The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-09

Mr. BeIlew explained that the leader OF the Irish
Brigade Ia that battle-O'Brien, Lord Cnre--was
an ancestor Of his. The faultincss in this piece
arose only from Mr.. Btllew not having completely
committed 1t to memory ana On undue haste in
reading. 1.-THE Pied Piper OF Hamelinn and Mrs.
Joseph Porter" were received with loud laughter.
Mr. Belew reads again ct stcinway Hall next
Thursday.
Mr.. W. J. Florence has been playing ''The Ticket
ef-Leave Man" at Booths for a week to excellent
houses. He Ii better sustained In his part Of Bob
Briefly than any actor whs has preceded him at
this house this season. The explanation OF this
somewhat singular circumstance can only be found
In the TACT that the company Is light comedy
company, generally engaged In playing tragedy.
In this piece Miss Bella Pateman plays the part Of
May Edwards with great sweetness and some
times with exquisite pathos. The Mrs. Woughby
OF Miss Mary Wells and Miss Mary Young's Sam
arc both exceedingly well done; and the other
parts, especially MISS Mile Sackett's Emily, the
Hawkshaw Of Mr.. Thorne, the Dalton Of MI. George
Becks and the Green Jones OF Mr.. Robert Pateman,
are worthy OF recognition. But, as matter Of
course, the interest Of the play devoves to great
extent upon Mr.. Florence. He has played the part
so often thas 1t is as much his own as Lsrd Dun
dreary belongs to Mr.. Sothern or Rip Van Wrinkle
to Mr.. Jefferson. II any actor should attempt to
rob him OF 1t the attempt would be as likely to be
followed by failure as failure has always followed
attempts at appropriating Mr.. Jefersons Rip.
often az Mr.. Florence has played Bob Brierly
In this city he never played 1t better than
he is now playing it at Booths. He has mel
lowed in the part 30 completely that nothing
Is overdone and especially in the third act in the
interviews with Sam WillOughby with May in
anticipation OF his marriage; with Hawkshaw, and
afterward with Mr. Gibson, he shows clear con-
IN
elevate to the level in which he places 1t. His
quiet but effective acting is sermon as powerful
as the vivid chapters where Victor Hugo reveals
in M. Madeleine the Jean Vatican OF the galleys.
the play OF "Alixe," at the new Filth Avenue
Theatre, Is very great success. Since the first
night it has steadily grown in the refinement Of
dramatic rendering, and the familiarity Of the
actors with their parts has made 1t as remarkable
for evenness as for a high order OF art. From the
beginning to the end OF the play everything Is well
done-a singular merit in performance.
1t must be confessed, especially as in this
case, where well done means artilcialy done.
But, after all, the honors Of the per.
formance fairly belong to Miss Clara Norris.
She has shown much fine acting before, but not
even in "LArticle 47 did she exhibit such singular
emotional power or such exquisite conceptions Of
the womanly in her ideal. II this were the ending
be compelled to praise her work warmly; but as 1t
is only the beginning we may speak also with the
enthusiasm which comes from what she may yet
accomplish. Her artistic life is now in its trsnsl.
ton state-the age where she may cease to grow,
ana turning back upon herself become only little
less OF what she is the beginning OF her growth
with future as rich in fruit as the present
Is in blossoms. II she Is true to herself
and her art her fame will ripen into russell round
ness and glory which no other actress now on the
American stage can obtain; but If she takes her
past as the measure OF her future her career is
already ended. In the past few years we have seen
q number OF women Of great dramatic power
reach the height which Miss Norris has attained
only to wrap themselves in the mantle of selfish
ness gradually to be hid beneath it's folds. Seeing
the great power Of this young girl exhibited in
way which cannot fail to bring many 1attering
words to her ears, and remembering the fate of
others who stood where she now stands we can
not help regarding her future with both hope and
lear
The new piece at the Union Square Theatre is
meeting with deserved success. zone Hundred
Years Od' is q play which meets every stage re-
quirement and 1t exhibits many noble traits OF
human nature. The character of the centenarian
is exquisitely sketched, and In Mr.. Mark Smith 1t
finds an excellent embodiment We never saw
him play better and we doubt II he can get q part
better suited to his abilities. Jacques Fauvel is
very remarkable old man, and Mr.. Smith exhibits
his peculiar qualities in their funess. The large
and manly form OF the actor is just such o frame
as would be likely to keep together body
and soul for q century, and the physical vigor
and vocal strength which Mr.. Smith exhibits, so far
from not being in harmony with the ideal of GEN.
tenaran only add to the vvidness Of the portrayal
of Fauvcl. Enjoyment OF life business integrity
and love OF his posterity, especially Of his great
grandchila, Camille, are the leading traits OF this
remarkable creation. Every act Of the play affords
opportunity for the exhibition of these fine quail
ties, till in the closing scene the climax Of power
and trust and overwhelming love is attained We
cannot pay Mr. Smith a better compliment than to
say that we do not know whether he plays IL well
or Ill. There is such q simple grandeur in
the ideal upon which the old man basis
his faith in Camille's innocence that the
heart interprets the acting for the eyes. Mr.. F. F.
Mackay az Martlneau shows all his exquisite power
as character actor His faithfulness to his art in
every matter Of detail, his singular power of doing
little things not as II they were great things but
as they ought to be done, and his strong lndivd-
uality have brought him many admirers and can
scarcely fail to give HIM leading place in his pro.
fessisn. Upon these two actors the success OF the
play depends, for, while Camille is part aGording
ample scope for emotion, the severer school In
which Mrs. Clara jennings was trained only gave
her training which tends to mar her efforts in
the heartwork Of the drama Miss Mary Griswold
does the little she Is required to do with care and
SKILL and the other parts are passably well nlled
We cannot doubt that the play will run for many
weeks