New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-03
THE DRAMA.
EDWIN BOOTH.

EDWIN BOOTH
Mr. Booth made his re-entrancc the New.Yors
stage last night and acted shyock The scene was tbs
Broadway Theatre, and the audience that assembled IA
greet him numerous and enthusiastic. Upon hi,
part cuar performance comment has been profuselc
made and it not likely that any word could
now be spoken, either for the benefit Of the public or
the exposition OF the actor. The part Of Shyock Is
intense rather than expansive. 1t contains but ons
passage of essential tumut and tempest-that namely
of the streetscene with Tuba All the rest is con.
centratlon. No such strain, accordingly is imposed
by shyock upon the physical resources Of actor a
Is imposed by such characters King Lear, othello
and Macbeth. Mr. Booth therefore chose wisely In
choosing Shylock with which to begin acting, after
considerable time Of repose lie has not been in robust
health during the past season. but he was in ample
vlgor for shylock, last night, and in the turbulent
he suFuscd the passionate amentaton anl
yindctivc fury Of the bereaved and outraged Jew with
much OF that lur!d fire and that splendid aiuenCe Of
feeling for which his embodiment Of the character has
long been famous In all other respects his achieve.
ment was commensurate equally with the require
ments of the part and with the STANDARD OF his pro-
fessional renown. without making the least effort 10
humanize Shylock-which would be to depart from the
conception of pearehe seemed Involuntary to
mpart to it the attribute Of awful dignity without
which il would be sordld and hateful The principal
motive of Shy undoubtedly is hatred but also he
mpelled by august religious fanatlcism, ana this
half redeems his savage cruelty and invests him with
baleful magnlhcence. This superb element Is con-
spicuous in the acting OF Edwin Booth.
The fact that Mr.. Booth has appeared In shylock
however. is not the fact that it concerns the public
mainly to consider The essential thing is that he has
resumed acting and that the opportunity is once more
afforded of seeing of the few great actors OF THIS
century In the presence OF any PROFESSIONAL acme'e
ment by Edwin Booth the mind Of the observer is con-
scious of a perfect adequacy ana noble iuihiment.
The embodiment whatever it may happen to be called,
Is genuine 1t fills the eye; 1t awakens the heart II
nspres and satisfies the imagination 1t Is followed
with keen interest and unfaing delight and it -
treasured with atfectionate remembrance. You never
fool az Won recall Edwin Booths performances, that
when you were looking at them you were wasting your
fine Much OF the material and many Oh the persons
customarily shown upon orr stage can hener oe seen
with Measure nor remembered with patience. The
acting OF Mr. Booth, the contrary, exemphheS inc
solid worth Of dramatic artts beauty its nobility, us
hepeacence and therein il shows the reason why the
oo,r, should exist II it not for the coming %
sucb an actor now and then-to whom Nature mas
given a great soul as well as suitable physcai equip
ment and mimetic facuy-the stage would DC WIDER
ness OF rubbish and the most unmitlgated huoaoe IN
tho social world. Mr. Booth is probably approach
ING the close OF his public nfe lie no longer acts
often and his engagements are short. lie mas had
brilliant career and no doubt has accomplished all tna
f was within the scope OF his powers to acheVe' ins
performances that he gives in the present 90 hol r's
higher and should not be expected to rise gher than
those that he gave in the past. such Hamlet OF such
Rlchelieu this age never saw before ana never VIII
see ac:In His genius has reached lts summit
The fire has begun to die down; Dut lhe nidJesy,
the tenderness, the refinement, the eIdce, inc e.ho
dignity and serene sweetness remain uhioucheu, W
ir6uble and only deepened and hallowed py tLHe.
Edwin E0oth's acting Is not likely 70 De hegiecueu ~
this capital but If that were TO happen tns cou'
wuuld oniv show Itself blind IL its own interest LII
MIR Booth on his first entrance, was haiieu WIN
eager applause and this was several tihles rcue"'.
nc n began TO die away. At several later points nc
yas rec.ednOably after the street scene ana aiti
fhe trial Lawrence Barrett, who player Bassanio u
,otbcc austere for that lightcomedy part Dut ~
assumes IL with deep sympathy, full Well coihprehenu
Ing the emotion that makes youns o'er ion VIII
lis misrc~. with awe and reverence, as Wen as VIII
na..ionate longing and his delivery OF some %
tasSanio's lovely speeches was exceedingly eioiuent
mustc,l and tender. The casket scene went Won
Jnrfuliy well In his hands. and the irSl
inc OF AntoniO's letter was perfect Ms.
Gale i'm. pircd much interest and evoked many piauulu
Ly her assumption OF Porta. The bent OF tins yOuhs
actress IS for the serious sentiment the statuesPu,
The heroic the tragic. Nevertheless she has tas az
the best serious actors have) VEN OF pea>anuy,
Her method Of banter. indeed. not hexlDe ana e
,ndS mr.. caprcOus and self conscious ana nervous
ot he personality of her POrta In the opening scene
had utterly changed by the time she came TO the scee
of the caskets. Uniformity and grace would nu.n
exalt this embodiment ii failed not however, ~
was made TO mount the piece in a fine manner. bu,
The scenery at this house is tawdry ana aler Wna'
Npyy. York has been accustomed 10 see IN tne present
meut Of the Merchant, these sets are hol IMPRESSIVE