Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-02
Booth in Vienna.

Vienna Letter to the London Daily News
When the news first reached Vienna that Ed.
win Booth wonld play Shakespeare in English,
with German actors to play the other parts. q
DOUBT arose everywhere as to whether he would
be recompensed for his pains, and whether Vienna
| would muster an audience sufficiently numerous
TO MI the Stadt Theater. IL was supposed that the
audience must recruit itselffrom those no under.
stand English, and those who know Shakespeare
well enough to understand the distinguished
guests acting, even without understanding his
words. Now, an audience composed of such culti-
waited elements is not large in Vienna. and IL was
therefore no small surprise to witness how
people crowded to the Stadt Theater on Mr..
Booths evenings 30 that the American traoe.
dian was obliged to prolong his stay for several
EVENING" glance. at the audience sufficed 10
show that the majority hae not come to see but
rather to DO seen, and that many were there
win the sole purpose OF making their acquaint-
ances believe that they knew English. comic
paper OF Vienna illustrated this obvious fact IN
the following manner: Two stout ladies are
attentiveIy watching Lear. who is tearing h,s
hair One OF them asks in an audible whisper:
s what e. Is the old man crying about, do you
can't understand q word his own flesh and blood
says to him." answers the other
We watched these good people during pas
saees which, II understood, must have been re-.
Elected In the expression of their faces but they
little spread knowledge of the English language
Is also the reason why the critics are not very
eloquent In discussing the merits and faults OF
Mr.. Edwin Booth. There are no particularly
good Shakespearean players in Vienna Com.
parsons were therefore drawn chiefly between
the American tragedian and dead and gone
actors whom few of the present generation have
mad the good fortune to see, or else Salyin and
Rossi. The Viennese are much better able to
appreciate and judge the latter. because Italian
is language which, owing to the former Aus
TRAN garrisOns in Venice and Milan, is still very
popular here. In Hamlet" IL was admitted
that the American was superior to both Of his
Italian rivals, and the general opinion was that
he was an altogether "princely" Prince. But
for "Othello" he was not considered power
ful enough, and the many groans and other
inarticulate sounds which play 40 great a part
In his rendering OF the wrathful Moor were not
appreciated In Lear" the audience was en-
thusiastic- The touching tones of the out
ragged father were understood without the aid of
speech, and Mr.. Booth was called for innumera-
Ole times. Had the good stout women of
vienna understood the stirring words they
would no doubt have shed tears. In theatrical
circles MT. Booths appearance has caused quite
sensation. The actors Of the Burg attended
his representations whenever they were able
him, as much at least as the total ignorance OF
bis language will allow them Mr.. Booth on
the other hand. was delighted with what he saw
OF the Imperial Theater, In which he witnessed
some very good acting. The actors associated
with him at the Stadt Theater were all below
the average, and II Mr.. Booth judged German
acting from their performance he would have
well-founded belief In his own immense SUI
periority.