he has followed his
own line of reasoning far enough, or with
consistency.
If Mr.. Keene intends to repre-
as far as possible with historical
provisions, his work is marred by only one
lapse of any material consequence, and this
lapse is referable to an error of time. That
part of history of Macbeth embraced in the
action of the tragedy covers a space of some
thing like eleven years. The vague records
of that early age credit him with a reign of
about that duration Mr.. Keene's error lies
in his neglect to indicate a sufficient
lapse of time between the accession of
Macbeth to the throne and the catas-
trophe that ended at once his reign and his
life. There isno indication given Of any in
tervention Of years between the first act and
the last and yet the lines themselves would
indicate prolonged period of action separat-
ing them. There has been oppression of
kind so heavy that the people are full of
curses, not loud, but deep; and this could not
have been brought about upon the very adj
vent of q new king. Moreover, the mind
of the queen has suffered under the
billings of conscience so calloused
that nothing but a course of years could have
so thoroughly penetrated it. To hug realism
the flight of time should be indicated, and to
indicate the flight of time in such manner
that the casual spectator must take note of it,
a radical change of appearance would be called
for. 1t is not going too far to suppose that
with u man of Macbeths susceptibility
and conscience, the thought of his
| crime and the labor of his Office
would have so borne in upon him that in
appearance he would have aged; and to carry
that impression into a realistic representa-
~ fhn ,bnr 4bo o1-,l1 nN-i-
dence of age-blanched hair, andsthe like
would be brought into use. This is a con
sideration that does not seem to have entered
into Mr.. Keene's construction ofthe part. He
is careful in so far as he goes, but he stops
short of full realization of his own plan
Back of this may lie question whether it
is advisable to strain after realism orarchaeolo-
gical accuracy in the representation Of any Of
Shakspeare's creations. These are for all time,
and of all time. The nero nicities of date
and detail go for little when their scope Of
thought and passion is kept in view. But
leaving out tho historic side of Macbeth,
and Mr.. Keene's endeavor to fit it,
and looking only at the value of his effort to
embody the humanity of the character, much
could be said in his praise-much more
than in dispraise His reading is lucid, as it
is in nearly all of his performances; and
he displays everywhere a much closer
sympathy with the intent of Z. the
lines than intimacy with their exact
wording. In the main, his Macbeth is a we'll
proportioned, forcible work, and only in de-
tails which need not be dwelt upon is it de-
fective.
There is little reason and less desire to say
much of the work of the company. Miss Con-
stance Hamblin as Lady Macbeth comes like a
reminiscence of those old days when the
scenery of the New York Bowery was the
nightly food of popular but dismal artists, and
hot eberlood lin three syllables and by the
barrel) their professional and fearful beverage.
Such Lady Macbeth has not been seen before
in twenty years and may not be Cif the world
wags well and happily ever again.
NOTES.
| The Kiralfy brothers propose to offer a gorge
GUS Christmas entertainment at the National.
Their spectacle "Aronud the World in Eighty
Days" has endured the test of five years wear
and every season has been marked by
some addition to its splendor. This
year the managers represent that they have
built it to a climax. They have real elephant
and swarm of girls in gauze. What more could
any one ask?
Mr. Keene will play 4" "Ohelo this evening.
Those in search of genuine amusement for the
holidays will do well to attend the performan ce
on Monday next at Ford's opera house, when
Augustin Days The Passing Regiment" will be
acted by company of metropolitan artists equal
in their way, the New York Times says, to the
famous Wyndam company. The play as its name
implies, relates the adventures of the officers Of
Il regiment encamped at NaTagansett pier
where they are quartcred ON the residents
OF course there are lot of pretty girls in the
house to which the colonel and staff are assigned
and equally Of course the officers fall in love will
the girls. III fact the entire female population
from the mothers of families to the housemads
are demoralized by the invasion of the gentlemen
in buttons.