New-York tribune., 1871-06-27
THE DRAMA.
poorH's THEArER-THE MAN o'ARLIE-MR BAR
RETT AS HAREBELL.

James Hare6ell-a remarkably true, tender, and PIC
turesoue impersonaton Of character and experience
Those opportunities ought TO be improved. The man
o. Arle" is full of suggestive pictures and gentle
promptngs; Mr.. Barretts performance ofJde
Harebe to derive delicate pleasure and lasting benen
from very earnest and lovely work OF art To denne
the charm Of this portrayal is not entirely easy fer
baps however shall apty suggest 1t by saying tha'
the embodiment is vital with poetic humanity MT Dar
rett spprehended-in spirit Of perfect sympathy' ana
with equal funess and accuracythe ardent asprauon
the shrinking sensitveness, the hmitless magnahly'
the unselsh excellent goodness, and the simple, child
ike confding faith in human nature which are the
chief attributes Of this character and these he combines
and illustrates with feryent force that IS profoundly
magnetic and with precise skill which, II not adequate
at all points, certainly guided by fine intmtons and
marked by an exquisite delicacy Of method The result
defined and realized ideal that everybody must love
who is capable Of loving anything.
The individuality Of James Hdre6eH,-to admit al,
needfu qualifcation,is poetic and therein 1t is per
haps lifted little way the range of universal hu
man sympathy Moreover it is displayed amid acceSSo
ries of grievous acton and great sadness. 1t passes
through the valley Of the shadow Of DEATH is oooueu
on by trouble 1t is type Of defeat IL innocent anu
ingenious goodness tOrmented and almost uestroyeu'
by potent adroit evil 1t is the central oect III
picture that is almost total twgh-that lacks, TO 100
great an extent for art, the relief OF sunshine anu Oh
humor Nevertheless-it is human and II touches the
heart il is noble and IL improves the mind Is beaud
ful, and 1t awaKens the imagination. Inc maj
impression may be that of heart-breaking GRIFFIN
the prescnce OF Of those entirely natural phases OF
afnction and misery which sometimes unsette human
faith in the Divine government of the world But after
little thought that grief found be neither without
mitigation nor without salutary purpose The ministry
of sorrow is to casten purify and elevate; and the
thoughtful listener TO the swansOng Of the dying Man
AfyHe feels the same emotion that lifts him above the
earth when he stands by the deathbed Of poor Thomas
tto do aOf ia Me-
The work is perhaps defectve-considered as piece
of dramatic art for the whole people 1t strikes only the
minor key 1t is almost uniformly painful 1t presents
type Of utterly unmerited suffering. 1t flows through
gloom and empies into darkness Creations OF this KIND
aside from such poems Lear" and Hamlet"
which are cosmica and contain everyhing-are always
stronger in moral force than in art The Man o. AFte
NAV not continuously captivate the popular fancyand
we shall he very pleasantly disappointed II 1t does He
has not example, the elastic strength the bright
ness the dewy freshness the rich gentle humo and the
airy freedom which the attributes OF Jefersons Rip
Van Winkle; with whom he has been compared, and
with whom he possesses, in common, certain quail
ity Of temperament and a single experience But ne
is a pure and true He is noble, gentle,
and simple. He is a martyr TO his own Nlrtue'
And his nature and experience, as shown IN the
drama have most impressive moral meaning. They
teach us the grandeur of plain ntegry the beauty OF
an honest life the sanctlty Of defenseess humility and
generosity; the claims of the ideal TO share existence
with the practical and give color, fragrance, ana Joy
and most Of ALL they teach the everlasting need OF
charity toward weakness. And their meaning Is
eectuay enforced in the play. 1t nds its way into the
mind through the medium Of the sOrrowstrlcken heart,
and it dwells there in perpetual blessing.
picture of pain which produces this result does not
entirely lack in either relief or value. Mr. Wis-who
wrote the weknOwn novel Of The Wifes Evidence
Is the author of The Man o. Arle." and he is entitled
TO honor and praise for excellent work His mind
Uha Influenced
sitiOn by the effect Of Rip Van Wrinkle " and 1t Is GER
tain that he derived Of his materal-though not
nuch-from very popular German play, which Is |
known here Laurel Tree and Beggars staff" With
out pausing compare the pieces, in minute rehearsal
Incidents which might be tedious we are content TO
record the opinion that Mr. Wills is entitled to claim
The Man Airlie as in the main, original produc
ton. And certainly it aims much higher than most OF
the plays Of this period.
