The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-09 00:00:00

Miss Bateman at Manchester.

It may be that the lady who last night made her ap-
pearlnce at this theatre is destined to become a real and
valuable acquisition to the English stage, Actresses of

genuine ability arc scarce; still more so those who may be

safely entrusted with the impersonation of high tragic
parts; and, scarcest of all, those who display the possession
of anything like genius, or, indeed, the pure dramatic
faculty which can rule an audience, and sway its feelings

by the exercise of consummate art. It is to this high point
Miss Bateman aspires. She challenges our broadest sym-
pathies, she appeals to our most sensitive instincts. It

follows, therefore, that she must stand our keenest criti-
cism, and be judged by a standard we should not dream of
applying to less ambitious and less talented actresses. It

must be remarked that the public have seen Miss Bateman
in one character only. As we have IN fure hinted, she is,
Ike Mr. Sothern in his long-sustained " Lord Dun-

dreary," an artist with one picture. Much may reasonably
be expected in such a case, and more when we reflect
that it is a self-elected part, Indeed, all considerations

help to increase the stringency of the tests we ate dis-
posed to apply. 'there is, however, one circumstance
that ought to weigh in the balance of opinion ; it is the
fact of the mediocre character of Dr. Mosenthal's drama.

We are convinced that it is anything but a favourable
medium for the display of high art. The character

of " Leah" (in the Continental version the name is
" Deborah") is its great, nay, its only valuable element

There is lb tle in the piece to assist the representative of the
chief character, or to aid in its development, The subordi-

nate personages are too ordinary and common to do more
than serve as a background for theheroine, This, in a cer-
tain restricted sense, may be decmed advantageous to her;
but it will not be denied that in a great drama, with fit

accessories, genius finds fullest play, and receives freest
scope. " Leah" is a part demanding complete self-reliance

and this valuable quality Miss Bateman possesses in a high
degree. From the moment she comes upon the stage the
audience is quite at ease is this respect—there is no fear for
the actress. We need scarcely admit that the same con-

scious energy sustains her to the fall of the curtain. Mies
Bateman's physique is peculiarly suited tl the impersona-
tion of an eastern maiden. We rather doubt the appropri-
ateness of her pallid face and blanched skiu to the per sonelle
of a Jewess ; but, ap irt from this, she not only acts but
1 oks the daughter of Israel wi h striking truth. Iler dress
is already familiar to us from picture or photograph, if not
from stage imitators, who affect all Miss Bateman's charac-
teristics of manner, costume, and even of voice. But she
can have no imitator that may match her full, large eye
and sharply-chiselled features, which, for still, staturesque
repose, have no counterpart at present on the stage. Miss
Bateman trusts much to the power of her eyes. Nature
has been unusually generous to her in these organs, with
which she speaks as truly and eloquently as with her

tongue.
In the first scenes, she is unexpectedly calm, and, some
might say, tame. But careful observation will show that
every attitude is studied, every look prepared for a purpose.
And effect is produced by great facial power, which aids an
eye full of silent capabilities of passion and pathos. Her
first interviews with her Christian lover may disappoint,
simply because for an English audience she is not suffi-
ciently demonstrative. As the drama progresses this appa-
rent coldness weals off, and the hitherto pent -up or re-
strained feeling finds vent. We see this meet distinctly
first at the moment when she gets the first faint suspicion
of Rudolf and his faithfulness. With this a sudden light
seems to waken in her eyes, and a new passion in her voice.
And not only so, but every muscle seems to answer to some
hidden emotion, and her whole figure speaks. Instances
of this complete self-control occur in her profession of love,
her first doubt (as we have just said), but more remarkably
than all in the churchyard scene, where, having caught a
glimpse of her lost Rudolf at the altar with another, she
turns from the door a crushed, heart-ruined, desolate
woman. The depth of her scorn for the Christian is
something terrible, and it is full of fearful energy as she
exclaims, " And are you the man I worshipped ?" The
curse which follows is delivered with clear, concentrated
intensity, the result of immense mental and phy-
sical control, and loses nothing of its withering vehe-
mence by being uttered in calm, cold tones. Miss
Bateman uses no meretricious aids to passion. She does
not shout, she does not stamp, she does not rant. Every
word tells us it comes forth, a well-prepared, well-weighed
missile against the otject of her vengeance. It was at this
point that the audience realised the genius of the actress,
and the double recall which followed was a genuine triumph,
fairly won. Quite equal, and in an artistic sense superior,
was the final picture of the wasted,sorrow-stricken woman,
who has carried about in her bosom for years the vengeful
memory of her wrongs. Here we plink we saw the error of
making the "Leah" of the earliest scenesso sold and unim-
passioned. Your h and love have their physical exponents and
a blush, a rosy lip, a laughing eye, are their natural minis-
ters. Miss Bateman is pale and sad from beginning to end,
too much so, we fancy, even allowing for the fact of her
being one of a despised and persecuted race. Her rendering
of the weary, worn-out wanderer was painfully touching.
ller noiseless approach towards Rudolf and his wife, on her
return from soliciting favour for the Jews from the emperor,
the gradual change of expression (all facial) as revenge
passes away and forgiveness succeed, was marvellous. Not
less affecting was the brief episode of her interview with his
child, also named Lesh. It was a rare exhibition of involun-
tary but overwhelming womanly tenderness. The closing
death scene was a fit climax to a desolate, ruined life, and
we at once confess that we may scarcely expect to see
another such realisation of sorrow that cannot be fathomed.
There was unspeakable melancholy in the whole act, and
Miss Bateman's semblance of death was solemnly real.
Wo have left little space fur anything like comment,
and shall not attempt it. Perhaps we may not err in sug-
gesting, in some passages, a less rapid delivery. Listeners
would wish to hear all, and to secure the sentences com-
plete—occasionally Miss Bateman is too hurried to follow.
We are confident that her acting will grew upon us in
Manchester, and that her visit will be a signal success.
An old favourite, Mr Swinbourne, played the " Nathan "
of tho piece, and elevated the character into something of
importance. Ho was welcomed with much cordiality, and
gave great satisfaction. AMr Jordan (now to us) took the
part of "Rudolf," and made a handsome, free, and spirited
lover. In his hands the part loses much of its unsatisfac-
toriness (not to say unworthiness) as seen done by others,
and we mean it as a compliment when we add that" Leah"
might justly cherish bitter and harsh feelings at the loss of
such a one. The remaining characters were apportioned
very much as we remeuber on the occasion of a former re-
presentation of this play, and we need add nothing here
respecting them.—.2l/aliclieder Examitter.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.—AIcsBr3. Routledge
will publish in December No. 1 of a new monthly
periodical, entitled " Routledge's Magazine for Boys," with
which they intend to incorporate " Every Boy's Magazine."
The principal contributors will bo W. IL G. Kingston,
IL. M. Ballantyne, Stirling Coyne, r.nd the editor, Mr
Eimund Routledge.
MR COBDEN AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.—Wednes-
day, the 23d inst., has been definitely fixed as the day on
which MrCobden will address his constituents at Rochdale.
The gathering will take place in Mr Councillor Robinson's
new works. Mr Bright will be present and take part in
the proceedings.

STORMY PETRELS ON SIIORE.—On the evening
of Monday, the 24th ult„ a policeman going his rounds in
the Cowgato captured a stormy petrel. The storm which
raged with such fury on the previous day appears to have
driven ashore a considerable number of " Mother Carey's
chickens." A flock was seen near Ormiston, another at
Cramond Island, and many single specimens have been
picked up dead, chiefly along the coasts, though one was
found so far inland as Motherwell,-4coteman.