New-York tribune., 1884-11-28
SOME FAMOUS HAMLETS.

SOME FAMOUS HAMLETs, FROM BURBAGE TO
ak. 2. Wing Extracts from the Criticisms on Ham
let by Goethe Coeridge, Schlege, Hazntt uiTici,
etc. pp "a. London. David Bogue.
In this little volume Mr. Austin Brerctou. care
full tasteful and diligent writer on the contcmpo-
rary stage and the history of the British drama,
has set down. briefly. and in smooth, straightfor-
ward STYLE many facts concerning fifteen OF the
noted actors of the past each of whom was, In his
day, a re representative of Hamlet. and moro or less
distinguished in the character. The players
whose assumption of the Melancholy Dane are thus
commemorated are Richard Burbage, Joseph Taylor,
Charles Hart Thomas Betterton, David Garnck,
John Henderson, George Frederick Cooke. John
Phillip Kemble Stephen Kembe. Charles kemDle,
Charles Mayne Young, Edmund Kean, w. Z. Ma
cready, Charles Kean. and Charles Fechter. The
author has not attempted to analyze, extensively
and mnutely, the ideal of HamLet presented by
each one of these famous persons, or the artistic
method Of representation employed in each lndiyId-
nal case The superficial facts rather than the
fundamental ones are related and therefore the
book is more a chronicle than critical essay. ln-
formation on such subject is necessarily scattered
through wide range of books. Mr.. Brerecn has
sought for 1t at Its original sources, and as ne
avows in his preface, has cn1cavored to make easy
of access that which before was somewhat difficult
of attainment. The task was worth dong, and Mr..
Brereton has performed il in conscientious man.
ner With a light touch and in rapid movement he
has set before bis reader long panorama Of I'M
pressive intellectual activity. Scrupulous
to dates and names is conspicuous merit of his
book the incidents aud the bits of criticism gar
nered up in it are equally pleasing and instructive;
and the careful reader Of il feels that here he pos
sesses If not profound disquistion at least positive
knowledge and thus materials for revere over one
of the most fascinating subjects that appertain to
theatrical history. The richest pages in the vol
ume are those which relate TO John Phillip Kcmbe,
to whom than TO auy 9th r actor is due the
traditional Hamlet of the modern stage. Ii might
be wished that Mr. Brereton had quoted a wiser
and better critic than George Henry Lewes on Ma
cready and that he had not given his sanction TO
the gratuitous theory that Shakespeare was consid
ering the corpulencv of Burbage wheu he msdc tho
Queen describe Hamlet fat and scant OF breath"
The blemshes in this little chronicle, however, are
few and the only regret that the book inspires is
considering the wealth of its subect-that IT
should not contain vastly greater profusion of de-
tails aud anecdotes crystallized around ample and
minute word-pictures Of the performances of Ham-
ii that were given by great actors OF the past Tho
author has conteptcj himself with hints and sug
gestions blended into his narrative of facts, aud
therefore the book will take its place among the
materials for history OF the human mind ~ shown
IA It's contact with tho great subject OF Hamlet. and
not a. contribution o. that higher. moro Import.
ant. aud moro permanent branch ot dramatic h,or-
aturo. Regret that tho author has not made moro
Of his theme will not however, blind tho reader o
tho merit OF what IN actually accomplished. There
ara hundreds OF play -aoers 10 whom this work will
DO exceedingly useful.