THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5005, 5 March 1877, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

The Lady Macbeth of Mrs Siddons is a fine conception and a powerful piece of acting. When she first appears upon the stage, reading the letter just received from Macbeth, one is apt to think that she makes too much of the words ; but as the scene proceeds, one understands and admires. It is a sudden temptation, a view of possibilities of greatness, flashed in a moment, which is absorbing her mind as she reads. When the reading is finished, her mind is made up ; the temptation has prevailed, and all her fiery energies air, with remorseless determination, bent on the accomplishment of her end. la the scenes with Macbeth, she ponrtrays firmness of will, relentless cruelty, and cutting sarcasm, with great power. While Duncan is being murdered, she fiits about the ante-chamber in the very agony of suspense, and her distrust of Macbeth’s courage makes her fearful of failure; the tension of her corves is extreme, and she retains her presence of mind. The dramatic representation of all this was very fine, and especially well given were the words, showing for a moment the better she of her nature — Had be not resembled My father as he slept, I had done ’t. The turning point of the character ccmss in the scene when Lady Macbeth appears for the first time as the Q.ueen. Since tne murder a long lime has elapsed, during whi.-h see his not appeared. Daring the interval she has reflected, and remorse has become awake. Her first speech gives the key note to the new music— Nought's had all's spent Where our desire Is got without content; 'Tis safer to be that which we de-trey. Than by destruction dwell in Joubti-ii; y. There was a weariness in her tone as Mrs Siddons spoke these lines, and it was evident throughout the following scene with Macbeth. In the scene of the banquet she tries to raise the fainting courage of Macbeth, but it is not tn the old fiery manner. She has become subdued, and eventually the scene proves too much for her, and the curtain fell or. tne cure fiercely energetic woman broker in spiri*. ltd leaning at last on her husband for .-npeert. The last scene, her appearance, that m ec:-~ Lady Macbeth walks in her sloop, the greatest. It is her acting in this ti-c* make* the special merit of the Lady Macbe';; -' Mrs Siddons. As she enters she is accurately described by the terrified watchers—" You see her eyes are open." “Ay, but theirs.-ns-".* s ‘U--Her speech shows a mind tossed t.h ut by changing recoliect'ons, and becon c a prey to varying feelings, as she rubs ceaselessly, and breaks off her vt'.-ech apostrophise the blood that will n 't wa-h cut\Ve shall never forget the horror i hir > c.co and gesture when she said *• Yc w. o ■ --* have thought the old man to have much blood in him,” nor the dc-pnr w ' in wnich she moaned, “Out danme.i sc t ■ -' ut - I say!” and the wretchedness of her sign *** something to remember. The scene '; e most tcrnblo picture that can be sea: w stage. Mrs Siddons gave a re; ref; t.uticn which will long be remember-d by *-' cl were the thriller! spectators. Mr Steele’s Macbeth was, as '.is su' : ’ :u ’ expiated from his former appear ti er? n'- '■? character, a good sterling cue. It ; !l . a with rii-c i-.i inaMon, no that it «s< M u-.vts, and not any blusterer you might e'vc-c tc into a Scotch costume. It whs n r.i.r of the uvm who is pcrpau.n y at w..r himself; who, though overcome I." ’ ■ :l . U ’ always hears the voice of justice, b - re appenrinee. we have not near.i Mr ’ elocution to such advantage, b i " • 1 . speeches were spoken in a style ot : e ■ merit. For example, the soiiloq .y ■ . jo.mi.i. “ It it w. re done wtieo ’tis done, -. ’ ■ r. well it weie cone quickly,” A-, was with great pathos and grace, T.i■■ re of the other famous soliloquy, “Is t M- " 1 whi.-n 1 ?ee before ine," whs nii-i r.y *“ seiing in the scone after the murder e ,J ri • line, unci the words "Methough' 1 1 _ voice, ” Ac, excellently delivers - behaviour at the banquet was highly and in nil his sever.-! scenes he a !>•' v great success. r , Mr Burforn gave us a somewhat hoi-’“ but dashingly played Macduff. M r doubled the parts of Duncan ami the l’ !! elan, playing them carefully aid wed witches were represented by Mr Stark am- • Mina Vernons, and were fairly well seated. Mr Graham was effective as a 9n d a port in which there is not much scope, Hecate was a great deal too much Huntley. The play was well scenery*, and in the main well put on. t-

'^ r ',» T that it »« even tolerably pjui'C * ( e ', Cß ‘f or there i* no doubt that Locke ,’j b 7 the musicians about at badly r 4, tested oy Macbeth. In the matter »t I l ' l 'I'’*" 1 '’*" M (be resource* of the company of there was not much of it. But are rot *£ ’„(* wish to complain of. The Ihi* * f ° n Saturday night were excessively ( viriu - !"oe 0 kwM a time*. We wonder if iu’' ? . T be done to prerent a repetition of creaking of boot* and frequent the <■ order ” which eeemed to look » hlV ‘’ Writing of the curtain a* tho signal for up- 1 - ispr.-a’- ni ht <■ Much Ado About Nothing" -edit »• : 1 ——■_ r".rs=~=a