Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-03

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&XVN Conner and Jas. W.
M Wallack, jr., preceded
him, and worthy rep
resentative Of that line
Of great actors has now
been added to the large majority who have
passed over the dark river. l had known Mr..
Murdoch for many years, and the memory Of
him and his pleasant companionship fingers
with me most wildly. The advanced age at
which he died, eighty-three years, made him
the veteran Of the American stage. Three or
four years ago 1 had written him, sending him
a notice Of his acting here in that great cast Of
the ''School for Scandal produced at the
National Theater In the early part Of the
ffties, when Tom Placide and George Andrews
played Sir Peter and Sir Olirer. and Muir
dock and James ". Wallack played Charles
and Joseph SGrface; Joe Jefferson, Noses;
J. Is. Howe, Snake; Dolly Davenport, Careless;
Lizzie Western, Lady Teazle; Mrs. Germon and
Kate Horn. Mrs Candor and Lady Sneerceu.
In reply had letter, his daughter acting as
his amanuensis, saying he expected to see me
the following winter in New York, but be did
not come-age and its infrmities prevented it.
Though Mr.. Murdoch played many Of Shake
speares characters, he il remembered particu-
larry as dONPt. beheQtcI ana IhercuttO. Ills
Hamlet was a beautiful performance, but, as l
heard one whose judgment is matured by
study and q memory Of the HdmletS Of years
say. 1t was too Evolutionary. In that, however,
think he followed the advice Of Hamlet to
the players: "For in the very torrent, tempest
and Gas / may say) whirlwind Of your passion
you must acquire and bcget a Temperance that
may give it tmoothness." For every word Of
Hamlet, in the scene with the Ghost, with his
mother and Ldertes, the most imprisoned in
the play, not word was slurrod nor did they
lack passion. Ny friend, whose judgment I
should respect. thought the Hamlet of Daven-
port superior. l won't take issue; they we're
both beautiful creations, but somewhat
different, and Davenport's was the most pop
ular.
MURpoCK's GREATEST CHARACTER.
The same authority agreed with me, however,
that one character in the drama Murdoch had
made his own Young Mirdbel In The Incon-
stant or, Wine Works Wonders" In this charac-
ter he conquered the prejudice against Ameri-
can actors in England and played The Incon-
slant" for over 100 nights at the Haymarket
Theater, London. This play is never played
now, for, as far rs nv knowledge goes. there is
not man on the stage today who could play il
to the satisfaction Of those who remember
Murdocks mastery acting. 1t was first pro-
duced in 1902. The original cast, l regret. l
cannot find, but in l774 it was PLAYED with Mr..
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given. but who was the original Charles S,ufdce.
and Mrs. Jordan, one Of the wives Of the prince
regent, as Bfsdrre. In 1914 it was played at
the Covent Gordon Theater, with Eliiston as
Mirabel. and in 1883 William Wheatley played
it at the Chestnut Street, Philadelphia,
he as Young Mrabel and Mrs John
Drew Bisdrre. The author. Fauquhar,
seems to have written the last act as a trial for
histrionic talent The alterations, when
Airabei finds himself ent-apped by Ldmor'ce
into the power of braves, between despair and
simulated hiarlty almost at the same moment,
and when the relief comes for which he has sen.
his page, The red Burgundy marked thou
sand, his JOY at his escape from dea h is some
thing so real; the hysterical laugh which rings
through the theater until he falls into the arms
of his friend. Duretete, and his recovery to find
his page missing. and the retaliation on the
braves. moves the audience to such enthu-
sasm no play I ever saw could equal VIM.
wheatiey could play Mirdbel have no doubt,
but Murdoch and him have left no successors.
Don Felir, in 1.-The Wonder Roper, in '.Wild
OATS" Capt Absolute, Charles Surface and
Nercutio we're some Of Murdoch favorite char
acters. His Charles De Moor, recall, in 1.-The
Robbers" as an admirable performance.
A SEVERE TEST.
Murdoch told me he thought the last act Of
"The Inconstant" was one which tested an
actor beyond almost any other character. The
and the audience called forth all the dramatic
power the actor possessed.
Those test parts are not unfamiliar in the
drama and in opera. Rossin In the Barber
Of Seville" with una Voce POGO Fs, d" taxed the
voice Of the soprani Of that day. and but few
could sing it rs written. When Malibran came
she embellished it, adding note after note. until
her power seemed exkaustless. In Semi
ramide" the contralto part found very few who
could sing it as written. 1t was no task for that
unequaled voice OF Alboni. Like Malibran there
seemed no end to the marvellous power OF her
superb organ. saw some few months ago
that Alboni as the counters. her present title
sang for some charitable occasion, and the rich
tones of her matchless voice were unimpaired.
1t was said that Mozart in 1.-THE Magic Flute"
wrote the bass score of tho High Priest SO full
Of difficulty that bu, very few could sing it. and
that after Lablache it was altered to the voices
cast for that character. Herman who is re-
membered here SO well by those who heard him,
sang it as composed by Mozart.
am finding no fault with the drama OF TO-
day nor its actors. The age seems to demand
the society drama, with its many changes of
dresses The stage Of today sets the fashion
for the women Of the day. Years are not given
to study. as in tine days which produced a
Forrest. . Murdoch. Davenport and Vanden-
hof. The great productions of Shakespeare and
the dramatists Of the last century have but
few, if any, interpretations on the present
stage.
BILLY FLoRENcEs Shoes
1 saw few days ago most scathing article
in the Argonaut Of San Francisco on the
widow Of the late William J. Florence. She has
remarked and with her husband, an English
man, made her temperance in San Francisco.
The Argonnut said she was trying to cover the
ravages Of age by the splendor Of her costumes,
all of which are fully described in the pro-
gram. The friends Of the late Mr.. Florence re-
sented the appearance of the new English hus-
band in BILLY Florence's shoes" as Bdrd,ceH
Slote, and "the house was not half fuii'' and
the performance dismal failure. This take it,
is a good omen that the days are coming to an
end when rich drapery compensates for bad
acting. Mrs Florence has long since parted
with the heyday Of youth. About 1s43 or 1874
she was, as Malvina Pray, though then the wife
of Littelle, the old man Of the company, dane
ing between the play and farce at the little the
alter evolved from Young's coachmaker's shop
on the south side Of the avenue near Al street.
That's about fifty years ago. That half CEN
fury of wear and tear would tax Ninons peren-
NAL bloom.
Iexhumed from a rare collection of old
books in the library of my old friend. Prof.
Foertsch, copy of VIM E. Burton's "Cyclo-
pedia of Wit and Humor," published forty
years ago, and now but. ra-ely seen, and the
writer's whose humor is embalmed in its pages