National Republican., 1873-12-09
ADJUSTMENTS.
JEFFERSON AT FoRD's.


Rim Van wInkle Jefferson was hsnorci with n
large audience and cordial welcome at fOrls
last evening. Ills entrance upohthe slagn was tho
signal for enthusiastic applause, af,i this reccp-
tiou mus, certainly have been extremely hatter-
ing and encouraging. Jcaorsoa's RIP Van Win
klc, as We remarked yesterday differs materially
frOm that OF any 0thor aetcr who has ever at
tempted It. Whether those who have appeared
IN the character are Justly accuscd Of initiating Is
q matter Of opinion. Mr.. Mcwales a1r'ircrs
claim that his conception Of the role s entirely
original one aud from comparison Of 1t with that
OF Mr.. Jefferson, as performed by him last even.
ing, We are inclined 20 believe the assumption of
Mr.. Mewsde's friends to bc true.
We place i've Rip Van Winklc Of tho latter
gentleman In comparison with that Of Mr. Jcfer-
son. for tn, that the part as played by him
In New York came nearer perfection than that Of
any othor artist, beside Mr.. Jefferson who has
ever rsssyed iT. while according TO the latter
g.ntlep,n due praise for the excellence Of his
Performance lac, evening, we arc compelled to
admit that in some respects he disappOintel us
We do not think Mr.. Jefferson plays the charnc-
ter 50 we'll as he usei to. A constant appearance
In tho part may have rendered him careless In
giving II the nice coioring which goes to make the
personati1u Of Rip all that could 10 desired. In
those parts where the quiet humor Of the mud.
dIed.beainrl old vagIbond Is brought odt, Mr..
Jefferson Is admirable, but In the moro pathetic
portions of tho play he Is only tolornbc. His
scchc with Gretchen when no babe her goodbye
as she drove him forth Into the storm, was very
tame
It called for slow heartfelt, touching farewell,
and one where oven the quiet nature of RIP should
have burst forth In a flood Of passion, the moro
ospeciallyas his dearly loved Mecno lay at his
feet In position to add to the agony OF a father
who parts from his ehild perhaps to her never.
more. Mr.. Jefferson bale his family a'licu, and
departed with little apparent regret. Of course,
Il may be SAID that the leaving Of sueh terma
giant must have boea anything but painful, yet In
play the audience Is given TO understand that the
parting Is supposed TO he extremely affecting.
We fear Mr.. Jefferson sighted this scene. II he
did not then he is certainly not the great artist ho
is represented.
In the scene In the mountain among Hcndrlck
Hudson and hts wierd-ooking followers, Mr.. JET.
ferson was particularly happy. His quiet style
here cropped out in a mastcrly manner and showed
where his real strength as an actor lay. He dc.
Iivered the quaint deductions from his confused
mind as II they arose slowly on the moment, and
tho natiraIness OF his manner In the scene was
duly appreciated by the audience, who rewarded
his efforts With liberal applause.
In the scene where Rip Van Wlnkie arose from
his twenty years sleep, Mr. jefferson dld not
play as well as he might, After lying upon the
naturally be supposed to have become too stifi 10
allow him to arise with little apparent effort
Mr. Jefferson should have arisen gradually, hud
not have alm0st sprung 70 his feet rs II the rhcu.
matlsIn" was no. so bad after all, hut only as.
sumod, "a, OF course, In reality It was In this
Important action Mr. Jefferson falls far below Nr
New ado 10 his efforts to portray tho feelings Of
RIP at the saIno moment
That Mr.. Jefferson is really great artist, no
49, a.. L.
made proves that he who makes one character a
speciality, and plays Il over and over again for
many years, should be careful les. he become care.
less and not do himself justice In q general
sense, tho psrsonatiOn Of Rip was an admirable
picco-of acting, bu. little more caro- might have
rendered It much moro nearly perfect.
Mr.. Jsiierson's SUPPORT was only mediocre
Some characters were very poorly rendered, and
might really have discouraged an actor who has
seou 80 much bad acting as has even the star OF
tho occasion. Mr. Price and Mr. Stanley are tho
only members OF Mr.. fOri's company who seemed
To have proper conception Of the characters they
attempted to personate. D.
Rip Van winklc will be repeated on this and
Tomorrow evening, SO that those. who would wit
meas him in the role which has rendered him
famous have but two remaining opportunities.
THE NATIONAL.
MIss Maggie Mitchcli's second week opened
ausplolously last evening. Despite tho great at.
traction elsewhere, the audience that assembled
10 witness her In the Pearl Of savoy was quite
large. on course the little lady played tho part
assigned hor very erel!taDly, for everything she
attempts she performs In tho most painstakins
manner, and never fpils 10 draw forth the sympa
thies Of her audience. The applause showered
upon her last evening was extremely liberal, and
tho little star never shOne with brighter radi
ance. The PoarI Of Savoy Is a very attractive
play, and those who trust themselves to Mlsi
mitchell for m evenings entertainment will re
tire from her presence highly pleased LAttl'
Barefoot and Jane Eyre are In preparation ant
will shortly be produced.
THE PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.
The Philharmonic Society announce that the!
Will gIyo McndelssOhn's "Hymn Of Praise" oi
| Wednesday evening at the Congregational church
corner OF Tenth and q streets. They will bo as
| sisted by Mrs. Chadsey, soprano, late Of PhIla
| deIpbta, and Mr.. John SchOman, tenor, OF Balt
| mare. This work Is regarded as one OF the mos
| bonutIfiil eantatas ever written, The symptom
| which ptecsies the vocal part is masterpiece o
nsolL, and is to he performed on the great Orga
| by Mr. George W, Walter, who will also accom-
| many tho chorus parts and sOiOs.
The second part OF the programme will consls
| of an exhibition df tho ma gnihcont new organ b
| Messrs. Uaulheii and Walter,