Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

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the inadequacy of his voice. Archer does not object to the
mannerism and mispronunciation which had "been criticised in
The Fashionable Tragedian, but to the dry, prosaic delivery:
The fault lies, of course, mainly in the
insuperable limitations of Mr Irving»c voice,
but partly, I cannot help thinking, in his
desire to let us see the thought preceding
the speech, and to avoid the aberrance of
spouting a rote-learned lesson.
The result is "a Jerkiness of utyle fatal to the finest
beauties of such a part as Macbeth", It seems from Archer's
account that a physical depiction of psychological activity
was predominating over oral effectiveness in Irving f s
performance.
During the preparations for the Lyceum "acbeth Percy
Fitzgerald compiled for Irving a book of "Notes and Suggestions",
The book is now in the Folger Shakespeare Library (Prompt ac
48 - Shattuck 90). It includes a eunoary of the play's "three
scenic points of attraction - which exhibit Macbeth under
different views". These are:
1. The i'lurder Scene - where he is interesting
from hia hesitation and remorse: 2. The Banquet
Scene, where he is conscience c.tric".:en and
cowedJ 3. The scenes with the vvitchos & ..ith
the Battle where he is desper .te am! defiant.
The Banquet ocone however ic the grrnc'est of
all f: from its opportunity for show and cro-.vds
& the dramatic, ought to be the central point.
This gives an indication of tlic riorities of Irving 1 s stagiiv:
the central character is to be seen in critical r.ioncntc, which
will coincide with "scenic points of attraction" - c^ices in
his .c.ind will coincide with vicurlly arresting effects.
By reference to tlic reviews of the production, and to
one of the actor's promt copies (in t;ie Krrvard Theatre
Collection, 65-109 - Shattuc'.: 92) it ic possible to d: ; ocern
the manner in which Irving irjjpprporated the "crises" into the
context of a full iroruction.
.•"»fter ul'.l'.vji's new overture, "thorou .lily cli rrctcrictic
and mast' rly, w:^:Lrd, picturesque, powerful, and impresr.ivo"
(glie Er- ) the curtain rose on a "clecort Tolrce", and tiic r/orrn,"o
"crooninc" of the v/itchea ;vas hecrd. Prcr.ontly tlioir fi.fxires