1t deneates Scottish poet whose ch aracter and con-
dton are somewhat like those of Robert Burnsthough
the resemblance does not extend far James HarebeH
lives on little place in the country and happy among
the heather. He has wife and two children. His wife
OF delicate constitution and his great love for her is
tinged and sobered by an anxious, tender and manly
soictude He has written book OF songs, some |
OF which are known and loved by his humble |
neighbors He wishes to publish this book, and |
has aside Of the $500 he possesses with which
10 pay the expenses OF the publication He has |
fosterbrother in whom he reposes the most implicit con-
fdence He has friends in neighborng nobleman and
his daughter such the circumstances out OF which
the action grows We detail hem at some risk OF reter-
aOn for the purpose Of noting the simplicity ana pam
ness OF the materials with when mas Deeh
drama profoundly affecting. It is only talent OF
high order that thus touch the humble 10 ne Issues
With the thread OF the story our readers nave Deen
made familiar The false friend-made villain by |
vanity weakness moral cowardee anu S &
Of fortune-proyes the ruin OF the Poet; ana Ja"es
Harebe crushed by repeated and incessant blows 0t
misfortune the loss OF competence, home, freedom Wlie
child ambition, and trust in humanity goes mao, wan,
ders away and for twenty years Thereafter ves III He
condition Of destitute vagrant his songs lneahWhe'
arc nnblished and have made his famous. Atlast
IN he coTrse of his amless wanderings he arrives
ssdn f TO- dedicate statue to the Man Airie. HIS
song Of that name-deserptive OF an ldeaI Oh me .a nc
strve 10 realize in hs cOnduct-is sung, as the
monument is unvailed. The familiar notes. the pace
the touch and sight OF book OF verses ana tne
of the time him TO the partial restoration OF ms
reason He joins in the singing He is recognized. |
Reverence and love surround him, ana Peseech MN nun 70
deaf 10 All sounds but those dear notes OF his beloved
song He keeps on snging,-in most feeble, foLioIn
words his lips and the music IN his ears sHpie
and psintive Odfashoned ballad music ne SILKS away
sad, sad story but not without its lesson as we
have tried TO indicate And, assuredly not WITHOUT
delightful and powerful charm, IN IN lhe HuslaIEe
acting Of Mr. Lawrence Barrett Iae four scenes s IN
which James HdrebeH appears supJect the ACTOR 10
searching and exacting test They are prInarly PIC
toria of four phases IN 9hg OF b Whole
lifetime and the actor must 80 eiaDoIde any connect
them to present symmetcat, GPin Of S,ac
Stances The ordeal is obvious; Mr.: Barrett |
and there indeed certain Of his physlca anu Sal az
tbntAs conflict with those of the character he rs not
fcientIv hIrly in frame for the outoidoor poet Oi
kTie and his bearing and manner are trne 700 i uo
lie those of reeusye student Perhaps lhe
ement somewhat exceeds the emotional III All OF MI
BaTretts acting In words, he keeps TOO seduous
Watch upOn his feelings, and Is fearful OF giving tno
fnl scope lest they destroy that symmetry OF lon ~
art for which he always strives, and wheh ne tf ntHS
always attains. An occasional appearance OF aIln
IA Tie result OF this erroneous prudehce-as may
he seen in little fOrmalties OF method, ana heI9 III my
sonorous delivery Of certain welrounded periods me
actor II As true must always-Or almost ai~ayspe sil
conscious; but must never allow the audlto ~ Hs %
cover maj he Is So We consider, though that Nh
Barrett is new in the character Of james HQreoe anu anu