Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-13
FIGHTER.
His First Appearance in the United States.
What He Is as an Actor.

The New York correspondent of the
/ Cincinnati Commercial, writing from that
city on the 10th inst, says:
There has been a great interest attend
ant on the event of Mr.. Fechter's first APP
pearance in this country. Mr.. Fechter
has made his first impression on New
York audience. or course every one is
anxious 60 know what that impression
was on those who heard him, and the
lobby of NiblO's Theater this evening was
| a singular scene OF excited friends, COM
pairing opinion and expressing their feel
ings. All the actors of the city who were
OF duty were present. The Dramatic Fund
balls do not gather half 50 many Of them,
and their presence in such numbers was a
sufficient indication of the very general
anxiety that was felt among those inter-
esled in things theatrical to verify the
truth of the reports that they had heard.
Ii called upon 10 reply in single word to
the often repeated "how did you like Mr..
Fechter?" we should feel constrained, in
answer, to confess to very considerable
feeling of Disappointment, and this we
should say with that reservation and diff
fidence that becomes one who has seen
AN actor in but a single character, and
that, perhaps, one that brought out only
asmali portion of his abilities. The praise
OF bis friends may have contributed to
this feeling in which we feel certain a
r
Conspicuous among these friends was Mr.
Charles Dickens. In the August number /
of tbs Atlantic Monthly, this author. in an /
article full Of that generous spirit that is 4
characteristic of his nature, summed Mr.. !
Fechter's exeellencies in words of the /
most fervenr praise. He saw that his act /
ing was in the highest degree romantic; |
that in his love making there was a suffu
sion of his being with the rapture of his I
passion; that ne shed glory on the OBJ
iect OF his affection; that picturesqueness
was a quality above all Others perVading
his assumptions; that he speaks English
duen5iy, plainly, distinctly, and with
perfect understanding of the meaning and
value Of every word; that in the last act
of - Ruy Bias" his bearing becomes posi-
lively inspired, and that one scene in es-
Decial is one of the most ferociOuslY pic |
turesque things conceivable on the stage;
finally, that the observer must be cold
indeed who does not feel when Ieuy Bias
stands in the presence of the Qltoea o.
,sa-.14ils that the act is enchanted.
We 90 Tess to being that observer, and
IN have been so far lacking in sensitive
ness and Imagination as to not have dis
cerDed the enchantment in the air, il 1t
was there, and for these reasons: the play
is a grossly impr0baois one and, except
in a few scenes, a dull one. Ibe nre tpab
was in the original of Victor Hugo has
not been transferred to the translation.
II has never found any special favor,
either with English or American audicn-
cas-; il has no breadth or scope, and IS not
long enough to develop into a skillful
painting Of character, Another draw
back 70 Mr.. Fechter's suc6ss@s 2eemed 70
lie IN bis tsf6iS2 accent. It hindered the
full enjoyment Of the play. 1t is such a
novelty that the ear is constantly dis
.racted by it, and the mind drawn of
from the matter 10 the manner. All the
vowel sounds were altered and prolonged,
With peculiarly unpleasant effect. Then
he reflection of the voice, especially at 1
he end of the sentences, was also un-
peculiar and French. We did
lot find Mr.. Fechter's voice at all musi-
al one. He speaks in a high KEY, and
with much mOnOtOny Of tone. Though !
lis voice lacks richness and beauty, it |
possesses great reach, strength and vol
lme. He speaks with great rapidity,
md without those pauses, deliberateness
md punctuation, or, as one would say, |
speaking musically, that phrasing that |
elIs 50 ettectually in many good actors.
If all this IS 50, il will be asked, where
hen IS the secret of the great success |
hat he undoubtedly won? 1t lies
u Mr.. FCchtsr's intense earnestness.
lie Is full Of vitality and nervous
orce. There is nothing dull or apathetio :
bout The man. He Concentrates atten-
ion upon himself; he is not in repose,
ither in face or in action, for a moment;
)ut always intent upon the business in
land. Volatile, quick, nervous and mer-
urial, when he makes love it is with all (
ne energy of his nature; when he de- ,
lOunces, It is with all the vehemence of
passion. II he strikes his breast in one of l
lis Outbursts, il is with such vehemence
hat the blow tells all over the house. |,
'here is nothing lukewarm in this actor.
What be does is done with all his soul.
You may Ike it, or you may disli ike it,
,uJ no one can complain of lack Of earn :
stness. That he apprehends the situa-
ion of the play, and infuses into the pas
ionate parts immense warmth, is not TO :
e denied; but we fail to find in him pow :
rs that transcend these Of actors whom f.
We alfeady have among us, and greatly
oubt whether Mr.. Fechter will succeed
n arousing that enthusiasm in this coun- I
ry that his friend Mr.. Dickens SO conh- !
emily anticipated,
Mr.. Fechter is foreigner, but he would :
corn to have any leniency or charity eX-
rcsed to him on that account. He comes
$ an actor who has received the Europe :
n reputation and placed himself fore 5
lost OF English actors, and as such, and !
S such only, he should be judged.