Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-04-29

Again a large and fashionable audi
ence assembled last night TO hear Mr.
Barrett and his company render Julius
Caesar. This is one of the most exact
ing plays in the whole range Of the
drama. Everything connected with
this foremost man Of all this world Is sc
epic, the period In which be figured was
so august and momentous, the call upon
both property and scenic effects is SC
sweeping, the necessity for large and
well drilled and well costumed mobs Il
so great, that the line which separates
the sublime IRON the ridiculous in such
representations Is so thin as to be almost
impalpable.
fhe presence Of Mr.. Barrett In the
role Of Cassiua would redeem innumera.
BILE defects Ia both the setting and the
personnel of Julius Caesar. The writer
had the great privilege OF enjoying Mr.
Edwin Booths revival of Julius Cesar
NJ that famous actors own theater in
New York, when he had expended a
mint Of money in the accurate eostum-
ing and set Of the play. He is supposed
10 have spent fortune in making every
accessory of his production Of Shakes
pesres masterpiece conform to the his
turical requirements, and to have pre-
cipitated his bankruptcy thereby. II we
remember Alright, this revival held the
boards in the winter of 1912 and the
spring Of 1872. Mr., Booth and Mr..
barrett occasionally alternated as Bru-
lus and Cassius. MIR. Bangs was the
Mark Antony. 1t was an artistic treat
such as is seldom enjoyed.
Mr.. Barrett's rendition Of the part of
Cassius last night differed from that OF
fourteen years ago only in the respect
that it has become, II possible, more
austerely artistic--more idealized.
There are some roles In which this con-
summate sctor's physique is scarcely in
ronsonance with the character of which
he is supposed TO present the counterfeit
presentment. In the case of Cassius,
however, he carries out to a nicely
Caesars description OF the splenetic,
subtle and fiery Roman. In the antique
costume appropriate TO the part he is ~
clear cut as cameo. His classic face
and head tower grandly over the males.
tic togu Of the brave days OF old, and
his reading of the noble lines which
Shakespeare has put into the mouth of
this implacable conspirator is simply
inimitable. His sonorous and energetic
elocution, never strained, in no whit ex-
aggerated, is one of the exquisite expe-
riences Of the play goers OF the present
day-a treat once enjoyed never to be
forgotten. In make up and action he is
poetical and yet realistic to the ex-
IRENE.
Mr.. j. Newton IGottheld, as Brutus.
had an opportunity of demonstrating
last night the possession of marked quSl-
tiles OF facial and declamatory power.
His person is admirably adapted to sug-
costing the stalwart Roman of the Sec
ond most tragic episode of the history OF
the whilom mistress of the world. His
contained but energetic Interpretation
of the generous but determined con
spirator frequently extorted the rocog-
milton of the audience, and stamped him
as forcible and discriminating actor.
MIR. +. G. Mosley, as Mark Antony, was
animated and graceful, though he can
scarcely be said to have attained the
heroic stage.
As Calfurnia Miss Minnie X Gale was
picturesque and effective. In the de-
lightful Roman costume, which aimed to
reveal, rather than conceal the exquisite
outlines of the human form, this super
Tor artist look ed like the realization of a
poets dream. She acquitted herself at
all points with judgment and ability.
The Portia of Miss Eugenia Blair was
also quite creditable piece of acting.
Taking the performance in parts ii was
superb; taking it as whole it was clever
and complete.
Tonight Hermann, one of the creations
of Victor Hugo's splendid genius, will
hold the boards. Most of our readers
have been familiarized with it in the
opera of the same name, the sextette in
which is one of the gems of the operatic
stage. In this play Mr.. Gotthold will
figure to great advantage. 1t is one of
the finest in the whole range of the
romantic drama