The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-27
WALLACK'S BENEFIT.
A RED LETTER NIGHT IN AMERICAN
DRAMATIC HISTORY. y
An Entertaining Account OF the Great
Performance of Hamlet--The Splendid
Star Cast-The Successes OF the o.
oasion.


in the annals OF the American stage was the
Wallack testimonial Monday night. For
weeks past there has been intense interest
manifested in this great demonstration in
honor Of the popular veteran manager Lester
Wallack, and asa consequence the Mctropol-
itan opera-house held an enormous assem-
blage on this momentous occasion. The
play was Hamlet" the players were the
leading actors of America and the audience
was thoroughly representative OF the culture
and prominence Of the metropolis. II goes
without saying that the vast and familiar
array OF regular theater-goers was fully rep
resented, while on every side were 10 beseen
the best known representatives Of every call
| ing and profession. People who were shocked
at the idea OF paying $40 for an orchestra
chair would gladly have changed their minds,
am sure, and bought places chad Il been
| possible) just before the performance, but
every seat in the immense house had been
disposed Of within few hours after the sales
begun, and the crowd that battled for stand
ing-room must have numbered over 1000,
yes, possibly 1000. Every available inch OF
room in the building, where ono might be
within ear-shot OF the stage, was packed
10 suffocation. The rules OF the fire depart
meut were utterly ignored, and the aisles
crammed with people unable 10 bulge one
way or another, so densely were they packed
In. The box tiers. like the orchestra and
dress circles, were resplendent with bright
colors and sparkling jewels. Mr.. McAiis-
iers noble 400 were there obliged 10 rub
shoulders with thc-a common herd.
Many swells and we'll known people
about town were "up in the gods, s.
and there full dress was almost
as much "de rigenr' as In every other
imagine more strikingly brilliant scene
than that presented by the memorable au-
dience OF nearly 5000 persons.
| But this was all insignificant In COMPARE
son 10 the interest that ccntered ON the stage
| and in the players. Here indeed was feast
OF the rarest intellectual sort, and Il Is now
a great satisfaction 10 consider that so many
were able TO enjoyit. After being duly and
repeatedly warned TO be on time, the audi
ence were nearly all In their places by 81
o'clock, and ut that hour promptly Walter
Damrosh raised his baton and directed the
symphony orchestra In n spirited rendering
OF the ''Tannhauser" overture. Then the
big curtain rose and disclosed the moonlitI
ramparts Of Elsinore. John A. Lanes ia
miliar voice and movement were immedi.
dialy recognized despite his blond wig and
youthful garb as Horatio. In the dim
| background Herbert Kelley, clad in armor
~.
was stunning" Marcellus. Edwin vaud.
derfelt was Bernardo. Lawrence Barrels
appearance as the ghost was greeted with
applause, but when Booth came on there
was an immense wave Of general feeling
which swelled into such proportions that the
great actor was kept bowling hisacknowledgt.
ments for quite long time. This earnest
and splendid demonstration flor such IL was)
inspired Booth 10 do the best work he has
done In the last few years, and his perform.
ance Of Hamlet on this occasion may be
considered among his greatest achieve
| ments.
Made up younger than usual the ominentI
artist threw such energy, fire and subtlciyv
INTO his work as he has not shown for many
n day. lie was truly superb IN the part aud Il
everyone realized how fortunate they wereI
TO see him in his inspired Interpretation oil
his fayoritc role. After Mr.. Booth. no oneI
claimed as many Of the plaudi,s and event
acclamations OF the distinguished null
ence as did Madame Modjcska. -SheI
played Ophelia aud her great A<5>ccessI
was positive from the start--4ihe Showed her
usual taste In dressing the part most exc
quisitely, and though Il was the irst time
she essayed the role. her portrayal OF the
unfortunate Ophelia was most chaste fin.
ished and full OF tenderness and dramatic
power. Her mad scenes were wonderfully
acted, while the love scene with Hamlet was
touchingly beautiful. Dear old John Gil.
bert was appropriately venerable and simpie-
minded as Polonius, and though his voice
was not always equal TO the trying demands
OF the house. he was most satisfactory as the
father OF the lconine I.frrtes OF Eben Plymp-
ton. This popular actor was entirely ac-
cepiablc, and his manly appearance and dis.
tnct enunciation made Lfertcs more promi-
nent than usual. Frank Mayo I'm regal nj
tire, spoke the lines OF King Ciaudius with
all the wonted whine and dIawl aud rant OF
poor Dayy Crockett" and Gertrude Kel.
logg was excellent as the Queen Mother.
Joseph Wheelock was fairly good as
the first player and the veteran Mines Ioyick
was the second, whilo Rose Coghlan, In royal
scarlet, enacted the player Queen, and gave
10 her few lines the charm OF her rich-toned.
agreeable voice. The stage was n most
brilliant picture during the mock play. the
setting being fttingly magnificent, while The
lords and ladies OF the court contrary 10
custom, were represented by weli-known
and important members OF the dramatic
profession.
The large group Of suxiliarIes was full of
familiar faces, most prominent among which
was that of Rosina Vokes who had come
with her whole company 10 do honor in
this modest capacity 10 Mr. Waliack. In
the graveyard scene our own Zoe" Jeffcr.
son, as the first grave-diggcr, was peculiarly
droll and amusing. and pleased every one
immensely. William J. Florence was the
second graye-diggcr, and did we'll what little
he had 10 do. Tho colloquy between Ham.
let and the first gmve-diggcr was specially
interesting In the hands OF Booth and Jeffcr.
son, and every ono who had the priviles
OF hearing u will not soon forget this mat
orable spectacle OF the two rcprc.euyS,l..
actors OF the American stage OF TRAGEDY and
comedy In scene together.
The entire presentation moved smootblv
and systematically 20 a most successful con.
clusion. This WINS NJ gratifying NJ ID was
unexpected. On account OF the impossl. l.
bility OF frequent rehearsal an uneven Der.
formancc had been anticipated but 10 the
delight Of every one there was not one hitch l
or disappointment throughout the evening.
After the second act Lester wallack came |
10 the footlghts and In an elaborate manner l
thanked the managers, the participants and l
the public for the splendid aitestation Of L
their high regard Tor him. As matter Of |
fact the net proceeds OF the performance. |
which were $4,000, were handed 20 Mrs /
wallnck. Mr.. Booth was called before the |
curtain repeatedly, aud when he came for. /
ward one time with Mime. Modjoska the |
house fairly rang with enthusiastic cheers /
and braves, handherchlcfs were savcd and |
flowers fell at the feet Of the distinguished
actors. The entire production was con-
Quoted on liberal artistic scale and reflects
the utmost credit on Mcasrs. DAILY aud Pal.
MGR, the managers, who, with Mr.. Booth
and Mr.. Jefferson, were the originators OF .
this noble testimonial. w. v.K.