St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-24
AN ARTISTIC SUCCESS.
Locke Richardson Gives a De-
lightful Reading OF "Kine
TtaapJ

Locke Richardson Gives De-
lightful Reading OF king
Lear"
Appreciation of art and merit must
be at very low ebb in this city Judging
from the audience which assembled at
the Peoples church last evening, when
Locke richardson, the greatest of
Shakespearian readers, appeared. When
absurd farce-comedleS are presented to
the public by condolences who have
not an iota OF claim to the word talent.
the theater IN which they appear will
be crowded from floor to roof. Let a
woman who has gained the notoriety of
the divorce court have the impudence
to appear as public entertainer, and
she will be greeted by a house so
crowded that one would think the
the greatest actress in the world was on
the stage. Yet when gentleman who
has won world wide reputation affords
the public of st. Paul an opportunity
TO enjoy great intellectual amt artistic
feast. the public is lukewarm i'll its APP
probation; and 1t was certainly disap-
pointing to Mr.. Richardson and to those
who were present last evening at his
reading to see the number of empty
seats in the church parlors. The subject
chosen by the reciter was liking Lear.''
1t is doubtful if any actor to-day. even
with the accessories of magnificent
scenery and costumes. can give an in
depreciation of character which is,
perhaps. the graudest and greatest of
Shakespeare's creations. Yet Mr.. Rich
ardson. in conventional evening dress.
not alone gives an Interpretation thor
md Fol
also enactS the many characters with
which the Bard of Avon has surrounded
the poor, ill-treated king. AS feat of
memory alone the recital was perfectly
marvellous. The scenes between Lear
and his cruel daughters, Guneril and
Hegan, were given with force bring
ing out all the arrogance and contempt
uouSness of the two women who finally
fell victims to theiI own pride and
wlckedness. In the scene where the
poor. tainted king, in an Outburst of
righteous wrath, turns upon his I'M
grateful children, the reciter rose to a
height of tragic passion. The speech
of Cordelia, the faithful CHI lid of the
king, when bewailing her fathers fate,
was delivered with true poetic emo
ton. that touched responsive chord
in the hearts of the auditors.
The lament of Lear over the body of
his faithful daughter brought out the
full and exquisite intelligence of the re-
otter, and it seemed to those present
that the tragedy of centuries ago had
been truly re-enacted before them.
MIR. Richardson will this evening re-
cite the Merchant of Venice" aud the
true lovers of art should not miss the
opportunity of hearing a reciter who,
by the verdict of the whole wide world,
STANDS as far above any in his branch of
the profession as the lofty trees of the
Yosemite tower above the tiny fern.
Arrangements are being perfected by
which it is hoped to be able to arrange
for a series of readings to be given by
Mr. Richardson at the high school, and
1t IS hoped that the necessary support
will be given by the public. The study
of Shakespeare is conceded to be neces-
sary in complete education, and to
hear one reading of Mr.. Richardson
will give scholar greater insight
into the thought of the great poet than
years study in school.