Viewing page 301 of 607

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

287

[[clipping]]
[[note]] N.Y. Times Feb 17 1886. [[/note]]
AMUSEMENTS.

MR. BOOTH AS SIR GILES.

Many years have elapsed since Edwin Booth has acted in New-York the leading character in Phillip Massinger's "New Way to Pay Old Debts." Those persons who saw his subtle, picturesque, and thrilling performance of Sir Giles last evening, and there were enough of them to completely fill the Fifth-Avenue Theatre, will hope that he may be induced to give Massinger's play a high place in his repertory hereafter. In nothing that he has done of late has Mr. Booth's complete mastery of the resources of his art been more clearly exhibited, and, as in Pescara and Sir Edwin last year, so as Sir Giles Overreach he again demonstrated that he enters into the spirit of characters with which he is comparatively unfamiliar with a zest and earnestness often lacking nowadays when he acts parts more closely associated with his fame. It is a mistake to infer that Mr. Booth's artistic work to-day does not possess both the strength and the finish that marked his earlier achievements. Some of the graces of youth are gone, to be sure; the Hamlet of 1886 is not, in outward aspect, the Hamlet of 1864; but the fire, passion and vehemence of the tragedian's acting last evening in the scene of Sir Giles's discomfiture were never excelled by him in his young manhood. The death of the usurer was powerful and realistic; the effect of the stroke of paralysis falling suddenly in a moment of violent passion was vividly manifested. The voice which had been clear and resonant sunk into a hoarse whisper, the utterance of every word impeded by a palsied tongue; one of the eyelids drooped, there was a convulsive twitching of the muscles of the face. With a supreme effort the baffled old man was himself again for an instant, and then he sank lifeless at the feet of his enemies, his power for doing evil gone forever. In the earlier scenes Mr. Booth's impersonation was equally remarkable; although Sir Giles was kept in his place among the other personages, and not thrust forward out of harmony with the rest of the picture. In make-up and costume the portrayal was, of course admirable. Mr. Booth was not recognized when Sir Giles entered the home of Lady Allworth with his followers, so completely was the actor's personality hidden in the sturdy, gray-bearded knight, richly and rather pretentiously attired. He showed Overreach throughout as a man confident of his own power, stooping to use the meanest craft to gain his ends, of course, but never losing the sense of his own dignity and vast importance. The cruel and heartless scene with Margaret, in which the knight commands his daughter to sacrifice her honor rather than fail to captivate the noble man he desires her to wed, was carried forward with malignant intensity and a simulation of self-confidence that indicated the man without conscience or fear, content to be a law unto himself. In the scene of pretended reconciliation with his scapegrace nephew there was another hasty account of a memorable dramatic performance. The support was not so bad, taken as a whole, and the representation of Massinger's little known play was altogether enjoyable. Mr. Mason as Wellborn was graceful and efficient. Mr. Charles Kent pleased a large portion of the spectators by a somewhat overdrawn and too highly colored portrayal of the despicable Marrall. It approached too nearly the limits of burlesque to have a place in high comedy, but it showed conclusively in what direction Mr. Kent's ability tends. The scenery was old and much worn. "A New Way to Pay Old Debts" would repay a careful revival with an appropriate setting and painstaking stage management. Mr. Booth's Sir Giles will be seen only once more during Mr. Booth's engagement——tonight. To-morrow night "Richelieu" will be brought forward, and next week the tragedian will appear as Marcus Brutus, Gloster, and Bertuccio. [[/clipping]]

Friday Feb. 19" 1886. Painted on my winter Mr. Hanna of Detroit called and wants me to contribute to the loan exhibition there. In the afternoon I painted a little picture of Paestum and began a small picture on The Yellowstone near Stillwater. Attended the French class in the evening and afterward went around to the club where I met Platt.

Saturday 20" The weather again became cold in the night. I ordered two frames for my two small pictures and today finished the "Yellowstone" and have begun a twilight moonrise effect, a reminiscence of the Roman Campagna. Went to the club in the evening and had a very pleasant time. Saw Eastman and Booth come in after the play, with Bispham. He was very cordial and surprised and pleased to see me. After supper we sat down together and talked until after 1 o'clock. I hear from several sources that he is drinking again which I sincerely hope is not true. He took lager beer two or three times during the evening which I always considered unwise for him and I frankly told him so. He complains of lack of energy and of feeling badly all the time but looks well. I think he begins to show his age and I imagine grows to look like his father. He wanted me to go up to his hotel and stay with him but I told him I was going home in the morning and had to go to my room.

Sunday 21." Went home by 9.30 train. It was pretty cold and began to snow when we reached Highland Found my father looking remarkably bright and well and reading when I went to his room. Downing had come up last night and he and Grant Van Deusen were off ice boating. John McEntee came up in the evening. Gerard had had an application for a lot on Chester St. and he and I went over there in the afternoon and consulted about it.

Monday 22. A fine invigorating morning. I resolved to stay up and have a good walk. Shortly after breakfast Donney and Grant went off ice boating. I started over the hills and came out on the old Steep Rocks road on the plateau near the late slide which I saw today for the first time. It was more extensive than I had imagined. A great number of men and horses were at work on the ice filling the ice house above Steep Rocks and ice boats were flitting about. I saw Chris. Leonard at work getting out rocks for a dock crib and went up and talked with him In 1848 he was a little red headed urchin at Fishkill when we 

Transcription Notes:
Finished except for unknown words. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-07 18:47:20 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-07 22:11:01 .