The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-03

Mrs. II. w. Lander as ElIzaboth," at
n, the Academy OF Music ~

Mrs. II. w. Lander as EIIzaboth," Rt
900 the Academy OF Music
In the whele range Of history and story, it
would be dif1cult to find q more hitting theme
than the life Of the "vlrgin Queen" for Tue
basis of alegitimate drama Her character We
10 intensely Individual and many OF tne evenSs
Of her reign SO traeioal that all ofthe essen'laS
AZ a ciass,cai nroduction exist without mate
rial resort 70 the domain OF romance AeS
A. yvaa NOT until Paolo Giacometu tooA
the matter in hand, by express ieduoSS VI
Mime Ristori that the world was ehapieu 10
enjoy dramatic treat so rare In these days OF
tbs Sensational and muscular stage The inter-
,,ye,ation of the role as given by Ristori, has
become favorite in oil parts Of the country;
and now Mrs II. w. Lander has followed In the
footsteps OF the great tragedienne, and by earn
est study and conscientious acting has achieved
the rare success OF popularity, with such a daz-
zling rival as the Italian queen of tragedy to
remind her auditors of the contrast at every
step
Last evening this lady who is considered by
o majority of the critics as the most accom-
pllshed actress on the American stage, made
her appearance as elizabeth. - at our Academy
Of Music, and was greeted by large and, to
judge from the generous applause bestowed
throughout, a highly delighted audience. But
few weeks have elapsed since our citizens have
had an opportunity OF beholding Ristori In the
same great part, which Is undoubtedly
her most characteristic, and 1t was inevitable
that the drift of comment upon Mrs Lander's
personatlon should assume tn Q form of COM
parison. When we say, therefore, that the
comparison was almost invariably favorable,
we are bestowing high praise, but praise which
1snone the less deserved. Indeed we know Of no
American actress, save Mrs Lander, who could
render elizabeth" even bearable to those who
have ever seen Ristori portray the same part
Mrs. Lander has achieved the true conception
OF the character and in so doing has gained
decided triumph of itself She has not the same
fexibility of countenance, nor a command of
expression equal TO Ristori; for the power of
the latter in these respects borders upon the
marvellous, and at times approaches the mira
eulous. But while Mrs. Lander succeeds admi-
rably even in varying her features to suit the
passion of the moment, she has at her CON-
mand versatility of action which more than
COmpensates for any shortcomings in this one
particular, compared TO Madame Rlstori
while the tone of her voice is almost unexcep.
tiOnable, and In this she achieves the most
difficult of triumphs-that of overcoming the
tendency 10 tear her passion into tatters.
We regret that the great pressure upon our
columns to-day, in consequence of the deluge
Of Executive documents, prevents us from fol-
lowing the play In detail, we have the space
only to note few of the more prominent
points in Mrs. Lander's :personation Of ell
zabeth." When the portrait of King James Of
Scotland is placed in her hands, in the first act
she makes joyous exclamation concerning
the manly beauty of the face, whereupon
"Essex" let's fall the unfortunate words, "His
mothers facet" Mrs Lander's sudden change
Of manner and expression, as she responds "I
don't think So" is truly admirable, and was
fully appreciated by her auditors. So, in the
second act, when Bacon calamity starts off,
crying "I go to thunder for the CROWN" the re-
joinder, 1.-THE crown can thunder for ITSELF" is
deliveredwith startling emphasis which, added
TO the forcibleness of her momentary POSTURE
displays Mrs. Lander's dramatic power to ex-
Oellent advantage The love scene in the same
act is likewise well wrought up, and at the
climax the acting of both Mrs. Lander and Mr..
]. H. Taylor c'Earl OF Essex'D is admirable
The "Earl, )" flushed with the thought of having
conquered the heart of the Queen, exclaims:-
"My Queenl Queen of my soul, she has pressed
my handp TO which elizabeth" responds,
with fine dramatic effect, "Unconsciously un-
consciously" |" The act closes with the signing
of Mary Stuarts death warrant and here
again Mrs. Lander, after reading the
letter from the Queen of Scots, in
which the latter Wills her kingdom
to Philip II of Spain, displays a true appre-
clation Of the requirements of the situation
as she affixes her signature to the fatal docu.
ment In great agitation with the accompanying
Words:--"Of such a will / only am executor ~
We can note only one'more such point, with
specimens OF which the whole play teens. In
the third act, where Lady Howard" Miss
Jennie Gourlay) pleads the success OF Essex
in assaulting Cadiz against the protest of his
superior officers, Mrs Lander's rejoinder, "But
not the less rebellious," gives another striking
proof of her fine talent.
With regard to the acting of the members o.
Mrs. Lander's excellent company. we need only
say that she is more fortunate than the
majority of those whose attempts at per.
sonating o great character are frequently
counteracted by the wretched support which
they receive. Messrs. j. H. Taylor as "Essex, ,
A, w. Fenno as "Burleigh," and George Beck
as "Bacon," as well as Miss Minnie Monk as
"Lady Burleigh," and Miss Jennie Gourlay as
"Lady Howard are earnest and faithful; and
the first in the list fairly divides the applause
with Mrs. Lander at the close Of the third act
when Essex" is consigned to the Tower, after
being slapped in the face by the Queen.
Elizabeth will be presented every evening
during this week, except Friday, when Mrs
Lander will, on the occasion OF her benefit
appear in Mary Stuart for the first time in
Phil Rdelphia.