150 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ledge of his author. To speak comparatively, Digges’ figure was better, and his
voice perhaps more mellow and powerful, but Digges played with little judgment,
was very deficient in the nicer touches of the art, and often had no conception
of what he spoke. In judgment and taste Mr. Henderson is eminent, He understands
perfectly the character he plays, and never fails to give the just meaning
of his author, and this, in so difficult and various a character as Hamlet, requires
the powers of a master. He avoids that unnatural violence and rant which is
often introduced into the part, and which seldom fails to catch the ears of the
groundlings, but is certainly more characteristic of the blustering player than the
Prince of Denmark. From what we have seen we are of opinion that the admirers
of Shakspeare, who wish to understand perfectly their favourite author, should
attend Mr. Henderson ; in his mouth no passage seems perplexed, and he is a
comment at once pleasing and instructive.”
On the 2d August he acted Shylock in the Merchant of Venice, which the
newspaper advertisement, for the instruction of the ignorant, announces to be
“ written by Shakspeare.”
“ One would
have thought,” continues the critique alluded to, “from the crowded state of
the house, that the Siddons was still here. Greater praise, perhaps, was not
due to Mrs. Siddons for any of her parts than to Mr. Henderson ,for the
inimitable humour and original manner in which he played Falstn, In this
character he stands unrivalled on the British stage. He met with repeated
bursts of applause from every part of the house. One honest gentleman was
so tickled with the humour, that he almost fell into convulsions with laughing.
Mr. Henderson was perhaps painted too youthful for the character.”
5th, Don John in the Chances, as altered from Beaumont and Fletcher by
Garrick. In this comedy “he gave a proof that his powers were as well
adapted to the lively-spirited rake, as to the serious and philosophic Hamlet.”
7th, Acted iyacbeth. ‘‘ In Macbeth he was equally animated and correct as
in any of the other parts he has displayed.”
Sth, Sir John Falstaf, in the First Part of King Henry IK, for his benefit.
“ In this character he exceeded any thing we have seen of his performance. The
continued peals of laughter and applause, from a most brilliant and crowded
audience, testified the strongest approbation, and the part perhaps was never played
with such inimitable genuine humour. The Knight’s description of his troop,
with Mr. Henderson’s looks, tones, and gestures, was beyond description admirable.
On the 3d, Sir John Falstaf in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
loth, Richard 111.
14th, King Lear.
16th, Sir Oiles Ouerreach.
1 ‘‘ It is surprising that there should not be a proper Scots dress on the stage in the metropolis
of Scotland, and that a Spauish dress, or indeed any other, should serve as a Highland dress by the
addition of a piece of tartan drawn awkwardly across the shoulder, as if it waa the insignia of an
order of knighthood. The characters in Macbeth, indeed, exhibited the dresses of all nations, and
one might have thought that a dealer in Monmouth Street had been airing his stock-in-trade to
prevent it being eaten by moths.”-Courccnt. . The witches are said to have made a Dutch chorus of the music.
