New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-29
TIE DRAMA.
MR.. FEcHTER As EDMOND DANTEs.


Of the dramatic season drawing to its close-one OF
those rare incidents thai Justify thougltfu observers IN
high estimate OF the function Of the staSe-occurred
last night at the Grand Opera House in the appearance
there OF Mr.. Charles Fschtev, as Edmond DANES the
Count of Monte Cristo This was an effort in the art Of
acting made by actor OF great special ability ana OF
great fame and made under circumstances OF such
unusunl pomp and pleasure rendered 1t,
20 an extraordinary decree impressive anu
delightful The assemulaEe that greeted MI Fechicr
upon this OccasOn-crowdlnC the spacious opera Hose
10 Us utmost limts.-was not merely opuent lu gen
sra aspect OF fashionable magnifcence, but was uncon
monty brilliant with men aud women OF intellectual
character aud distinction The surroundings OF
his performance were Respondent with color and were
richly sunused aud animated with the spirit OF romance
Even the sordid cutanremcnts-imly understood
which were known 10 have led TO his appearance at tins
heater contributed, certain 10 the lustcr and
rest OF has solvent; giving 10 an air no less Of con-
quest over enemies than OF achievement IN art THIS
public is quick and hearty symparnze, when once II
takes tho idea that u.sn has been ul-used II nae
taken that idea with reference 10 Mr. Fecnter and bis
abandoned Lyccum enterprise: and his success last
night be Juted 10 pag 70 TINS generous senti
ment ASIDE from this. however. 10 would all the same
havo been deserved. Nr. Fccbters personauon OF
Monte C5iso or the best works Of dramatic art
hat DC has presented 10 the attention Of this commu
nitY and. 20 the plaudits and recalls, the excitement
and manifest admiration, wnch, Last night rewarded
him. il not PLAY. cheerfully adSo far II rests
with Us 20 do so-the laurel Of critical praise.
The novel Of The Count Of Monte Cristo" has beer
FOR many years in wide circulation. and It intimately
known % many and classes Of readers. Any
account lis contents would supernous and tedious
N this place. 10 is accredited % tho fertile genius Of
Alexander Dumas but there Is also story eEtant that
Il was written for him. in whole IN part by an obscure
Polish Jew, who was very poor and habitually very
hungry that be-, the author Of the story
hoo of .fItrr IN aud
great deal OF something with which pay for It
sufusng rs whole structure with rank fra
GRANGE OF luxury, and embellishing its wild tumutu
oas fow Of incident VITA a blrbaric extravaganza
Of Oriental fancy From the Rational and material
Of view. accordingly, is pack OF nonsense .but from
the higher point OF view or the sympathetic magma
ton it is strangely aluring picture of than
gal riches and power and preserves high and fas
,natng an IDEAL as was expressed OF romantic
experience and romantic revenge. Nor does its TO
nance beltte its sincerity In the experience II de-
pic there is dreadful reality Of suffering. and IN
LAe revenge it traces there Is still more dread
ful reality of righteous purpose. The Omnlscience,
omnipotence and omnpresence Of its hero render his
character an easy prev 70 rdicule McATOne in
the Civil WaF aid not perform exploits more wondrOusy
absurd han Of the exploits OF the Count OF
Monte Cristo. But the character Of Edmond DqHtes
the less ypfes ideal of endurance in misery
OF administered justice the OF power, which is
very far from being ridiculous II Is character not
virtu0us merely. but noble not sweet merely, but su
preney strong; not simply picturesque with youth
and with the trappings OF the nautical vocation
but grand with the dignity Of conquered pas
siODs, pathetic with the halo OF conquered anguish,
simple with the involuntary consciousness OF integrity
and power magnificent with spontaneous generosity,
austere with moral and habit, and awful with calm
Intensity or emotion and impacaOe purpose Not as the
vulgar sycnger Of personal wrongs, but as embodied
retrbutOnas The ndOmtable stern-eyed image Of fate
does MOate CrsO sweep through the circle Of his re-
yenges; often the savior OF Tie innocent, always the
soOurge me guty-ke justice. passionless. and like
misery. alone French Literature. In modern days las
inflicted upon US many enormities Of wickedness and
9th let Us remember with gratitude, that 20
81 such enrolling ideals Of manhood Jean Vatican
and Nome Cristo.
In NJ Fechter's persOnatlOn Of Edmond D1ntes we
at least the sue sasted embodiment Of the ideal
have described. He one OF the few actors who can
be romantic without being absurd and 1t Is not
much say that hy the heartfelt eaInestness OF his
conception and the impassiJned arGOr with which he
wrought u out, he made tue conduct Of Monte CrStO
rational the character is heroic and splendid.
Wherever the subject may be held 20 need elevation,
the elevation, certainly, wanting. IL a general
way the acting Of Mr.. Fechter has seemed 20
Us 70 DO marred by pervadl ng Jlemish-the at
tribute OF selfcoDsciousness. This exists II IL
exist at all. as a result OF temperament and
not 20 be erddcated uy any process Of art II can
be vailed, hOwever-and il vailed In his nortrav,l
OF Nonte CrsfO. Perhaps the character Is one thar
especially arOuEes, and that blends symmetrical
union and a wildly fluent tumut The passion OF his
heart and the fiery glow Of his intellect Il is person
atty that stands apart from those OF other men; that
c0mprehends resentment fOr I-usage and mis1ppre.
helsi0n that lacks neither bitterness, irony, nor
frenzy. IN some OF It's interior moods aud II
IS that lives IN the habit OF command.
Perhaps, say. tlc nature Of the actor finds tins
freer outlet than often found elsewhere. He
II We understand hun aright-prscisely the man who
would naturally tank that bis innate virtue and kind
ought De instantly understood, and whose te-
pen cbalng Of Injustice, would whrl him
into transports Of almost deriOUs emotion and that
way runs the path % profound and minute
knowledge OF trouble and grief-withOut which
MS Monte CrtSfO lin the fourth and best
scp would be impossible. At ali events
he acted the part with great and thrilling abandon
meht seeming pOssessed-as We mad seldom seen him
with the purpose Of showing m picture and not hsel
and therein, while hs abilities displayed 20 great
advantage bis character-or rather the quality OF his
spnt-was manifested in Ovelier light than ever be
fore II Is source OF honest qualification 70 that
are able ~ speak thus warmly Of previous
representations have not moved 70 enthusiasm, and
oy whose HGnlef We were nepeed absolute aversion
We spoken Of Mr.. Fechter as an actor OF great
special ability The aAusion Ia 20 his spirit as
matte artist What We mean 70 say that ia manner
OF his there Is thing and only that he does
supremely well. The Fechter magnetism IA hard 70 de.
nDe. Perhaps shall denote Il truly by saying
Tint II Il compound OF intense Excitement
with impcta0ns action. There Is something about
II a. massive ind insubstautial-like a