New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02

moment was when she welcomed the King with
highbred courtesy and court!y grace, and there
was variety in her play in the banquet hall; but
in the sleep walking scene there no Lady
Macbeth on the stage, but merely Mrs. Camp
bell in dainty and becoming white robe, care
fully setting down the candle on a table,
wringing her hands and repeating the lines in
measured. monotonous tone The audience
appaude1 her warmly, but this was less Of a
persona! compliment than unconscious trib-
uee to the genius OF Shakespeare by which the
scene had been contrived.
The one bit Of genuine tragic acting was sup
piled by Mr. Robert Taber whose Macduff
thrilled the audience. 1t was unstudied and
impetuous, but fairly pulsated with life and
emotion. When Macduif received the tidngs
that his wife and children had been murdered
his face was CONFUSED with feeling his eyes
were wet with tears and his voice trembled and
broke 1t was as perfect an example of the art
OF Illusion as has been witnessed on the London
stage for many day. The audience was
deeply moved and the young American actor
was rewarded with spontaneous outburst Of
applause from galleries, pit and stalls
The play was staged with great artistic skill.
The semi-barbaric costumes were enriched with
FURNISHED metal, and there were harmonious
effects OF color in every group OF soldiers and
servants. The Scotch landscape and witches
heath were well painted, and the court within
the castle was picturesque and impressive. The
witches were Mr. Ian Robertson and two men,
and their work was clevery done in an atmos-
phere OF blush haze and cloud. The murder
scene was closed with a fine effect of torchlight
upon the terror stricken faces Of the throng in
the court yard. Ban9uo'S ghost was managed
In the only sensible way. There was no spectral
jack in the box rising from a trap-d door but the
actor who had been taking the part came in
from the back Of the stage in ghostly attire and
went out at the side of the stage The medieval
combats of the fifth act were full of move
ment and color and were fought with spirit and
realistic effect. The action of the play was
rapid, occupying little less than three hours on
the opening night
The dettanteism of current criticism is dis
posed to underrate this production of Mac
beth" just as it overrated last years Hamlet
as an ideal performance. My preference is
for the later work, although l hardly expect il
to have the same measure Of popularity as the
earlier one. The really deep things in the play
have been assmated by Mr. Forbes Robertson
who is in sympathetic touch with its poetry
with the witchcraft Of ambition working in the
blood and the stains Of guilt that cannot be
washed away. His Macbeth is Shakespea ran
figure which masters the mind If ii does not
fully satisfy the eye With an access OF tragic
intensity it will touch the heart, Mr.. Taber's
impetuous and intensely human Macduf al
ready does. Mr.. Forbes Robertson's Macbeth
will increase in strength and earnestness every
week, but the Lady Macbeth Of Mrs. Campbell
is altogether hopeless Il serious work OF
dramatic art. Such interest it has consists
in the artificial adaptation of a striking per-
sonaIity to the requirements of a character mas
querade Impersonation there is none Mrs
Campbell is always herself, charming and weird
but not Shakespearian. She Years brilliant and
marvellously beautiful costumes, but only sug-
gests what Lady Macbeth would have been like
if she had been Mrs Campbell.
The best tribute to Mr.. Forbes Robertson 8
talent as an actor manager is not implied by
critical estimates of his performance. but by
the attention which he commands whenever he
makes a fresh appeal for public support. Critics
Who require two columns in order to condemn
his Macbeth with faint praise or to ridicule il
with fine irony as pre- Raphaelite study of a
saint with lilies unconsciously accord him
full honOrs as one OF the great actors of the
day. II is no small achievement to divide the
Lyceum with masterful a genius Sir Henry
Irving and to organize Shakespearian revivas
which are comprehensive triumphs OF artistic
effort. l. ". f.
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