[Boston—Saturday, 26 September 1863]
Saturday Evening. Charlotte Cushman played “Lady Macbeth” for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission to a large audience. Her reading of the letter when she first appears is one of her finest points. She moves her feet execrably and succeeds in developing all the devilish nature in the part but discovers no beauty. Yet it is delightful to hear the wondrous poetry of the play intelligently and clearly rendered. It would be impossible to say this of the man who played “Macbeth” who talked of “en” “arnardine”, and, heat-opprest brain, for “oppressèd”—beside innumerable other faults and failures which he mouthed too much for me to discover. Charlotte in the sleeping scene was fine—that deep drawn breath of sleep is thrilling. I presume we should with difficulty recognise genius however in such small mouthfuls covered with such trash as her supporters furnished. It makes “going to the play” a torment.
There has been an ode written to be spoken at the organ opening. No one is to know who wrote it. Miss Cushman will speak it if they are speedy enough in their finishing. This is of interest to many. I trust they will be ready for Miss Cushman.
