Year: 1875

None of the artnces of theatrical management had been
neglected in the effort TO make the reappearance OF
Barry Sullivan the American stage an event in the


history OF the drama The Sixty ninth regiment came


in all the galantry Of soldiery uniform and noddng
pumcs welcome their distinguished countryman, ana


the train of the regiment hundreds of very enthusas


tic admirers But apart from these came
tho critical first night audience, not to
be much swayod by the outward looks
of things but the contrary, the more anxious to
curously the work of the artist who ushered


into public notice with much pomp and circumstance
Not since Miss Cushman through the form of bid
ding farewell the metropolitan stage has anything
eQuang the enthusiasm manifested last night occurred


dramatic circles Unfortunately the object OF all this
attention not in the best form to do justice TO the
expectations that had been formed OF hl lor MT sui
livan suffering vsibly from severe cold, that
marred the beauty and effectiveness OF his reading 1t
was evident during the whole performance
that he making desperate Efforts TO over
come the difficulty arising from sore throat,
but though the effort plainly visible IL not in
all cases successful Mr.. Sullivan, we believe WAS in
duced 10 begin his engagement by his mpersonation OF
Hamlet because of the condition OF his throat We
the selection not very wise one, because Mr. Sui


van does not possess those personal charms which we
are accustomed TO associate with the melancholy Dane
His face, while capable of expressing admirably the
stronger emotions, is not prepossessing 1t requires
some effort To recognize in the actor the ideal Hamlet
win which the public mlnd has been hled Al the
time cannot help being struck with the purely
intellectual character of the impersonaton. Notwith-
standing the personal disadvantages under which he
labors Mr. Sullivan by the aid Of his admirable art,
presents to us thoroughly thoughtful and intellectual
Hamlet AT every point the impersonaton bears
the impress of intelligent study and though
last night the reading marred by the CON
dition OF the actors voice. 1t was uniformly
well considered and impressed itself as the re-
suit OF mature thought In his art Mr.. Sullivan is
scholastic He does not hesitate TO break away from
stage traditions but their influence Is present
II may be said without injustice that Mr. Sullivan


is full OF mannerisms, but they are certainly very
effective In his action he is graceful and he taxes
care to the air much " but it is IN the way
he sezes on the CHEF dramatic situations to make them
into striking and effective pictures that his artistic
feeling is most apty revealed The condition OF
his voice last night undoubtedly interiered with
the effect Of of his best passages,
and until Mr. sullivan has been seen
under more favorable conditions it would be unjust
pronounce too strongly ON his position on the Ameri-
stage He demonstrated clearly that he possesses
both power and originality OF conception. lie differs
act while he the stage Whether he is acting
others being acted on, he loses his interest in
what is transprng and manages TO convey the idea that
he is being actually moved by the words and acts OF
those around him. His reading is learned and inteli-
gent and der favorable conditions, ought to be very
elective We are Inclined, however, to think that ne
will make his great IN New York in other parts
than Hamlet We have become too much used to
eIeminae pretness in the part to be willing 10 accept
man who is not handsome, though pos
sessing fine stage presence The support
afforded to Mr.. Sullivan by the company not what
might have been expected Miss Louisa HILBERT, new
English actress made her debut in the role OF ophea



manner, and reads iariy Mr. weaver, as Poonlus ala
very well, and read his lines with intelligence do
taking this role. Mr.. Frederick b. Warde was
ntrusted with the impersonation of Laertes, char
acter with which he is naturally strongly in SYM
pathy that he could not do otherwise than play we'll
MISS Mary Wells made much possible out of the
part OF the Queen while Mr., Bartlett played the King
in way TO Justify all that Hamlet said of him The
performance remarkably smooth and if we may
judge the opinion OF the people by the frequent and
enthusiastic applause bestowed during the progress
fairl ,vViu
prove great Mr. Sullivan on his appearance,
greeted with kindly fervor and at the end of each
act called before the curtain and made the recipient
of fenthuslastc marks OF appreciation Tonight he re-
peats the performance OF Hamlet. and on Wednesday
night will play Richeeu character in which lie
IN England great tavor


THE GRAND OPERA HoUsE-MR- E L. DAvEN-


PORT AS HAMLET.


