New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-05
p MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
MURDOCH AS HAMLET.

~,,v PERFORMANCE LAST EVENING AT THE GIN
CINNAII FESTIVAL
r,xcrNNATI. May Ain looking at the venerable
,omIe, of Murdoch, it is impossible not to think OF
nootor Johnson's neat comment on the Dancing
D.. "Tbe wonder is not that he should do it 30
ali but that he should do it at ALL" Murdoch is
an aged man. and he never was essentially a
tragedian His field in the palmy days of bis
career was comedy. He acted Young Mirdbel and
Rope, and Charles SurJaoe, and he Gid TINS
with the galaird air and darling grace
of the school that our ancestors admired
in such actors as Elliston and Charles Kemble
He supported Ellen Tree as long ago as 1888
There is no question or doubt that his achievements
have been yery brilliant. No man is more compe-
tent to instruct the present day in the dramatic
art but it is almost the period OF one generation
since Mr. Murdocts career attained IFS zenith
When he stands for ward now as the representative
of Hamlet he is simply Shskespeares fine image Oh
futility: The painting of a SORROW"
; All that remains of the mighty Saladln was well
coined and hailed tonight by great and brilliant
and affectionate audience. That clearly denoted
much more ardent fealty to Murdoch than 10
Hamlet. The actor had six recalls before the play
was half over. and many floral trlo-
utes were laid at his feet. No audience
ever manifested tender, cordial and altogether
right feeling toward an old favorte, In moro gra.
cious manner than that of Cincinnati
toward the veteran tonight IL was oeau'iiui
and touching spectacle.
No doubt IL was right to ask Murdoch to
participate in the festival. He is honored and be-
loved wherever he is known, and justly so. and the
kings name is tower of strength but 1t was
scarcely judicious to ask him to read the
longest part in the whole range OF
the drama, and to impersonate the
,ne character, which more perhaps than any other
Is radically incompatible with the conditions OF this
theatre. Forrest himself, if restricted TO
Hamlet, would have had to communicate
by telephone in such place as THIS
ALI delicate play of facial expression. and all dell
cate shading of the voice is lost in the clrcum-
ambient ether.
What Murdoch actually did was TO give reading
of Hamlet in costume, but not a performance of
He was in capital voice. and he spoke the text with
remarkable spirit. Some of his best strokes
were delivered in the scene of the Recorders when
Hamlet loses restraint The work is chiefly valuable
as an interesting display of tradition IN vocal
ism and gesture. Murdoch works Hamlet like
windmill, and makes him fonder OF pansies
than If he were a professor of rhetoric. The sui
eide speech he delivered, not a soIlOquy, but as
an exhortation. His Hamlet is invariably sane, but
affects certain Wilderness even while
it has the poise of age, expert
ence and wisdom. combined with a
sort of rustic. benignant. almost agricultural
pect; whereas the polse of Shskespeare's Hamlet is
that of bitter detection and imprisoned despair,
while in appearance he IS "the glass Of fashion
and the mould of form" ravaged and blighted
by misery. Murdoch's Hamlet in brief is that of
preceptor, with all the spirit dead. and all the
glamour faded away.
This result was inevitable, alike from the actors
temperament and antecedents and from his sur
roundings. He never could have been true Ham
1et In this immediate performance he made
the spiritual transitions as if with a mind that
turns on hinges Respect for veteran must not
stultify Judgment OF such serious matter acting
Hamlet. Murdoch had personal ovation
superluOus. The tragedy was played in
Blk acts. curtain being dropped at HdmletS exit
the way to the queens closet and it was mounted
with exceptional care and much splendor.
! Mccullough acted The Ghost with thrilling
sepulchral dignity. Barrett made the utmost that
gan be made of HOTaO. and Marie Wainwright aud
louis James achieved special success Opkelia and
Ldertes.
The festival, it is certain, will more than pay
ats eX penses. w. w.