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All's Well That Ends Well

by William Shakespeare

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A review of All's Well that Ends Well

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SOURCE: A review of All's Well that Ends Well, in The Illustrated London News, Vol. XXI, No. 577, September 4, 1852, p. 190.

On Wednesday, a play seldom acted was revived, Shakspeare's "All's Well that Ends Well." The mere announcement was calculated to excite great curiosity. It is one of those perilous adventures which, on this stage, have furnished the most remarkable successes. There are more than one difficulty, too, in the plot; but these appertain rather to the story than the treatment. The ruder accidents of the tale are judiciously kept in the background; and the slight indiscretions in dialogue have been judiciously and skilfully weeded by the management. The general style of the drama is calm and dignified poetry; and this was well observed by the actors, who contented themselves with a smooth and even delivery, which enabled the meaning to reach the mind of the auditor without misinterpretation. The natural interest of the play thus rose scene by scene, and exercised a quiet influence which was perfectly delightful. Notwithstanding its obvious crudities, "All's Well that Ends Well," as acted at this theatre, is one of the most pleasing of plays, and will have a decided run. The heroine was beautifully sustained by Miss Cooper, who gave to the soliloquies of Helena a careful elocution, and was throughout elegant in her attitudes. There was nothing in the part to strain her powers, and these, within their due limits, are capable of charming expression. Mrs. Ternan, also, as the Countess, came well off, and spoke and acted with proper dignity. But the feature of the evening was the Parolles of Mr. Phelps, whose nervous temperament well expressed the comic uneasiness of the braggart, whose tongue outruns his thoughts and deeds, even sometimes its words, which it has to borrow from others' mouths. The continual propelling of his arms was as curious as it was artistic and provocative of mirth. In the affair of the drum he was admirable; and, in the scene of the exposure, acted with an aptitude which realised the situation most thoroughly. The success of this experiment will, no doubt, give rise to amended criticism on this play, the elements of which have been much mistaken. It only remains to add that the performance was illustrated by some very picturesque scenery, and that the mise en scène was in excellent taste. The revival is altogether highly creditable to the management.

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