New-York tribune., 1873-09-02
THE DRAMA.
BOOTHS THRATRR.
MR.. JEPpERsoN's RETURN.

Every part of the beautiful auditorium filed with
spectaors the bright lssomblage included many repre-
sentatyes OF the learned professions and many persons
OF social emnence; the familiar drama set upon the
stage with the old adequate and familiar scenew;
Mr.. jefferson upon his first entrance. greeted with
the glad and sympathetic applause OF hands that
festly had hearts ia them and his performance
| followed with attentive interest and accepted with
unalOyed delight. II success may be inferred frefu
brilancy of surroundings, warmth Of popslar enhusi
asm, unanmity Of concurrent public opinion, and the
production Of that state OF mind, upon the part Of tho
spectator in which absolute content cOmmingles With
tranquil Joy then surely the temperance Of Mr.. Js
| ferson as Rip Van WInkie a great success Moro
solid and permanent, however, than any element
basis Of that great OF the excellence
OF bis work which s the cornerstone OF his brilliant
reputation. Whatever the capricous public verdict
might happen to be, that fact would still remain It
recognized long ago, and last night 1t recog-
Dized again. Custom has not whered the Oyelness Of
| Mr.. Jeferson's Rip Van Finke AS 1t upon this
occasion it the unique pOetca creation that
charmed in other years-as natural as love or as
morning. and decately pure and dreamily tender a.
the pink OF seashell the changing tints upon an
Autumn leaf
Admiration OF this performance has often found eK
preston In this place. aud it right TO assume that
particular description of the work. and detailed recital
Of the grounds upon which our wholehearted accept
ance Of it has been reposed, will scarcely be expected
uOW III was III lldb ~ AtONlfou 10 nAS'
plcit cOmmemoration, great piece Of acting when
Mr. Jefferson back from England, and presented 1t
at the Olympic Theaer, seven years ago; ana on the
three occasions when It has since recurredn 1861, e9
and 7O-t has not failed to win earnest tribute.
studlously considered and thoughtfully conveyed.
present rehearsal Of its merits hereimgh accordingly
prove to be monotonous echo Of
what has already been said. In referring TO
it. however, unique poetica creation, we suggest
the view Of the subject upon which 1t may DO timeiyA
pausea view that is significant and explanatory. alike
to those persons who think that Mr. Jefferson has played
R,D Van Winkte long, and those who wish that he
may play At longer.
The phenomenal aspect Of the personat0n its amaz
6g hold upon the universal human heart, notwitbstand
ing grave defects in the play through which 1t Is shown
and Notwithstanding the extensive and Intimate fam
iarity with the subject that constant repetition has in
duced. This result is explained by the comprehensive
phrase, poetic inspiration. Mr. Jefferson found Rip Van
Wiakle very sort Of character.
In Irying's sketch, in Bernards play and
in all the dramatic versions Of the subject.
down to the time Of Mr.. Bouccaults revision,
he was TO be merely go0dnatured sot. His hu.
manity and the diversified nature OF his experence-iR
the drift OF the romantic legion-cOud not fail though
to win the sympathy of imaginative mind; apO 1t Ia
thus easy to understand how Mr.. Jefferson first
lured to the subject But the outset ago.
when he played the part thin houses 10 this city. aud
to very mild and apathctic approval he made t some
thing far higher than the hero OF taproom lie may
have done this without Intention. 1t may have been
more a matter Of temperament and Of life than OF
dramatic art. he infused into it then the same
poetic spirit June sunshine redoent Of roses.
that gracious and beautiful now However much
his work may have been mproye9-as 10 the manipula
ton OF detailsunder the discipline Of experience, aud
through years that bring the phosophic mind has
possessed from the first the selfsame precious quality
of spirit that it still retains and that makes it magnetic
TO the imagination and dear the heart. Mr.. Beuc
cault when he recast and rcwrote the drama-though
he failed anticipate its brilliant future, and TOOK no
pains to make it inyulnerable a work OF literary art
clearly enough this interior spirit OF poetry IN hr
Jeersons personaOn and set himself with sagaei0us
skill give amper verge for display, and larger and
reader means OF utterance How well these have been
improved the American public in mauy cities, has
with its own eyes-thrOuGh many a rosy
light OF smiles. and through many tender mist
Of pity. The great assemblge at Booths Theaer saw
il, last night, and it with the customary conse-
quence OF deep and delighted emotion. There not
another actor upon the sage,so far are aware.
VITO could carry through that strange, weird. awful.
pathetic, and at the same time grotesquey humorous
ghost scene Jefferson carried IL, upon this
The half shuddern consciousness Of supernatural
surroundings, the harresOute instinct to meet them.
the innocence aud sweet simplicity of the nature that
revealed the wsttui aspect Of expression, the
conscious loveable droness and the continuously ade
quate, ducte, quiet, simulatve art made up at once
a natural and captivating individuality and perfect
illusion. Through the wel-known scenes with
the children, the jeerng. curious villagers. and
the dubious daughter. the electrical
quality shone out with mellow and gentle
radiance. 1t is the spell OF genius; it does not
decay; and nothing destroy it. Aud this what
gives Mr. JefersOns RIP Winkie IT. perpeuity and
its power. He doubtless finds In 1t larger range Tor
spontaneous expression than IN the many other pars
which he has from time time represented and cer-
pf ipfla bis
of it something at human aud holy" something
unearthly Ike the remembered tone OF mute yre"-
something that lifts and satisfies the OF IDEAL
beauty even while it cings to the lowiy themes OF
humble life and shows the infinite pathos Of the COM
mon lot Of man. There were Zip Van Wrinkles before
Mr. Jefferson, and Rip Van wrinkles vii come after him
long way; but he has copied no nodel ana ne cs no
shadow Separated from the individuality, the ereaVe
nature and the exquisite art OF this comedian the cnar-
acer would speedily drift 10 the limbo OF niue tHIngs
self: and this reflection. think, may not ho without
suggestive meaning whether to those VINO are content
with the WINE as II Is OF those VINO "oulu HAo " u"~
| IL out OF new bottle.
Upon the manner Of his acting last night there seems
no call for more than passing word ne @ts he sAlno
sincere conscientious, and Jealous arils TO whom our
public grew long since accnstom,d' ne siSn siSns.u no no
filed the rather thm dialogue OF lhe c0ttage-Scehe
Which exacng tes-wlth weight OF earnes, Nltna %
ty and the zestful gloy OF diversified expression s
uterance whether of drOery sunny good ualuIe as
| NAV eontrition, the utter weakness OF fOriorn'
brokendown nature IN lonely age ana dlLed aD-
straCtiOn, was as Sunoolh' ueuhtle, "n1
ever: and could not tnaJ the tds OF teatepeu
blindness and actual ply ysical suHet-g nave III 1y wa"
impaired his hue ana sympa.aeIo pOmetS, I no ,Ssn
thinner in figure and more w5tful III cOutena nee thsn
| we remember to have seen nm; DuI OtneIhSo
| he was the same Rip Van WlHkie that has 50
highly honoret our stage ana so deeply Deuehoed or
| play going population. And he had the sane Ou,
fashioned royal welcome from the pnblic-oeing haied
with a tunut of applause when he hIst emerSed, auu
called before the curtain 80 the eud o each act ~ tne
end of act first he led the children and Miss Mary
Wells (Gretchenl The miscellaneous east 0IeIt9 atN NV