New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-30

ngy oiu the wiz ungie AT her myers ends, light up
her eye with mischief and Turk in her smile while all
the tine heE good girls nature made the sting sweet
and the venom luscious. Nothing could be morr ex-
ouis,e than the banter with which the tortured Benz.
| dick and the keen delight with which her womau.s
| vanity reveled in the smallest triumph. This WA
especially marked in the closing scene where the con-
ct of wit between the lovers and the unwillngncss
OF either to own their love until discovered created
ann ug the audience much plessartness and applause.
But Beatrice has another phase IN her character.
She LVt frivolous because her nature is poor and
thin but because it is so rich and copious that she
afford to be 90. Through her all Wild freak and fanees
she Is of krd and noble feeling She is not only
gay at heart bss ian OF mind. Now this phase Mis-
Ktere completely cyerlooks. In tie scene where she
induces Benedck to challenge Caud, for his conduct
to her Hero, this is especially remarks- bic and the
conception iswholly Incorrect Miss Kecne makes the
exhibition Of her power her lover the yailin
point and that power the motive and nau ,ce instead
of gene rous and honorable desire Hero rghted
and when Benedick departs upon her fighting GRAND,
she laughs with coquettisb triumph at her own wo-
mans victory. The scene from being one OF noble
pathos eeyatng both the character of Benedtck and
Beatrice thus converted into OF much merrment.
Similar misconceptions prevail in other portions Of the
play.
Mr.. Jordans Benedick pleasing personation.
His carriage and presence and ey action and elocu-
ton carry off sufficiently well any character in which
he appears, and with those who have not studied
their lights and shades will always insrre for him pop
uaIiiy The successful pesonation Of Shakespeare
character requires however strong grasp Of concep
ton, a complete knowledge of what belongs 10 every
line and get thorough idea of the WHOLE perfect
finish to every part, and yet the character never
marsd. While Mr. Jordan's personation Of his own
conception or perhaps hurried adoption of one was
very effective, cannot think the conception correct.
He made of Benedick more of gay thouglAless gal
liant, who dsked to marry because il nterfered
with his pleasures, than of an accomplished.
fastidous phiosophc man of the world, who had ar
gued himself into the idea that bachelor life the
happest and best In the early scenes there was not
sufficient of ease nor of that mental struggle which be-
long to protested wits like Benedck and Mercutio, for
they are both of the same type Then in the sooquy.
the conflicting doubts and the cearings up, the mental
perplexities, pleasant and unpleasant, till the whole
merged in burst of resolution The world must DO
peoped" were not sufficiently artistically blended In
the more dashng scenes, as in that in which he chal-
lspged Claudio, Mr.. Jordan most admirable. The
fixed purpose with which he stared " the boy" and
the air with which he cast the ests flung at him, not
a. sarcass but many intererences with his de-
termined design, drew down deserved applause.
For the rest we cannot say Miss Keene was well
supported or that the play impaired that delight
which, under happier circumstances and more oppor-
tunity of preparation, think it would have done.
The sparkling wit often dulled and laughter ex-
cited as in verges, by gestculaton and bufoonery,
instead of by expressive delivery and truthful define
alton 1t is indeed hardly reasonable to expect that
those of the company-and they are necessarily many
-habituated to extravagant incident and character,
and the commonplace dialogue of low farce, SHOULD be
competent to the performance of pure comedy of the
most r. fined and intellectual kind full of exquisite
poetry and the most subtle strokes of wit and playful
ness. We are happy to speak in commentator OF
Mr.. McDouall and Mr.. Wemyss. MIR. Johnston was
shade less extravagant and unnatural than usual.
which, we trust, we may greet as slimmering OF
coming improvement. A clown is not esteemed
necessary component of comedy The ballet which
follows the performance at this Theater is quite
charm. and lends to eye and ear feast of delight.
MAsQrERADE IN TIE GERMAN THEATER.--A mas
grand came s III lin IN he he German ns TEssisi n Ike
Bowery last night. The building was 20 mssA crowded
that dancing could be pursued only under frghtfuI
difficulties and at reckless expenditure of breath and
sticuffs on the part of Die Committee. The number
of masks was greater than at any previous ball
which has been held in the city this Winter. There
could scarcely have been less than hundred and fifty
ma. ks on the floor at tme and to fancy dresses
there was no end except very neatly 6ttng ones
All the dresses with which the habtues Of fancy dress
balls have become 70 familiar were aired last nght
the identical Scotch plaid which has h0urished 70 many
times in Old Tammany did good service once more in
mnistering to Teuionic pride. Cavaliers danced with
Gpsies in total disregard ofther appropriate ladyoves,
and horrible dress coats waltzed with prncees few
centuries back with the most roue nonchaanec. I'm
known masks marched with unknown dominoes, hem-
huters with Mcpbistopheles; know-Noth'ngs with
"bloody flrners,v and Hsrelequins with oil. The
frolic began with German gipsying and ended late
this morning with Bengal lights and tableau on
moonset Between these the customary modicum OF
pokas and quadrles executed with the most re-
entless ferocty. The space was 40 limited that only
a small portion Of the dancers could DO
in motion at once and the natural proclivity
of the Tertonic feminine heart could easily
be guessed when one saw Mephistopheles take
out half dozen partners in single dance. But IL
was not 80 very strange for the dress of his SATANIC
was golden as well as scarlet. The Harlequins and
Jockos very much in fashion in these days Of kaveS'
afforded infinite amusement while the musicians wsre
taking their lager beer between the dances.
en-s....@11e,-
FpEs.-Last evening fire occurred in the friction
match factory in Second avenue, near Thirteenth
street but being discovered at an early moment tho
flames were eaingushed with few pals OF water
Damage slight.
About 1874 O'Clock this morning fire was di'cov-
cred in the building No. 76 Water street, corner Oh
Old slip. 1t originated in the second story, I'd tne