"Theatre Royal", Freeman's Journal, Mar 17, 1846

"Theatre Royal", Freeman's Journal, Mar 17, 1846

Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876

Actors and Actresses--US American

Gender Norms

Praise

This article reviews Charlotte Cushman's performance as Lady Macbeth. She is praised for her powerful interpretation of the character compared to the rather "feminine" portrayals from other contemporary actresses. However, the article states that Cushman exaggerated the "masculine tendencies" of the character a little too far.

Credit

The British Library Newspapers, Gale Digital Collections

Independent News and Media PLC

1846-03-17

Reference

If Miss Cushman did not realize all we expected of her in the character of Lady Macbeth -- as where is the actress or actor who embodies the full conception, the imagined perfection which the poetry of Shakspeare suggests -- yet her performance far excelled that of Miss Faucit or of Mrs. Kean. The latter actresses, especially Miss Faucit, sunk completely under the character. Her genius, essentially tender and feminine in its nature, had no sympathy with the unquenchable ambition and the daring spirit of Lady Macbeth __ whilst if any fault was to be found with Miss Cushman, it was that she rather exaggerated the masculine tendencies of the character, and in such scenes as where she wrenched the daggers from Macbeth after the murder, and in the banquet scene, she appeared not only to sway him mentally, but physically. __ We have not space to-day to analyze her performance of the character, and can only say it was marked throughout all the scenes, but more especially in the sleeping scene by great power and met with unbound applause. A new piece entitled, a "Lesson for the Heart," was played for the second time at the end of the tragedy. It is one of the best pieces of stage morality we have seen for a long time, consigning one of these heartless ruffians, a male coquet, to deserved contempt, in a light, well written, and laughable one net piece, admirably acted by Miss S. Cushman, well supported by Penson and Bland.

https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=BNCN&u=bayreuth&id=GALE|Y3204556791&v=2.1&it=r&sid=BNCN&asid=501abe30. Accessed 23 December, 2020.

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