THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2199, 14 March 1881, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

«■ RICHARD III.” This decidedly ghastly work of our great dramatist was given on Paturday. Unlike Irving, who commenced the play in the recognised manner, with 11 Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious suoime',” &c., Herr Bandmann introduces two scones from Henry VI. which give a point to the soliloquy of Gloucester. This arrangement, adopted first we believe by Colley Cibber, cannot but be regarded as an improvement, preparing, us it does, the mind of the audience, and giving them a deeper insight into the villanies of Richard 111. Herr Bandmannn’s impersonation of the King was powerful in the extreme. The subtle, mocking, pitiless usurper was pourtrayed to the life. His cold-hearted treatment of Lady Anne was almost poinful by reason of its realism. Perhaps the tent scene was the least satisfactory. Those who remember Hogarth's picture ot Garrick, with the vivid terror shown in every feature as ho starts from his couoh, may think that the horror of the situation was hardly given with sufficient strength on Saturday night. f lhe piece was well put on the stage, although, of course, it suffered considerably from the impossibility of producing an effective battle scene with such a small company. Mi».« Beaudet had but a small part as Lady Anne, but it is needless to say that she made the most of it. Mr Oathoart was especially good in both his parts, his sterling qualities as an elocutionist and actor coming well to the front. Mr Reynolds made an effective Buckingham, and Mr Hall was equally satisfactory as Lord S'anley. To-night Tom Taylor’s play of “Dead or Alive” will be given.