New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-25
DIP Van WIYKLE At T.lE WINTER
GARDEN.

RIP VAN lYiNkLE 81 IN WIN In
GARDEN.
The audience which 10 q night assembled to greet |
yoseph jefferson, the hearty reception he received aud
,he unstinted appA use he won, must have convinced
that popular .medan had he been never ~ scepuc'
No his pors bow deep hold he hss on the Ne"iorA
corporate heart. Corporations, though MINUS 5'uT'
SOD sfimes show symptoms of hesrt)
TIE play was Rip Van Wrinkle and, thongn me
nblc are already familiar with the drcwsy hero OF
s,epv Hollow through the medium oi irving super
les9ut glory aud many Of them have hadanother and
nearer rtroiuction 20 the said somnolent Duchman by
means Of the drama performed by Mr.. IIaekstt, and
that better acquaintance may now npen into deaTer
fnendshp for all who 90 TO see the new play, which
wac arranged by Mr. Jefferson from the story of Irving
and in which the hero il represented by MIR. Jefferson
himself.
Amung the admirers Of Joseph aforesaid, snrnamed
Jefferson aforementioned, We have ever been an en-
,husias and Of enthusiasts the most enthusiastic. We
are now justified Of our enthusiasm mere completely
than ever before.
In ihe character Of Caleb Plummer," IN Dickenss
story Of the /" Cricket the Hearth, Mr.. jefferson
gave most fecyepersons,ion of the smp9-hesrted
courageous true old man. and won especial credit for
the ipintable manner in which he threw into relief
TIE delicate patbos that pcrvades that entire part.
We spprehend that his great in that charae-
ter first discovered TO himself ability. and showed
him thar he has the power Of cXqusitey representing
certain styles Of eccentric old men, The fruit OF that
conviction II the persouatiOn Of last night, and it l.
probably not too much 10 say that Caleb Plummer u
the father Of Rip Van Wrinkle, man many years older
than himself--a physiological paradox, but an IN
doubted draulatic fact. But TO whatever cause we
owe Mr. Jefiersons Rip, the accident has been happy
one for us and for all who 10 know personaiy the
perseveriDgiy somambulic Dutehman, who ought 10
have been if he was not, Of the original Seven
Sleeper.
Still. we cannot congratulate Mr.. Jefferson on a
great success ~ an author for the drama, IN which his
uwn Rim is lie central figure and, indeed, the only
noticeable figure is wcsk and tame 10 IN unexpected
degree II is probably difficult 10 construct telling
piece from story having but single incident winch
however charming it may be, considered as narrative
affords but meager material for play The eXtraneous
incidents that Mr. Jefferson has sulnra,ied TO NJ
iryings slight plot for the purpose Of giving the story
dramatic FORM overstT'ned ana ineffective, ana
The play is utterly unworthy Of Mr. Jefferson artistic
abilities Tire character Of Rip il the only one with IN
iota Of interest but that character il 70 delightfully."-
acted that Amos. redecms the drearess OF the rest
of the piece.
Dir. JeTcrsons performance Of the somnambuhc,
heupeckcd hero il one Of hs very best pesonstionr
we say this with Caleb PlummeT and Newman Ncges
still Green in our critical memory. The good nature OF
the easy law children loving fellow the helpless
resignation Of the subdued husbands the easy-led
yseilations Of the dinkloyng good fellow tie -rni-
frightened, Acknowledging curiosity with the ton-Fn-
loving phantoms IN the mountain: the art besiider-
ment OF the waxing after the twenty years nap; the
pathe!ic esgeIness to be recognized by one former
friend 10 hear uio familiar yVre, 60 clasp one accus-
toned hand lie simple unaffected gliei al the death
Of old companions, and the final Joy Of meeting tho-e 70
love and cherish, are all most eXqnseiy dolneaicd
with that nice perception Of character and delicate
power Of pers0nstion which belong only 10 the aItis
who is truly thorough and excellent The character o.
Rip by Mr.. Jefferson the actor, j. ons OF he best o.
his many s,ieeesses; the play of Rip Van Wrinkle by
Mr.. Jefferson, the author Is bad failure.
Mrs. Dufield played the slight but vigorous charac
Ger Of Dame Van Wrinkle with q vicious excellence
chat might easily Justify Rip Van Winkle or any otheI
man, in sleeping tor twenty years, or forty
Tie management Of the thester have developed q
srain Of lteraty as grateful j, il unexpected. All
or nearly all the scenery for this drama s new having
been painted expressly by the excellent artist Of h'
sheater, Mr. Hayes. Two views Of the same Catskil
scene one by moonlight and the other by day, e.
pecslly good, and being familiar to hc audience have
peculiar charm All the other scenes effective
The play is 10 be repeated tonight, and Of course IN
house will be crowded.