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48 PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



Of Shakspeare's historical plays, the three parts of Henry the 



^:t Sixth and Richard the Second would be produced under the 



greatest fears of failure. The former however afford exquisite 



material for a compilation ; and alteration might greatly advantage 



the latter. 



King John and Henry the Fifth require a little pruning to per- 

 fect them as acting plays. The latter has a chorus to apologize 

 for the liberties taken with the unity of place. 



The two parts of Henry the Fourth include such charming 

 varieties of tragic dignity and rich comedy — of vigour and ten- 

 derness, of passion and pathos that their favorable reception may 

 not be doubted. 



The last act of Henry the Eighth must be offensive to all who 

 have been duly impressed with the excellence of the four prece- 

 ding. After the feeling declamation of Wolsey and the exqui- 

 site, heart stirring pathos of Queen Katherine, which must baffle 

 the steady perusal of every one, whose eyes are used to the melt- 

 ing mood, after these forcible appeals to our hearts' best sympa- 

 tliies, we are not inclined to put up with quarrelling church- 

 men, old wet nurses, a pewking baby, and fulsome adulation of 

 a reigning monarch. 



The Tempest and Midsummer's Night's Dream contain some 

 actable scenes : but altogether they are not by any means of stage 

 quality ; and of their matchless poetry, this is not the place to 

 speak. 



Measure for Measure, with some entire scenes capable of dram- 

 atic effect, and the Winter's Tale, which in parts (as Macready 

 has lately testified) is prodigiously affecting, would neither of 

 them succeed as modem plays : the former may afford a perfect 

 code of moral law ; but both are defaced by absurdity and obsce- 

 nity, the one by indelicate expedients, and the other by extra- 

 vagance. 



The Comedy of Errors it would be erroneous to dignify by the 

 title of a comedy. 



The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Love's Labour lost are 

 instances of excellent material used with poor advantage; and 

 the Taming of Shrew is in many parts tedious and perplexing. 

 The latter, condensed into the after piece of Katherine and Pe- 

 truchio, is always received with mirth : but the entire play would 

 prove an infliction. To be concluded in our next. 



G. p. HEARDER, PLYMOUTH. 



