New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-22
THE DRAMA.
MISS GLYN's CLEOPATRA.

MISS OLfA5 CLEOPATRA.
Miss Isabella GlyD made her first professional
appearance IN New-fork, last evening at steinway Hall.
where she interpreted-p.ry BY seading and payv ~
recationShnkespeares massive and pictorial tragedy
Of "AntoDy and Cleopatra" Tho attendance was ary.
Social and intellectual luminorcs aboundrd Nuperon.
pocket copies OF Shakespeare were visible uapdsomo dx
goods contributed their duo Share Of luster 10 the scens
Tic spectators, In brief were grave sclolarke decor
ous. and weresscd usra on occas,ons INF,
kind-ihey absorbed their allowance Of Shakespeare win
equal iortituae OF spir. and severity Of demcaDor
There Is something truly noble in the heroic respeot,
tity with which mankind recognizes tho charm OF elo
cutOn. Miss Gyms audience was u,cra ,o.rver IN
this particular Now and thea It emitted faint sounds,
az OF applause which n not very encouro rng 10 In.
speaker at least testified 70 the Comforting fact that he,
auditors still remained o. consclo,is condition Dut
for the most Tor IL splendid dignity lasted I'm the end
In state Of uDruffed r'rch. Mise Glyn, however.
proved equal to the emergency sho I'D not
read tho whole Of Antony and CTeopa,raY
but she read on, with steady pcrsoyerspc.
and untiriDg zeal, for Two hours and a baf-mereI,
allowing an interval OF ten minutes for refrrshment.
and thus she contriyed TO deliver tho substance OF tho
play That II Is a very beautiful play and equally
marvel Of historic accuracy and Of analytic study Of
human nature needs 70 be told 70 hear s silver
language, aud to follow, in Miss Gyms interpretation
the loves OF AntOny and Cleopatra and the fortunes OF
the old Roman Empire was Of c0urc. real and sweet
enjoyment The tragedy, though was not the novel fen
ture Of the entertainment. a." Antony and Cleopatra"
was great work OF human genius before Miss Glyn
10 give IL voice. and It VIII doubtless retain IL,
state and splcndOr long after all who assume its n'erpre
tation have passed into oblivion. We need not pause
therefore, upon the theme but may pass at once TO tho
artist Miss Gyms reading precisely snch az might
have been expected from experienced actress she
ia Of stately and massive physique she speaks
in rich strong and often tender and wooing voice. shs
at 49,.
with fine Intelligence that much professional practice
has inatured aud sharpened such and such an
artist could scarcely fail to offer highly intellectual
study OF Shakesperean character Ever since Miss Gym
came 90 America We have desired her act Cleo
para That desire was intensified by the reading that
she gave night Not that she placed before us what
we believe to 10 shakespeare ideal Of the fatal Egyp
tan In many respects her pOrtrature seemed nper-
feet But the ideal she did present had such distinct and
winning merits made greatly wish to see tho artist
under those circumstances IN which alone she could do
real Justice TO her abilities. There Is no device
which can turn reading into acting and
it Is only acting that viii properly present play As
an actress Miss Glyn is undoubtedly, strong and fne
As reader she does not largely rise above the level OF
mediocrity 1t cannot be said, for example, that sho
succeeded last evening" In distinctly presenting the
several characters that clash harmonic In the ira
cedy. Her Antony was scarce ghost OF ths
grand old hero who royalty and dies spendidy
In Shakespeare page Her E0bdrbus and her Chafnlton
were scarcely more than voices Only persoDagc In
Decd stood ia graphic relief and that was Cleopatra
Upoa this portrature the artist layshed all her strength.
IL CO be said of Cleopatra that she is beautiful and adj
mrable precisely a. 1t can be said OF ugress. Her
nature and her person combine some great and
delightful qualities; but, at the same time. GER
tain of Der attributes are among tho worst
that ore possible TO woman. She Is wanton.
unchaste fckle caprcous. proud, violent, ond selfish.
fndo an
real grandeur Miss Gyn testified. IN various ways,
her generally Just perception OF this individuality. Her
indication OF the fair perdtiOns caprcOusncs and sens
uaty was perfectly truthful and artistic. But there
was nothing Oriental in her Cleopatra whether OF aspect
or sprtuOthDg to cOnure up that vision OF dusk lowell
ness so bright, Infinitely various and %
divinely seductive that not the wisest or
strongest Of men could resist its power.
Her queen was queen OF softer Temperament. and
different blOod-tho feminine tyrant Of the present the
siren OF to-day And such 1t seemed shOrn OF IT.
proper proportions, crmped and narrowed by tho In
sufficient medium through which her art found utter
apce. The best single that Miss Glyn interpreted
that in which Cleopatra receives the news OF An
tony's marriage with Octaria This was full OF fire,
variety and poetic feeling Strange to say, however tbs
lady made Cieopatras talk with Chdrian about Cesar.
sort OF comic episode. There were certain
inexpcabe pauses and ponderous delays in her cocu-
tiOn too IN the line Thou teachest like fools the
to lose him." H anything In art was ever pla n. IL
plain impetuosty the ruling spirit Of Cleopatra
at this point But there would be no end OF splitting
hairs, TO dissec the persOnatOn detail. Miss
Gyn merits the gratitude Of the theatrical public
Yiying, In imperfect FORM the superb tragedy
which she gave last night she appears again nexs
Wednesday, in Macbeth.
SARATOGA AT THE FIFTH AVENUE TTIEATER.
The Fifth Avenue Iheater was crowded last
nght-the occasion being the presentation OF the new
American play entitled Saratoga" The piece was
beautifully set, and it acted with great spirit. We
have space. the moment, describe 1t in detail:
but we may record for IL Of the most enthu-
siastic receptions that has been given TO any Deg
pieeo produced within our recollection. "sars
tOga" is not q comedy, but a farce. II
abOunds In amusing situations, and some OF
its skt tchcs OF character exceedingly apt aud
comcal To old theaergOers II will, doubtless. recall
the comedy Of Tie Double Gallant" II not partieu-
larry original however in situations IL Is bright In pnn
and full Of lively talk and movement. Everything need
ful done for IL Mt the Ffthaye. 1hcaer, where 10
will, doubtless, enjoy prosperous run.