New-York tribune., 1869-03-04
THE DRAMA.
wALLAoK's THEATER.


1t has been said that blessings brighten as
they take their flight The remark has been verified at
Walacks Theater As the career of Much ADO speeds
onward Its close good performance OF Beaies mas
been introduced in It. Mrs Clara Jennings took the part
Monday yevening,-succeedingMs Rose Eytinge, who
is reported to be and she has played IT every night
since. Mrs. Jennings has many qualifications for the
style Of acting that Beatrice requires Her temperament
is both joyous and gentle She adept IN tantazinR
ylvacity Of manner which, however only wells, without
conceang delightful womanly softness Then, too, her
personal beauty harmonzes with her temperament She
can be gay without being vapid, arch without being
affected volatile in manner without being cumbersome
and richly proud without repellant harshness To her
skin as an actress very many weplayed parts have
often testified She has before however, played
part so important as Beatrice Her success In 1t is there
FORE worthy Of particular note. With somewhat
stronger physique and moro power and variety OF
voice, her Beatrice would be a superb piece OF
work. Her ideal OF the character was seen to
be accurate in every particular Beatrice is sweet
woman rejoicing in boundless animal spirits proud in
her young beauty brilliant In w.t. prone to goodnatured
satire and clever in the Of that weapon but good as
gold in mind and hearta to love truly and to be
truly loved. Mlsled by certain sideghts In the tex-
such as Benedeks banter about "my Lady Dsdsin and
Heros description Of Beatrice which, being designed to
mslead her, is oyerdrawn-actresses sometimes mis-
represent this delicious nature naughty supercious'
Her Beatrice sneers and, above all things ese Is
merry She persecutes Beedek with her railery; but
there malice In her persecution She likes him all
the WHILE and her subsequent transition from liking to
love natural change and does no violence TO proba
bty. All close OF human hfe have seen this
sort Of experience Shakespeare undoubtedly intended
the picture typical. The largest Interpretation
that can be given to his works is always the
right one. 1t is trlte to cay that the deeper
We look into those works the more absolutely
true do we find them to be- Beatrice may be as brilliant
az the actress can make her, but she must have the
tender womans heart underneath the diamond sheen Of
her witty merriment Mrs Jenningss personaon Of the
character acknowledged this truth, and therein was
admirable. That It was perfect performance We do
not say. But 1t went far tho right road and was
greatly superior to the heavy and euriousy spirtess
representation Of Beatrice that has been given by Miss
Eytinge- an able actress but not In this walk of the
drama The best point and in fact the only one, made
by Miss Eytinge was ia the "Kl Claudio" scene but
this though requires passionate feeling and force, has
never been regarded and certainly is not the test scene
for Bsdice Mrs Jennings In this passage was little
uncertain In method and somewhat weak in voice. The
latter defect OF course cannot be helped. The former
will doube ssvansh. In the strictly comedy scenes she
was always adequate and always delightful and when-
ever warm feeling was regulate II never wanting
She read the text In pure clear bright way so as to
make il naturally expressive OF the feeling and thought
behind It, aer war with Benedick was merry war"
She seemed indeed "born to speak all mirth and no
matter" In brief she put forth uncommon powers and
made success that is worthy of frstclass comedy
theater-Miss Annie Ward played Hero and Miss Mary
Barrett appeared Mdr0areL In other respects the
cast vas unchanged. We learn that " Much Ado" win
speedy be withdrawn 70 make for Mr. Robertsons
pastoral comedy Of School," which has met with
really remarkable success In London.