The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 08 (of 12)Hazlitt, William
General
The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 08 (of 12)
Hazlitt, William
English essays -- 19th century
The concluding scene, in which he is killed by Richmond, was the
most brilliant. He fought like one drunk with wounds: and the attitude
in which he stands with his hands stretched out, after his sword is
taken from him, had a preternatural and terrific grandeur, as if his
will could not be disarmed, and the very phantoms of his despair had a
withering power.
_The Morning Chronicle._
_February 21, 1814._
The house was crowded at an early hour in every part, to witness Mr.
Kean’s second representation of Richard. His admirable acting received
that meed of applause, which it so well deserved. His voice had not
entirely recovered its tone and strength; and when (after the curtain
had dropped, amidst a tumult of approbation), Mr. Rae came forward to
announce the play for Monday, cries of ‘No, no,’ from every part of the
house, testified the sense entertained by the audience, of the
impropriety of requiring the repetition of this extraordinary effort,
till every physical disadvantage had been completely removed.
We have little to add to our former remarks, for Mr. Kean went through
the part nearly as before, and we saw no reason to alter our opinion.
The dying scene was the most varied, and, we think, for the worse. In
pronouncing the words in Richard’s soliloquy, ‘I am myself alone,’ Mr.
Kean gave a quick and hurried movement to his voice, as if it was a
thought that suddenly struck him, or which he wished to pass over;
whereas it is the deep and rooted sentiment of his breast. The
reduplication of the words in Shakespear points out the manner in which
the voice should dwell upon, and as it were, brood over the feeling,
loth to part with the bitter consolation. Where he says to Buckingham,
‘I am not i’ the vein,’ the expression should, we imagine, be that of
stifled hatred, and cold contempt, instead of sarcastic petulance. The
scene tells for itself, without being pointed by the manner. In general,
perhaps, if Mr. Kean were to give to the character less of the air of an
ostentatious hypocrite, of an intelligible villain, it would be more
correct, and would accord better with Shakespear’s idea of the part. The
description which he has put into the mouth of Hastings, is a perfect
study for the actor.
‘His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning:
There’s some conceit or other likes him well,
When that he bids good-morrow with such spirit.
I think there’s ne’er a man in Christendom
Can lesser hide his hate or love than he,
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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