Amusements.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1974, 3 May 1875, Page 2

Amusements.

THEATBE HOYAL.

The tragedy of " Macbeth " was produced on Saturday night before" a verylarge audience, and an eminently successful production it was. It is in such characters as Lady Macbeth, that Mrs Darrell displays the brilliancy as an actress wliich has given her fame both at home and in the Australasian colonies. Like Mrs SiddonSj she appears to have a true appreciation of the character—to enter into; the nature of it so far as it may be possiblefor ordinary human nature to enter into and comprehend a character so sublime in her cruelty, and so fearful in her passionate ambition. To say that Mrs Dar- j rell was perfect in her -reading, would be almost superfluous. Not a syllable was' omitted—not a word wanting in its fullest expression; and the scenes of Lady Macbeta's passionate declamation were rendered with splendid effect;- exempli gratia, we may mention that passage in which she reproaches her lord for wavering in the execution of Duncan— 1 have given suck ; and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks pie: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my n'pple from its boneless gums, | And dash'd the brains out; had I so sworn As you have done to this. , Genuine applause followed • the conclusion of the fiendish sentiment, given expression to with all the power of which Mrs Darrell is possessed. No less excellent, as a piece of acting, was the per- j sonation of Lady Macbeth walking in her sleep, and recounting the dreary tale of her sinful life. The somnambulist was pcurtrayed with wonderful- physical effect; the glassy stare of the eye, and the soft, dreamy intonation of voiceso widely different from the vigorous j passionate utterance characteristic of the wak-, ing woman—were all there to impress the audience with the ideal. There are not many regular play-goers, or lovers of "the legitimate drama," however, who have not, at one time or other, had the pleasure of witnessing Mrs Darrell in her Shakespearean character. We'will, therefore, pass on to Mr George J Darrell, in whom, as a tragedian, there is, at least, something new- The Thames of many years ago saw Mr. Darrell as an actor affecting widely different business, in which he succeeded well in. obtaining the favor of those who. patronised the stage and its " garish lights." Now he appears before us in a character totally new, and the .metamorphosis is not more astonishing than.it is pleasing. This gentleman has made wonderful progress in his profession. His personation of Macbeth was : a credit ; and very much superior to^mariy who lay claim' to a wellforged reputation. From a theatrical bud (if Mr Darrell willpardon the expression) he has grown into a full-blown rose of large"dimensions. His reading was very correct, and in the grand emotional scenes pervading the representation he succeeded admirably. Witness that of the royal banquet, during which the ghost . of, slaughtered Bauquo appears, to Macbeth, who instigated his murder. We decline to say that Mr Darrell "holds the mirror up to nature," since theatrical critics, large and small, have conceived a distressing fondness for the quotation, wherever and whenever it is in the remotest degree applicable ; but it may be said of Mr Darrell, with all truth, that his acting in the character of Macbeth was natural, and that he evinces a careful study of the business in apart which so few can play with claims to success. Apart from a tendency to give

too great expression to the eighteenth ' letter of the alphabet, Mr Darrell appeared, wan ting in nothing as Macbeth. And to criticise the gentleman contemporaneously, if; may be said (in form vernacular) that neither Mr Steele, who j played Macbeth to the Lady Macbeth ' of Miss Adelaide Bowring in the Theatre Royal; nor Mr James Bur-1 ford, could " touch him." In the dramatis persona;, there was no character in which Miss Clara could appear, fitting her position as second lady, \ so that the audience were deprived of the ! pleasure of, witnessing.heil talented acting, j Miss Maggie Knight played Malcolm (in the first act) but was evidently out of her element, and appeared occasionally to be on.the eve of sacrificing the dignity. ofherjposition to terpsichore. In the fourth and fifth acts the part was sustained by Mr 0. Holloway. Mr Aveling played Macduff, and may be congratulated on the> effort/ The part is I important* but ! suffered nothing in the hands of this fast rising actor..; ,Tlie ; combat with Macbeth was good, and very much delighted the gods. The remaining characters were fairly represented. New scenery was got up, with capital effect, the management evidently being determined upon Sparing no expense in pioducing pieces during the season. For the witches, it may be said that they were as ugly as might be, and this would appear to be the great desideratum.-Their get up was characterised by' a -ghastliness proper tp witches., To-night "East Lynne" will be placed upon the stage, and will =no doubt attract a large audience, as the piece is a great favorite, and Madame Vine is one of Mrs Darrell's "best characters.