Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/162

150 his declamation was unpleasant, harsh, and grating. Kemble's poses were studied but graceful, not like the stiff upright poses of Macready wherein I have often wondered how he could preserve his equilibrium."

On March 17, 1853, in his ninth season at Sadler's Wells, Samuel Phelps produced King Henry IV, Part II, he himself playing the double role of the King and Justice Shallow. Contemporary reviews speak of his complete triumph, and say that sceptical critics are now converted to this as a stage play. Phelps used Betterton's version, and revived the play again in London in 1864 and in 1874. In the 1874 production Forbes-Robertson, aged 21, appeared as Prince Hal. William Winter records an interesting anecdote of the first rehearsal. Phelps, after watching Forbes-Robertson for a time, said: 'Young man, I see that you know nothing about this. Come to my room tonight.'

The play has been practically unknown on the American stage. There were twenty-six revivals of Part I in America in the eighteenth century, but apparently none of Part II. In the nineteenth century the American comedian, James H. Hackett, played the part of Falstaff almost annually from 1830 to 1870, in both England and America, but it was the Falstaff of Part I and of The Merry Wives. In 1895-1896 Miss Julia Marlowe played the part of Prince Hal in an abridged version of the two parts of the play; and in 1896-1897 Daly planned a revival which never got beyond rehearsal. Miss Ada Rehan was to play Prince Hal, and James Lewis, Falstaff. The Delta Psi Dramatic Club of Harvard University gave a creditable amateur performance of Part II in the winter of 1915-1916.