Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of The Theatrical Powers Of The Late Mr. John Palmer:
In takrng . a survey of Covent-Garden , we may , perhaps , be induced to make some observations and comparisons dissonant from the opinion of the multitude . This obstacle , however , should always be surmounted by the impartial critic . As an opponent to Mr . Kemble certainly none will start forth . Mr . Holman cannot be considered as such , His enunciation is classical and correct , and his voice excellent ; but his action is
impelled , and his feelings are not forcible . Our remarks on Mr . Charles Kemble attach with equal propriety to Mr . Plolman . Johnston ( the Scotch Roscius ) is a clever actor , but his talents are not matured . From the hand of time we expect much improvement . We have seen him twice in the arduous character of Sir Edward Mortimer * and we were happy to observeon the repetition ,
, , that his acting is more than mechanism . His conceptions are generally just , his action graceful and correct , and his manner easy . Sorry are we that nature has not been uniformly liberal . Idis figure is rather too short for tragedy , and his voice is not sufficiently extensive . With the former of these evils Garrick struggled : with the latter Kemble . Demosthenes was the first orator of Athens .
Next to Johnston , Pope is an useful and a valuable actor . We think he has the ascendancy of Barryrnore , whose rival he may be considered . . His figure is genteel , and his voice sweelly mellifluous . Whitfield is also nearly on a par with Bam-more . Were merit
always to obtain precedence , Murray perhaps should have stood first on the list . As a chaste actor it would be difficult to produce his equal . When you see Murray on the boards you see a gentleman : no stage trick , no studied attitude , no affected tone ; but all is happy , easy nature . In universality of genius he is almost the counterpart of Palmer ; but Palmer pleased all , and Murray pleases only the discerning few . In this lace it would be foreigrr to our
p purpose to enter into a thorough investigation of this gentleman ' s theatrical merit ; suffice it therefore to assert , that in Lear , Lusiguan , Old Nerval , and other characters of a similar cast , he is the unrivalled paragon of all that we can suppose perfect in acting . We have an idea of what Garrick was , but we think it impossible for Gar rick to have excelled him . Onceand only onceon the indisposition of
, , Mr . Holman , we had an opportunity of witnessing his performance of Richard the III . It was a perfect treat . It possessed but one fault—in some parts his voice failed him ; but his superlative excellence in others counterbalanced the defect , and , like a boundless torrent , bore off every opposition . Murray is allowed to be the first Shylock of the day . In genteel comedy he is all that can be wished .
Yet , possessed of all these excellencies , Murray will never acquiip universal popularity . But he does more—he deserves it . Lewis's acting is too well known to require any comment . ' Knight is a young man of much merit and . more promise . [ TO BE CONCLUDED TN OUK NEXT . - ]
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of The Theatrical Powers Of The Late Mr. John Palmer:
In takrng . a survey of Covent-Garden , we may , perhaps , be induced to make some observations and comparisons dissonant from the opinion of the multitude . This obstacle , however , should always be surmounted by the impartial critic . As an opponent to Mr . Kemble certainly none will start forth . Mr . Holman cannot be considered as such , His enunciation is classical and correct , and his voice excellent ; but his action is
impelled , and his feelings are not forcible . Our remarks on Mr . Charles Kemble attach with equal propriety to Mr . Plolman . Johnston ( the Scotch Roscius ) is a clever actor , but his talents are not matured . From the hand of time we expect much improvement . We have seen him twice in the arduous character of Sir Edward Mortimer * and we were happy to observeon the repetition ,
, , that his acting is more than mechanism . His conceptions are generally just , his action graceful and correct , and his manner easy . Sorry are we that nature has not been uniformly liberal . Idis figure is rather too short for tragedy , and his voice is not sufficiently extensive . With the former of these evils Garrick struggled : with the latter Kemble . Demosthenes was the first orator of Athens .
Next to Johnston , Pope is an useful and a valuable actor . We think he has the ascendancy of Barryrnore , whose rival he may be considered . . His figure is genteel , and his voice sweelly mellifluous . Whitfield is also nearly on a par with Bam-more . Were merit
always to obtain precedence , Murray perhaps should have stood first on the list . As a chaste actor it would be difficult to produce his equal . When you see Murray on the boards you see a gentleman : no stage trick , no studied attitude , no affected tone ; but all is happy , easy nature . In universality of genius he is almost the counterpart of Palmer ; but Palmer pleased all , and Murray pleases only the discerning few . In this lace it would be foreigrr to our
p purpose to enter into a thorough investigation of this gentleman ' s theatrical merit ; suffice it therefore to assert , that in Lear , Lusiguan , Old Nerval , and other characters of a similar cast , he is the unrivalled paragon of all that we can suppose perfect in acting . We have an idea of what Garrick was , but we think it impossible for Gar rick to have excelled him . Onceand only onceon the indisposition of
, , Mr . Holman , we had an opportunity of witnessing his performance of Richard the III . It was a perfect treat . It possessed but one fault—in some parts his voice failed him ; but his superlative excellence in others counterbalanced the defect , and , like a boundless torrent , bore off every opposition . Murray is allowed to be the first Shylock of the day . In genteel comedy he is all that can be wished .
Yet , possessed of all these excellencies , Murray will never acquiip universal popularity . But he does more—he deserves it . Lewis's acting is too well known to require any comment . ' Knight is a young man of much merit and . more promise . [ TO BE CONCLUDED TN OUK NEXT . - ]