National Republican., 1883-09-18
AMUsEMRSrs.
TIE NArtoxAt.-"FAt.srArr.r =


Mr.. John Jack as Falstafl, Miss Annie Firmin
as Prince HAL Mr. J. Leslie Gossin as Hot
spur Miss Blanche Revere as Kate Percy,
Miss Jane Germon as tho Hostess, and a host
of lesser lights in the minor characters It
cannot be truthfully said that tho performance
was satisfactory. The interest of this play
conters around Falstaif an1 Prince Hal,
and, in less degree, HOtspur.
FalstaG is as perfect u. creation of
Shakspeares genius, as symmotrically artistic
in his way as 1mogen in hers Upon hin, was
lavishod, with an indulgent hand, all tho
graces which the supreme powers of the
master could bestow consistently with the
character. Falstaf appears to the audience ut
once and never loses the sympathcs his first
appearance evokes. He is the dissoute knight
given over to gross sensuality, cutpurso, n
drunkard, a coward, swaggoringly affecting all
the merits of such character. But
he is still knight. Amidst all
his degradation, his vice, his obese animality,
there is IN undercurrent of the gentleman
that tinges every action, sparklcs in every
witticism, lightens up his supreme humor, and
saves him from the fato which swallows up
Baudolph and Poins and Nym. Without a
!
| yet never loses it. Stepped to the very lips
in vulgarity, surrounded by vulgar associa-
tions living with vulgar companions,
and doing all manner of vulgar
| things, he never becomes vulgar. In spite of
himself he betrays his gentle blood, and
drinks hissack, or plots his roguery, or exhib-
its his cowardice with spark of tho gentle
mans grace. 1t is this subtle, undefnable
quality, no less than his inimitablo humor-
or, wo should rather say, conjoined with his
nimitable humor-that has made Falstaff tho
! favorite of the ages. Had Poins all the hu
NOR OF Falstaif we should never feel
tho indignation against tho Prince
for casting him of, as we do when
he banishes poor Jack Falstalf. We
applaud and approve the former action. We
applaud and condemn tho latter. Gross and
coarse aud utterly selfish as he is, "fat jack
always commands our sympathies and never
awakes our disgust.
This is the Falstaif that Shakespeare created,
not the FalstafT impersonatcd by Mr.. Jack.
The latters rendition of the character is
faulty in every respect. He presents us with
great, hulking ungraceful mass of obesity,
as devoid of fascination as the fat knight
|
matchless humor flowing as spontaneously
from the lips of the character as water bub
bles from fountain, with rs little effort and
almost rs little object, becomes stale and un-
profitable as threadbare jokes. He pro-
yokos laughter, it is true, but his
antics, his clumsy gyratons at Gadshill,
when he gets bewildered by the contrary
calls of the Prince and Poins awake more
mirth than the description of his fight with
the eleven men in buckram. In fact, Mr..
Jacks impersonaton of Sir John Falstaff
strikes us as being modelled upon one of
Congreve's sailors rather than upon the i'm
mortal knight who haunted the inns of East
cheop, The character as played by Mr.. Jack
belongs to the age Of Anne, not to the times
Of the rival Roses.
| The make up of the part is faulty. We also
miss the subtle aroma of the humor which
surrounded Falstaf as an atmosphere We do
not see the joke coming, and sometimes it has
passed before we see it. Shakespeare never
intended Falstaff for a clown, and endowed
him with some grace, even in the ridiculous
scene where he mouths and besobbers tho
hOstess's hand. Mr.. Jacks personation gives
him not bit.
Miss Annie Firmin's Prince Hal was a
woman in masquerade, not the gay Bohemian
prince we all love and admire, except in that
one shabby act of "going back" on his boon
comrade, Falstaff. Miss Firmin is bright
and vivacious lady, very graceful and easy in
her movements, with u countenance exi
pressive of every emotion as rapidly and
as brightly as polished mirror reflects
back every ray of light falling upon it, but
her conception of the character is erroneous.
Her Prince Hal is rude boy, in whom is
none Of the native dignity of the Prince. 1t
is q mistake for woman, even the ablest, TO
play this character. 1t is essentially q mas
culine part and needs man to adequately
represent it. A woman might as well try to
play Falstaff himself as to rightly enact the
Prince companion.
Mr.. j. Leslie Gossin as Hotspur exhibited
good deal of passion, and gives promise
with careful study Of rendering the part we'll.
His chief faults are lack of case, too much
rant and defective articulation. This last
fault is indeed characteristic of the company,
every member of which is affected more or
less by it,
The company, upon the whole, must be
pronounced weak and the rendition of the
play unsatisfactory.
ABNER's BENEFIT.
The summer nights festival testimonial
rendered Mr.. Edward Abner, the resterateur
and caterer, by his friends at his summer
: garden last night was not as largely attended
as it would have been but for the rain. A
fair sized audience was present, however and
, an excellent programme was rendered by
tho Washington Saengorbund, Mrs. Emma
: Lovil- Felmann, Aron Quartettc club Miss
Bertha Ravcne Mrs. Albertina Wellenberg
4 and Mr., Rudolph Ducring, assisted by Prof
r Berney's orchestra.
= Metals.
Mr.. Burchard, tho director of the mint
has just returned from trip to the west, il
the course of which he visited the mints ant
@ assay offices at San Francisco, Carson City
= New, Boise City, Idaho and Helena. Mont.
- and tho mining regions of Oregon, Montana
and Idaho He attended tho annual settle
ments at tho mint in compliance with a pro
vision of the law, which says, that either tn,
director, or some ono authorized by him
shall be present at the settlements the obiec
IS of which is TO check the accounts OF tn,
10 superintendents Of the mints, the meters
= and reiners, and the coiners. Tho import
y anco of these settlements is he thinks ap
No. tl,..Na -,