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
We remember her manner in the Gamester, when Stukeley, (it was then
played by Palmer), declares his love to her. The look, first of
incredulity and astonishment, then of anger, then passing suddenly into
contempt, and ending in bitter scorn, and a convulsive burst of
laughter, all given in a moment, and laying open every movement of the
soul, produced an effect which we shall never forget. Her manner of
rubbing her hands, in the night scene in Macbeth, and of dismissing the
guests at the banquet, were among her finest things. We have, many years
ago, wept outright during the whole time of her playing Isabella, and
this we take to have been a higher employment of the critical faculties
than doubling down the book in dog-ears to make out a regular list of
critical common-places. To the tears formerly shed on such occasions, we
may apply the words of a modern dashing orator, ‘Sweet is the dew of
their memory, and pleasant the balm of their recollection.’
We have, we believe, been betrayed into this digression, because Miss
O’Neill, more than any late actress, reminded us in certain passages,
and in a faint degree, of Mrs. Siddons. This young lady, who will
probably become a favourite with the public, is rather tall; and though
not _of the first order of fine forms_, her figure is of that
respectable kind, which will not interfere with the characters she
represents. Her deportment is not particularly graceful: there is a
heaviness, and want of firmness about it. Her features are regular, and
the upper part of her face finely expressive of terror or sorrow. It has
that mixture of beauty and passion which we admire so much in some of
the antique statues. The lower part of her face is not equally good.
From a want of fulness or flexibility about the mouth, her laugh is not
at any time pleasing, and where it is a laugh of terror, is distorted
and painful. Her voice, without being musical, is distinct, powerful,
and capable of every necessary exertion. Her action is impressive and
simple. She looks the part she has to perform, and fills up the pauses
in the words, by the varied expression of her countenance or gestures,
without any thing artificial, pointed, or far-fetched.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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