New-York tribune., 1885-01-31
EDWIN BOOTH AS PESCARA.

Among the dramatic works of the past that
have kept their hold upon the stage through long
period Of tne few dark and dreadful in spirit,
incident atmosphere, ana imagery Shies tragedy Of
The Apostate This play has attained to the venerable
age threescore years and ten 1t still is occasionally
acted and doubtless it will keep its place in the prac
teal repertory OF the theatre ongas tragic actor
be found who is competent to embody its most stk
Ing character Pescara with the robust force the gry
magnity the Internal cruelty and the horrible, glitter
ing speoiousness that the part demands. In its
original form "The Apostate" is q tragedy. Pes
falls by the hand OF Heneya; Forinda dies by
poison which she had swallowed In order to escape from
the threatened nuptials with Pescara and HecEa also
dies by suicide. There is dramatic necessity, bow
ever for sacrificing the lovers the end and the prac
tce Of our stage has usually been to wind this story OF
horrors with happy close-by which means the dark
OF terrible picture is much and gratefully relieved
1t may be doubted whether the presentation Of type of
human nature hideous that Of Pcscara have
wholesome effect He is most deprayed and dreadful
ruan, malignant hateful cruel oodurate, reacherous
animated by Oahome Iust and alternating In his mood
between cold ingenious malice and savage fury. But
the piece written for Pescara II the heroine,
Ing and magination The beautiful Miss O'Ne was TO
play part and did play It, and she many anothec
man of his tine was infatuated with that prodigy OF
feeling aud loyeliness In Florada all the virtues and
all the graces combined She is the most Affection
ate and dutiful OF dauShters the most romantic OF
madens the sweetest and ardent OF lovers; the
most noble and heroic of women alike in her principles
long hair at every important Juncture OF the story at
the most practicabe OF times and the most npossi-
bic places only that PeScard acts. while Oindd
suffers that the demon has got the better of the
angel in dramatic point view Evil Is restless and.
when combined with intellect. 1t is brilliant, but good
ness apt be submissive inert and inspid Besides
PScara has, all along engrossed the faculties OF men OK
genius The elder Booth, whom the part was first al
oted refused to IT, and was assumed by Maeready
but Booth afterward played it, and made great fame In
1t and Edwin Booth who revived the piece last night,
the Fifth Avenue Theatre has always retained In
his repertory and has for the most part sustained IN
PeScdrd, the tradition of his fathers greatness. ir
Booth plays PeScard II Is drawn aud makes him h
end. Unfortunately there Is but too much reason
believe that such have existed, and do exist
'The Apostate the cast OF parts In which was
printed yesterdayhas been set upon the Fifth Avenue
stage In scenery carefully made and painted but not
with the elaborate aud thoroughness which marked
the receut setting OF " Hamlet"
Mr. Booth was frequently recalled and IN the fourtn
act-Peseu'd's hideous .wooing scene-he acted WIN
the electric vitality that may be seen In q
wounded and enragcd serpent There were TWO
recalls for him after this act Miss Clarke proved TOO
massive and mature for Forinaa and Mr Barron
seemed elderly and artificial as Hemeya The Apostate
which must reserve for more particular remark
will be repeated tonight.
It not often that Edwin Booth appears In comedy.
and the attention OF his admirers should especially %
drected 10 the fact that may be seen at todays mat
nee nj the Fifth Theatre In the dashns anu oc
lightful character OF Don C0sar De Bd-dIt