New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-07
TIE DRAMA.
RfSTORI A. TIIsRR.

RrsT0RI As THIsBE.
Three of the greatest teachers that ever addres,od
the human mind have united in Celebrating ON.
and the same ideal of goodness Jhackeray has nor.
trayed and honored it in the characters OF Wipismt
Dobbn and Colonel Newcome Dickens ba. inn.
pressed it upon every true heart by Iii, noble delin
cation of Sidney Carton in The Tale Of Two Cniesg
Victor Hugo, has, in his wild way, made if consn;cn
Gus by the characters of Jean Vatican aud Ciliat,
1t may be very briefly and simply described "a SELF
sacrifice for the sake OF love. Tennysons King Ar
thur is fine type Of IT, in the idyl of "Cnineyera
Still another poetic and beautiful tyne of IL
though an eccentric One-is Victor Hu9os Tbisbe
An Italian woman an actress, living at Padna In
the sixteenth century, loved "A man. who pretended
to love her in return but whose heart was secretly
phghted to another. In time she learned Of III
treachery; but, thereafter-.peculiar and most ro-
mantle circumstances rendering the heroism possib.
she saved the life of her rival forgave the nfdelity
of her lover united them in safety and happiness and
died a sacrifice to love- That is the story which
Victor Hugo has told, in his exceedingly wellde.
vised and affecting drama of Angelo or the Tyrant
of Padua." What need to say that il is profoundly
patheticf Every noble nature must admire such
goodness. and sympathze with such misery.
Thsbe's motive, indeed is not an unmixed one She
recognizes an obligation to her rival which she h,
willing TO repay with her life But allegiance to
to love. Double though her motive was, Thisbe',
conduct still reveals of those great and most rars
natures that sacrifice themselves in the shirt
az well as the letter. Not alone does she obey the
cold mandate of duty she spares, she forgives she
saves, and she blesses, in accordance with celestial
prompting in her soul Nor does her self abne-
cation seem less grand even when we adhere 10 the
French portraitre, and the stain upon her life
No person who has really studied human nature re.
quiTes to be told that deeds Of heIOsn are possible
as well without as within the OdOr Of sanctity At
every great crisis of life it is character and not
morality, that decides the struggle In the Italian
version of Angelo however we MISUNDERSTANDING
| in the English-Thi is freed from the reproach
that attaches to her in the original French drama
splendid spirited woman; she loves with -
| and unfettered, vitality, and dies with a holy
devotion; Such sclf-sacriiice. as hers, even ii
narrowed to mere village life, and shown, in
the simple girl who, hiding her passion for plOw-
boy, strives to make him happy with another, would
still be touching and admirable. Thisbe however *
presented to amid the most effective dramatic ac
cessores She comes out Of the dusk Of an old Italian
city, and strange, picturesque phase of Old ciyza
| ton. In the background loom up the gloomy, mys-
teroGs figures of the Venetian Council of Ten Aspy
of that Council moves, like shrouded spirit of evil
| through the scenes of 1hisbes anguish An atmos
phere of terror blends, around all, with an atmos
phere of intrigue Secret doors are opened and shut
A dangerous husband is brayed and outwitted. An
adventurous lover inYades the abode OF married
lady and narrowly escapes theretrom with his
ows against which the brilliant figure OF
Thsbe stands wildly out as in picture The play Is
deft composition of Italian romance and French
sentiment Thus dramatically embellished, Ihisbes
character and experience are made, IN the highest
degree interesting. They enchain attention from
need not here rehearse The plot OF the drama ~
perfectly well-knOwn. Enough, if we succeed ia
suggesting the ideal which Madam Ristori last even
ing essayed to embody. That such an ideal is diff
cult of stage Interpretation need not he urged That
Madam RistOri interpreted it in very le-like and
impressive manner, cannot be disputed. 1t might
be wished. however that she were, personally bet
ter suited TO the part Her conception OF 1t Is strong
and fine. Not so, at every point, her execu;
ton That which marred her Adrtenne marred
also her Thisbe. She is somewhat too mature and
massive readily to invest herself with character
so spiritually poetic The illusion created 10y her
acting of Thbe is for this reason incomplete Praise
of the peTsonatiOn must, therefore, concern Itself
with specific portions of what can scarcely be re-
garded as perfect whole. In the scene with Homo
del when he hints at the peTfdy of her lover, and in
the subsequent scene with Angel0 when she obtains
the jeweled key, Madam RistOn's acting was very
excellent Conyulsive passion yitalized the former
scene while the latter was sufused with glItterlng
fascination The actress was greatest though IN the
fifth scene of the second act, which is the most dra
matte of all. The passions that are herein called
forth-ieaousy scOrn rage that is met midway and
hurled back upon itself, and finally bitter anguish
masked under a smile-gaye abundant scope TO
There are three fresh points in this scene-the
observance of the candle that still smokes the dis
coSery OF the crucifix. and the turning from the
OratOriO door, behind which Rudogo IS concealed
Madam Ristors art was truest and finest al the dis
cOvery of the crucihX. There great path0s in IT,
Peculiar vitality and pathOs likewise pervaded the
last two acts and several fine points were made upon
which however we cannot now linger. Suffice II 10
say that the theatrical cOmmunityis deeply indebted
TO Madam RiStOri for touching Interpretation
of beautiful character, that is but too seldom seen
upon the stage The poverty of scenic which
prevails at the French Theater again illustrated
in the production of Angelo" last night The stage
management, too, was as bad as ever. Ii would be
comfort. by the way if during the long waits he.
tween the acts. the orchestral performers could be
persuaded from making the horrible sounds that they
appear to consider music. The cast of parts in An
cello, as produced last evening, is as follows
Catarini Bragadini, Luigia Czech; Daphne, virgins
Casat; Reginela, Gulio BOvini; Angelo Maipier, Po
sesta Giacomo Glech Rodoto, Achle Cottier; Homode
Ludovco Mancni Arch Priest. Clio. Maria Borghl; An"
fiesta Galeofa AmedeO Belin; Guard, Sig. Tessero;
TrOO, FREDERICK Verzuna
The most admirable of the subordinate perform
ances was that of Hom0de, by Sgnor Ludoyico Man
cini. angelo" will be repeated on "Wednesday
evening, Elizabeth on Thursday, and Mary
make her last appearance in Brooklyn as Ehsdbe1.
The last Rstor Matinee in this country is announced
for Saturday. The play will be " Elizabeth
"Myrrha" is deferred to next Monday.
nRTTn5RY