Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-10-22
THE DRAMA,

a Shakosperian Play Mt tho opera House,
Now and then theatrical managers con.
descend TO offer, and the public agrees to
accept, presentation of ShakCsperan
drama aud, siugul.r enough, tho public
seems to discover that thcy are rather moro
famous now than whom the old Globe thea.
tro in London rang with tho plaudits they
evoked q couple of centuries ago. The
first representation of legitimate drama
this season in Lancaster was the ap
pcaranCD in Fulton opera house, Saturday
evening, OF Wm. Stafford, IN "Romoo aud
Juliet" Il Ia quito natural To suppose
that only good actor should attempt the
dcliuCatiOn OF the character of Romeo to bO
successful, and Mr.. stafford Is not success
ful, because hC ia not u good actor, At least
in this particular role. Ono great feature
of this tragedy Ia its poetic refinement, and
ia IL burlesque of passion IL cxCcrablo. IL
may bC justice 90 say that MIR stafford has
bis own idea OF the character, and follows
il. Yet a performances So lacking ia grace
Of movement and expression, 80 Outra.
gcously pCrmcatCd with ollcmiuacy, and
80 destitute Of sympathetic qualities, which
must bO present to clpttyatc the spectator,
is moro in accord with the shallow and
fearful mclOdramA Of 10 day, than fitted
TO tho finished, though tonobrOus,
creations OF the old masters of tragedy.
Surely the Romeo who can ackuOwl
edge tho daring significance OF the
! famous sentence, lie jCs.s at scars who
never felt wound" and who braves the
| fatal hatred Of tho Capulo,s % meet his
| love- was never designed 10 DO presented
! rs tho continually lachrymosc young man
who Mr.. Stafford dClnCatCS. Romeo sheds
tears, but they arc not always flowing {,
he Is wOmAuish SOmetmN8, hC Is manly as
often, and where Shakespeare makes Romeo
sigh, Mr. Stafford makea him cry. The
fayoritC of the evening. however, WAS MiSs
Eyalyu Foster rs JY!iGG Her pcTsOultion
of tho part Is admirable Sho evidently
recognizes the rare poetic glow which
COiOrs the passionate aud constant love
entertained by J.liCt for her lover, and
her full musical yO,C5 and handsome form
contribute largely to the attraCtiycuCSs of
her acting. Realism is very marked in
her Interpretation, aud all tho varied
phases of tho CharactCr-its pretty coy
mesa, ieTyid COustarcy and fatal despair
are depicted with good effect In the
animated scene at the monument sho
was especially natural During tho
evening Miss Foster was generously ap-
plaUded, aud was called before the curtain.
Mr.. julius scott gives the ouly really mor.
ItOriOus male impcrsOuatIIu as NGTtH'!0.
His facial expressions are fuc, and lie
oyincc5 au intimate comprehension Of the
tcxt, which Is most agreeable. His jooular
dissertation on Queen Nab was a very clover
bit Of delivery given with much spirit aud
intelligence, and was loudly applaudoi by
the audience Mr.. Charles +. Mahoncy, as
IgjIh gave u forctba and acceptable
rendition, and Miss Carrie Reynolds was
quito entertaining as tho Nurse. Tho
others of the company are rather iud!hcr.
ent IN their plcts, whtIo for tho play itself,
iC was cut t. half its size.
The good sized aUiiolc5 present on
Saturday evening and tho large ono prom
ised this evening, cu.i.lo Lancaster thea
:rc gosrs 90 compliments for their rccog-
ui.iOn Of the legitimate drama,