“O Cruel, Irreligious Piety!”

This chapter presents a review of Ira Aldridge&s;s Titus at the Britannia, originally published in 1857. Mr. Ira Aldridge, the African tragedian, who has been playing some of his most favourite characters since Easter Monday has appeared as Aaron in Titus Andronicus, a part which he has made completely and emphatically his own. Mr. Aldridge&s;s conception of the part of Aaron is excellent, gentle and impassioned burning with jealously as he suspects the honour of the Queen; anon, fierce with rage, as he reflects upon the wrongs which have been done him. The Titus Andronicus produced under Mr. Aldridge&s;s direction is a wholly different affair; the deflowerment of Lavinia, cutting out her tongue, chopping off her hands, and the numerous decapitations and gross language which occur in the original are totally omitted and a play not only presentable but attractive is the result.