New-York tribune., 1873-06-21
THE DRAMA.
UNION SQUARE THEATER.
MISS CHARLOTTE THOMSON AS JANE EYR

she had not been In New York since last summer
when she acted at the olympic Theater, in wretched
adaptation OF a bad French play, and as Julia in
"The Hunchback'aud her return had, therefore, the
effect OF positive novelty She came back u.s.
over in interesting play based on OF the most
impOrtant and famous OF British fctonS and the com
bination offered in the entertainment was accordingly,
that OF literary worth dramatic force and significance,
and ability in the art Of acting. "Janc Eyre" very
powerful as a novel; does not afford material bril-
liant playthe being that the story Is rehear-
cal OF minute experience and the analysis OF SELF
contained character, Of which the imperial law is re-
preston, and not utterdncc. The action OF the
story passes in the mind and heart ana is
seldom matched with external and visible symbols
The element OF suspense though, and dehcate picture
Of the growth Of love between two strong and tender
natures, together with an enjoyable presentment OF
poetic Justice and fine and continuous vein Of charac
terPainting may be extracted. In dramatic method
from Charlotte Brontes novel and this has been accom-
p'shed In Madam Birchpfeifer's drama The original
piece was last seen in NewYor In october 1870, at the
Teatcr in F0ureenth-st, and Marie Seebach acted the
heroine The piece in which Miss Thompson has ap-
pcared is an adopted translation Of that avoe German
play and Creditabe for literary mechanism-though
it, text would certainly be cOgent iu pointed effect
AZ Il were pruned and polished.
That great liberties have been taken with the original
s. known experienced paygoers, Will readily be
surmsed but enough OF the fiber Of the novel remains
10 give strength and flavor the play notwithstanding
1, partial Encouragement Of incidents and a partial
change 10 the attitude Of the toward each other
Suckers for literal fidelity Charlotte BrOntes ideals
may ilud themselves disappointed; but the reflection
timely that they must take the subject in this way
or not take 1t ALL There is better play than Madam
Birchpfcers the basis OF "Jane Eyre" and 1t is
not easy to see how better could be made
theme essentially unCramatic. The first depicts
Jane Eyre in her girlhOod undergoing the
prosecutions OF the Reed family The episode
of LowOod is glanced at, but omitted. The
rest Of the action passes at the house OF LORD Rochester
The third act terminates with James rescue OF that
nobleman from the flames which have been lighted by
Dis imprisoned maniac The elimination is James tri-
umph over the enemies and prosecutors Of her youth
IN her betOthal to Lord Rochester. The end Is welded
happiness In the second act there is very pretty
Interpretation Of the Of Roeheses arrival home
and his first alks with Jane Eyre Persons ignorant Of
the story would gather from this showing Of it an
idea at all adequate Of its wonderful concentration OF
passionate sincerity its vitality, and its vivid color;
but they could not fail TO surnse that II must be work
of original character, deep interest and tar more than
ordinary significance.
Miss Charlotte Thompson reproduces Jane Eyre in
remarkably vital mood That she impdrts TO the charac
Ter a dramatic brhancy for which there Is no warrant
An the novel VIII be conjectured-and is certainly
fortunate She is not simply intense, but she sparkes
with emotional utterauce and magnetism, and she is
often picturesque. All tameness Is therefore banished
at the start In the difficult opening scene-the most
exactng in the fpay-Miss Thompson is especially true
spirit and delicate in art beautifully expressing in
person and in voice and movement the physical uxuri
ance and the tumultuOus blending Of vague emotions
and ardent aspiring thought the strong nature Of the
Tpenug girl The noble mind and the afleCtiOnate
heart arc then embittered by injustice. tyranny,
and petty persecution, and toss wildly on the sea Of
passion or drift in loneliness and grief Miss ThOmp-
sons ideal Of this nature ana experience not only
be exact but felt to be deeply pathetic and to rest
keen personal ntuition-h not actual knowledgeas
20 the sorrows OF spurned maltreated but hghprted
childhood. In the whole of this there was thr0b
bng romuOus, ingenious sensbiity, entirely true TO
the human nature of the part: and this conveyed
with artistic ySOr and smOothness worthy Of unre
strcted admiration. Perhaps the Tedridng hood drap
cry was blemisb, il attracts attention TO itself
for its sake and is not blended with other embel
Ishments tending other and larger results but aside
from this there defect In the later the
woman was found TO be the obvious sequence and natural
outgrOwth Of the girl, and this was the fulfment
Of clearly formed ideal The art method, however, did
not remain uniformly good In voice and eocutOn there
was slight artihciay, and the elaborate courtesy
OF the drawingroom may be said to have been
little forced and wre-wOver, Of person playing
part rather than manifestng spontaneous emotion in
natural manner But this is q trihe-seeing that the
substance OF the persOnaton peryaded with a re-
fined passionate. sensitive grace such evinced de-
tghttul character ana could not Dut WIN kluQest
sympathy Miss Thompson has very expressive brown
eyes aud has delicate features and there is in her
personality the blending Of the winning qualities Of
child with the rich beauties a such greatly
helps this effect, and indeed imparts singular charm
90 all that she says and does One of the strong points
was the close OF the scene, where telling climax
was powerfully and naturally attained. But Miss
Thompsons personaon Of Jane Eyre is finer forts
symmetry than for special effects and it speaks much
for her Intensity Of feeling and charm Of method that
she is able in this part give dramatic force TO what
after all Is mostly narrative interest and TO snatch
success Of action from heart Of profound and deeply
hidden experience.
Jane Eyre" has been set upon the Union Square
stage with appropriate, well painted and wedevised
scenery-though Rochesters house is fine rather than
romantic and strange. In the cast Of parts-whch IS
printed belOw-the chief features the Mrs Reed
OF Mrs Melinda Jones' whose remarkable ugliness fitted
q 10 admiration; the BroeklehurSt OF Mr. Mackay,
which was excellent though just little exaggerated;
the jacob BuAercup Of Mr.. Montgomery, which would
be more amusing II It subdued; and the Mrs
TairCar Of Mrs. Marie wilkins who is the COM
plete ideal OF British hOusekeeper. The
character OF Lord Rochester is not grasped
by Mr. Harkins whose sternness is more like
the nighheeledboo sterpness which banker broker
might feel called assume entering his Walst.
Office than the dark and moody severity Of man whom
misfortune and suffering, acting a romantic charac
ter have rendered suspicious. morose and goomily i'm
perous. MI Frank Lamb is TO be complimented for a
good embodiment OF the cowardly John Reed, and Mr..
Claude Burroughs for clever fop Miss Challis as
ipane as usual and the adys capacity in this direction
is great The full east stands thus:
1pe gyre Thompson Lord Rochester Mr. n Hartins
Mr.N Melinda Jones h Mr. y. r. Mackay
wilkins Lord CawdOn M. Banled
ChaIs Col Mr. J. W Thorpe
1sv fson IS Charlotte Cave Frenck Lynn Nj C. Burroughs
Bsssie. Josephine Lsurens jacob B1lieTeap
Cno PoOi........ Miss H. Thorpe Mr. H. W montgomery
Mis- Laura Thorpe John Reed hL FRANK Lamb
Miss De Lacy JOhn....MT W. B. Qug!ey
Esss.. ........M Mis- Kate Holland