New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-15
CHARITY CONCERT.
TIE DRAMA.

The fact that We have not rapturOus!y ad-
mlred Mr. Fecers actiDgtngeher with the other fact
that ventured utter word of protest against
having merely respectable dramatic artist thrust upon
something extraordinary and peerless-has caused
a great deal OF mental distress to great many
worthy people. sharpponted adiectives have
been hurled at Us in liberal abundance. Columns
have been written to provo that our opinions
are Of no consequence. And every motive except
the right has assigned TO explain what Is called
" course" The reader would be as much amused as
have have been with all this vituperation, could
but find room here for few choice specimens. But the
game worth the candle The substance Of what Mr.
Fechters devoees advance is very old story that his
greatness is above ordinary comprehension and that
hod carriers who naturally prefer pork and beans cannot
be expected like Burgundy and woodcock The force
Of that position is manestly impre enable The sarcasm
is whitening Strength vouChsafed us however.
In this crushed condition. remind the reader that
have never denied Mr. Fechers acting the recogni
ton rIghtully due to the merit which 1t actually pos
sesses Its intelligence. It's ardOr, its earnestness its pic
turesque gescuatOn its skillfu method, and ITS pre-
cson of finish patent and beyond question. But
man may have all these graces, and moro too,
and still lack the essential grace which the round Of
sovereignty" James Montgomery q good sacred
poet; but nobody mistakes Montgomery for Milton The
thing that the world first looks at in the writings of
poet is-not tho mechanism Of his verse-but the
spiritual substance that his reveals. That
being "of the right breed" tho main point
is settled. TO consider form, at the outset.
would DO TO rank detail above Wilderness.
As in poetry in acting. Mr.. Fechers accuracy OF
costume and mastery OF sagcbusness were not points
TO be first regarded What looked for, in the begin
ming was some evidence OF genius in Mr. Fechters acting
for the sympathetic, informing, electrical spirit
that is which makes great, and which we
had been led to suppose was possessed by TINS
actor, in extraordinary degree Ana that
we did not find in either his Ray Bias
or his Legardcrealthough both those presentations dis.
attffa viii bx0pD mi
supposed TO disparage. And we do not find it in his
Hamlet What We do find is well.studled aud we'll
executed ideal OF the character differing In no important
particular the conventional Hamlet oil the stage
Mr. Fechter it true. wears yellow hair and is phys
cally stout; and the Danes are yelow-hared people,
and The Queen says that fat Stout Hamles,
though have been before and Kembes portrait If
tho trusted, !0iiV" hdIi' iueIo 10
nothing extraordinary in this What we look for IN Ham
let is poetry. We do not that in the Hamlet of MI
Fechter. The test scenes are the Ghost scenes. MI
Fechter treats them In entirely conventional manner
The great act Of this tragedy is the third Mt fechter
was as mechanical cogwheel, throughout the
| whole Of 1t. All old actors do the same bnsi-
| ness in this part. Mr. Fechter did nothing that
we have not before unless ii TO hold up the por
trait OF Hamets father barrier against the aiee-
tomato demonstration OF the halfcrazed Queen-and
this under the circumstances Is stage trick AS 10 his
readings the discussion OF them would be nonsense iof
Mr. Fechter not read the chief part OF his per
Torrance Is sung. Ihl5 was wen enough III
odramai but tins will not do in shak-
! suoora We have no disposition, however TO
nrer upon this subject. Nothing but the necessity OF
journalism would prompt us TO discuss 1t at all VIC
coud be well content that all ma nner OF glory ana pros
| perity should be showered upon TINS ACTOR, anu
that he should return to Europe covered with tho hohoS
| Of success But Mr.. Fechter is not great actor
opd II seems proper that that should be SAID
His Hamlet IL like the Hamlets of great many other
performers 1t has many good points But 1t lacks
eenus What We expect In Hamlet Is mental craze
man who has seen a spirit Is never afterward sane In
a OF Hapethe chief elements are intellectual
snlritualty oyerwrought imagination, mournful iassi
tnde princely pace. sad, quaint humor, and sonDer
dignity OF course no man can speak with certainty
| Of his ideal Of Hamlet We merely suggest what we
expect TO find the actors personaton OF that charac
| ter Mr. Fechter does not fill our ideal-and under
those circumstances perhaps had better let the sub
,ect alone Many people do like Mr.. Fechter-and 1t
| were n pity to disturb their compacent conviction;
Hamlet" was produced last night win very Coca
| scenerv and a very good cast OF parts. Mr.
| Ieyck made a conspicuous success as the klns MS
sSOy 9 dssyeTged the Lccsrc
ODheiid was robustious performance; but GOOD one
The ladys beauty and Intelligence would atone iOf many
OLYMPIC THEATER.
Last evening was a time for a comic and not
serious Hamlet The weather was VILE reign OF the
blues set In early hour In the evening Cold water
was I'm the descendent All things conspred to drive the
lovers OF fun into cover and crowd OF them took shelter
IN the OLYMPIC Theaer Mr. Fox played Hamlet and they
were well repaid Fox has the true idea OF burlesque
to he absurd in perfectly serious manner He dressed
the Dane I'M black aud purple, and in the Ghost scenes
wore fur hat and collar. We write at late hour ana
cannot ngcr upon the performance but we record u as
hit There were features In the performance though,
that should be ruthlessy condemned. we alnde 10 the
graveyard scene Solemn subjects had best be let alone
by burlesque people.
| DRAMATIC NOTES.
| Frou-Frou tonight, ut the fllth Avenue
| TleateI, for the fret time In America.
Mr.. and Mrs. Barney Williams will appear
al Nblos Garden next Monday evening" in MI tacohef
| drama OF 4" Innlsfaen."
Mr. Vandenhoff's readings Mt the Y. NJ. Z;
A. viii be given Tonight and not-as typographlcal
| error caused TO say-on Friday.
Prof. Robdcs "World Before tho Deluge y
| NAV he seen at Steinway Hall next Friday night;
sriSuoe and art clasp hands In this Impressive ana
beautfn work-whe pleasing at once to cold reason
| and 10 ardent poetic sensibllity j. when increases
Fnowiedge eevates the mind, and deepens religious
convictions. ,., q,
Kelly g. Icons Minstrels are again established
| q, No 5o0 BROADWAY Their chief play Is " 10 Petit
Faust" The famous I" Clodhopper Troupe y appears.
features 1i up the bill The entertainmeni 50 offered
IA exceedingly cOmical aud wei worthy Oh the SUCCESS
that walls upon II.
,,,,,,,,N,,, cguooIg-CIOsING EXERCISES,