New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-05
RACHEL As PHEDRA.

-
Rachel planted last night another brilliant in her
crown. Her success as the erring wife OF lhe'eus
was not less magnificent than as the noble sister Of
HOratius.
There are three great developments in the character
of Pbadla The first stage is that in which the un-
happy woman, deeply impressed with the guilt of her
passion for her husbands son, makes fierce effort to
cor quer and conceal it, until from the agony of reten
ton II breaks forth. The second stage is where,
on the belief Of the death of Theseus she deres to
speak her bellish passion to Hippolytus himself The
third stage is where PhGdra repentng of the crime
she has wrought in her false charge of Hippoytus to
Tbeseus on return of the latter is suddenly checked
in this good resolve by that knowledge ever so terri
be to woman, that she has rival. The torture of
unreouited love- the terror Of crucying remorse, the
papgs of monstrous jealousy, corrode her soul and
lash into madness Der heart-makng her brood per-
petually over suicide, AID present throughout the
tragedy fearful picture Of mental agony and moral
DESPAIR until she gathers at last from the multitude of
The horrors around Ter strength to peperas sef-de-
stIuctiop and thus cosc her wretched life.
From the moment of Rachel's coming on the stage
strange feeling of melancholy falls the heart at
witnessing the suerngs which rack and torture her,
breaking out in terrible outline every neament of
eu;sh such as ReubeDs would have hung over with
ecstacy. The throb of passion and remorse might
almost have been seen thrilling under the royal
robe. The dignity of the queen too, which ever
holds its reign even under the fercest bounds of
the uncomfortable passion of thei woman, throws
a classic solemnity around her wretchedness which
makes you almost forget the guilty thought IN the ee
walton of her bearipg. woman devoured by an
aduteous passion stands before you, but so intense
IS her consciousness of guilt and that consciousness Is
written in throes inexpTessibiy eloquent that you
aIe moved to the deepest compassion for this love-
struck woman who struggles, but struggles IN
vain, against her unnatural passion. Il IS
by this sublime conception, worked into life,
of the character Of Ph&dra that kachel e1-
hibits her tanscendent genius, and to THIS
conception, in every word, look and attitude, she
remains true throughout. This is the leading spint OF
the pesonaiicn but the wondrOus touches of conflict
ing and varying hopes and emotions with which she
surrounds it, are snsularly beautiful. Fist, the
exciting scene with the nurse where, unable to resist
the storm of passion which beats fierceiy al her
breast she uncsges her horrid secret. Then TIE ~hd
beauty with which she starts back like wounded
leopard when the dignity OF the Queen rebels against
the self debasement, but again yet a little, and
comes back the passion of the woman, and with
rough scorr OF throne and diadem sweeps on and
on-siil she resists until the name OF Hippoytus Is
spoken-she stsggers, but not even then has sue
gathered courage to speak the fearful word. The
nurse speaks it. Cost TOT qua Ia ncmme, she cries
with terror; and here it is that that strong struggle
between her pride, urging her to keep silence and her
conscience urging ler 10 confess, reaches It's Climax
Upon such wretched subterfuges does this unhappy
woman stke compromise between pride and
IL f..s rV1or trrrFh -
nature is this subtle sophistry depicted by
Rachel. Her bosom heaving with remorse, her heart
glowing with love- yet he Queen towering eject
through oil; nothing could resemb in mag
nifcence of picture fallen angel, with heavenly
tear to mourn over her own ruin We, ciogiDg wi b
LaueLty soul TO The passion that has worked IT, There
is greatness in Rachels deineation Of the conscious
ne of guilt dwelling in a lofty queeny ns,ure, which
makes us lock up TO her with infinite admiration. Ia
tuitiye knowledge Of womans hear is SO wonderfully
blended with sl,tic conception Of the feelings of the
Queen, that in the perfection with which this double
power clothes her pcrsonation our feeling of sym
pstby with the sufIerings Of the woman aban-
dors Us, even while We slrnk with disgust Fl m the
wck ,dnoss Of the Queen. Again when on the report
Of Thesfus's Ccath, she cont secs her passion to
Uiptolyius a. ihe enters tie rom aud bcbolds Lin,
TIC excited anxiety is wonderfully portrayed. She
treabcs ind pal ,i'atos. she d 60 not advance
toward lin, lot with y icc hoanc With rcpressed
emotion. fhe spesIs sDt Of her chill Bot az
the magnetic influence q biz presence nets on
hef fry nsiuie, she can Tcsist no longer. bot IN
glosn recitation 81 her passion cfawl gradually
o. uau sbe fancles she hns reached The nom o. Hnd
thfn Gres her cisw upon bis heah.
EaiLe gl,5y ef DE night whs IN lie soefs Who're
81. l4s,us che hos fiysL EoiqofsA dignity. all
uete IT, 80 Instant yahe Atd SIZE si''ei tJi'p"Sss
n faty. win sys sni tefys al sesih al h''1 BON
~ chsfe fpfns.e - be- heat
A, 10 essA n fias s,t.s ~ Lfpss. vLi.h ever hT'
Hs,Iels g.iss pjli faAp'stt4'e ~ one s"a s''l
ftss ,l4 ~ t,ltsiA lissif iai htts inn 80 se'l"
sissm ptsk ,>sd saiy h. sslea b, ts' ts"''"s sVAs
Appt M stsgs s.l - ii.s i4n - a. ss'si" s''t - a.
seeh o,se1 soi 9. ,A.ei - 80 s1ii'''~ I" 'hs'
s,,e4a 10 plt.h Is t.y sfyiA4 h. ,ei b.''. sts'y
iss.9