Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-10
ADJUSTMENTS

RANKIN's RIP VAN WINKLE.-ThG
thester was not crowded last night. The
announcement of Mr.. Rankin's venture
In q field so well occupied by Mr.. Jeffer.
son, did not take with the thsater- goina
people Of Memphis, who, generally, are
so thoroughly prepoBsessed in favor o.
The Rip as to be unable to bring them
selves TO 6 federation Of even afsir copy o.
that interesting character. The audience
was, therefore, few in number yet NOT
without discrimination n appre-
citation, rs was evidenced in the
course Of the performance. Mr.. Rankin
had a fair trial. His audience gav him
close attention from first to last. Nc
single point that he made was lost; no
motion or movement. They folio wed
him with scrutinizing eyes, and the YER
dict was in bis favor only 80 far as he
photographed Jefferson. Whatever was
new, whatever OF makeup, OF gag,
0r of by-play, told against the per.
fjrmsuce, sometimes as q coarse obtrusiou
upon what depends upon the incest and
most delicate shading FOR success
In the first and second acts, Rsnkin's
makeup was an admirable disguise, but
IL WAS better, as the awakened RIP in
the third-and yet it fell far short OF that
which gives to Jeffsrson's portrsiture the
stamp OF originality, just as his move
ments fell short of those which the Rig
makes with the grace of nature throwing
himself int poses statuesquo to the ad-
mirstion Of all beholders, and as uncon-
sciouslv as II to the life he were indeed
the trihing, no-account himself. It was
daring thing, even for an actor of Mr.,
RAnkin's acknowledged merit, thus to
challenge not only criticism, but awaken
TO contend with the slumbering prejudi-
ces Of Jour people for the illustriOus actor
whose pAthos and humor are among our
sweetest memories of the stsge. A nlsn
with less nerve would not have attempted
IL. But while OF any other occasion we
might admire this pluck, on the present
we cannot deplors but it, as ill-sdvi5ed,
In some respects he wss the counterfeit
prssentment Of his great prototype, but
not in all. In so far as he was o
he fell short of the ideel "Ripp
which Jefferson has stamped upon
hearts of those who have
seen him. It was as If we were looking
upon a tolerable portrait of some dear
friend; close enough as a likeness t re-
mind Us of him, but not trueenough to sat
Fly in the absence Of the original. Jeffsr-
son made the chsrscter Of Rip Van WTnEle.
1t Is his, as much 8 part of him a. his
own being. We think Of Jefferson and
RIP at the same time. Two personages,
they are vet one. The face and voice OF
Jefferson seem, as We remember them, to
have been cut and trsSoed for
Rip. In his dress and appearance
q Dutchmsn, in his voice and accsut a
Germsn. IncongruOus az it Is, with all its
impossibilities and possibilities, 1t is sin.
gulsr and slone among the characters
which the mod rn stage affords. 1t is q
distinct creation of Jefferson, and fits his
genius as well as FGlstGT did Hsckett.
Players may play 1t, but the people will
never be able to see their merits, because
the original will come between them
as Banquo's ghost between Mac
beth and his guests. This much
had to contend with. We have told of
his make. up and have said that his points
of difference with Jefferson were rather
against than for him. Yet, we would not
be understood as saying or suggesting
that the performance was 3 failure. Had
Jefferson not filed our ideal
of the drunken good for-nothing,
Rsnkin's "R p" would have grs-
tiled. even while It might not have
satisfied. He played his part well, lust as
he plays any character that he attempts;
but only In one or two instances did he
rise to a conception that brought the
house down. The parting scene st the
close of the second act Wss painfully pro-
louged. the orchestra sbsurdly enough
playing home, sweet home," while the
husband and wife were In the pains of Sc
psration. It reminded as of Mark Twain's
travelling Snowman, whose pathetic
description Of the raising of Lazarus
was spoiled by his musician playing
"Rise up. William Reilly, and come along
with me-" The intensity Of Rips parting,
while prolonged, was not intensified. But
let that pass. In the last act, Mr.. Rankin
shows most his capacity for the part. The
recognition by daughter and wife, though
msrred by the skip the former
took to reach him, was good, as was the
opening scene in the mountain. Indeed,
the last act was very cTeditable. and re-
lieved the dizziness and tedium Of
the other two, perceptible when Rip
was not on the Btsge-for 1t Ia q
striking popularity OF this plsy that
1t ts devoid Of interest In the ABSENCE of
title character. The stage effects and
appointments were unusually good, the
dressing very coed, and the supports well
up in their parts. Nothing was wanting |
that Jefferson ever had here to make Ran |
kin's rip" a success" which 1t was
1t Is, however, very much better
McWsde's. and therefore stands
upon the list, snd very close, toe, |
that OF the Master.
Miss Blanchard takes her benefit to- |
night, when will be presented School,
a cast embracing the full strength Of |
his admirable company, in some respects |
me Of the best We ever had here,
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