When the curtain the play OF 'Hamlet" with
Mr. E. l. Davenport in the title role at the Grand
Opera House. last evening, the place filed There
Of seats here and there the house unoc-
cuped but the casual spectator was given the impress
sion that standing room only remained and this was
the case later on. From the moment the doors we're
thrown open until after the performance
was steadily under way a ceaseless stream
people poured the vestbule of the theatre
and stood in long columns single file, awaiting their
at the ticket Office. 1t a crowd of uncommon
character. Something beyond the mere curiosity Of
seeing Mr. Davenport act Hamlet mpeiled them TO the
Grand Opera House 1t american" crowd
present to and hear Hamlet acted by an
American, supported by an American company When
the orchestra mounted upward into the fresh and the
bright gasight from the gloomy recesscs beneath the
stage It received moderate ovation, but when
full it broke out with "Hail Columbia'
the house shook with the long reverberating peals
of applause This followed IN rapid succession by
''My Maryland y ''Dxie," TRAMP Tramp" and a few
other purely native airs all of which received due hon.
from the gods IN the gallery When, however the
conductor, shrewdly pausing for few moments to
allow ride Of the ether Of patriG evaporae
struck up with the full force Of his rather limited string
band THE Star Spanged Banner" the enthu-
siasm reached its climax hurricane Of yells
cheers and whistles swept downward from the gallery
and the floor back to the gallery again. Strangers
from the country stared in amazement Not being in
the secret Of this singularly reception OF the
national airs they must have been good deal puzzled
lind such etiervescng loyalty IN a city cosmo-
poiitan as New ork Again and again the cheering
rose with the notes Of the grand old national anthem
Men capped their hands and women waved
their handkerchiels as perhaps they never
clappcd hands waved handkerchiels in a theatre be-
fore over ''rhe star spanged Banner" The
of the theatre 10 who sat the orchestra seemed


be undulatng Of faces. Gallery blended into
family circle and family circle into auditorium while
not single inch OF space appeared to be unoccuped


Never was an audience IN a finer mood Of uncrcal
generosity The worst actor breathing might and
and get volley OF applause in the wake Of his exit
1t was most benevolent and large hearted audience
nor dresses we're nOve-in fact, in instances,
they were stale and faded; but nobody took much
notice Oi that circumstance when Hamlet (Mr. h.
DavcnportD. pacing slowly, with the impressive and
immemora stage stride, the floor halted with
meditave air 20 the right Of the Ootlghts he
ceivcd with widest demonstrations The gods sprung
TO their feet waved their hats and handkerchefs
and shouted like Irojans The family circle entirely !
forgot its decOrum and where the most refined element
Of the audience supposed to st the like
midnight at Tammany Hall after a democratic !
State victory.


Mr.. Davenport acted IL he had a great dread Of
falling into rant winch Is certainly the last thing to
be desired in Hamlet. Mr. Davenport not IN as
good voice as usual owing to his travelling
and consequently failed 10 satisfy everybody; but that
he cOmprehends Shakespeares idea VI the character
not saying too much.


The gods were in supreme good humor. The King
put an effective finale TO hls part the conference
with POlonius, and then from the gallery to the
great amusement OF very good naturcd audience, /
cried out, Good bOy,h and when Ophelia /
Miss Laura Dom new to the arms OF her |
father, Poonius, after be had cautioned her /
against Hamlet and bid her farewell, bleating cry
from the irrepressble gallery that cOnyused the
whole house. The ghost Of Hamlet's father (Mr.
Robert JOhnston) rolled out his sepulchral with
altde efaq He .f