The New York herald., 1874-11-26
Mrs. Conway,s Theatre.

A new Lady Macbeth Is always an event OF In
terest In dramatic circles, and the assumption OF
the character by lady, who has won enviable dis
tinction in other paths Of dramatic art, attracted
all eyes toward Brooklyn last night. The house
was crowded with an audience that watched curl
ously and integenuy the progress OF
the new revelation. AS was foreshad-
owed Miss Morris presented the lair
haired pink and white type as her idea
Of tho Lady Macbeth, substituting for the mas.
cullne impersonattons that we are most accus.
toned to q more womanly ideal. The philosophy
Of the change is based on the proposition that,
however depraved . woman may become, sOme-
thing oil the softness and tenderness natural to
her sex remains. This is no doubt quite
true Ia general; but that 1t Is SO In excep.
tional cases requires to be proved. We have
always been accustomed to regard Lady Macbeth
as o very exceptional person. and would be sorry
to accept her as the typs Of q class. II this idea
be correct the attempt to apply general laws to
case which Is admitted to be outside their scope
sufrciently illustrated last night by the expert.
ment made by Miss Morris. In her most erective
the stage, and when she failed to do 80 she
faded from the attention OF the audience and
which SATISFIES an audience In the modern drama
will not suice to rivet attention In the regions of
In T the case We
their awful grandeur OF good or evil. We there
fore look for Intensity ygor and vlvianess il the
not be tolerated. The cause is that We
try in the. the one case to picture mems
ees shadow q the men VINO meet Gny ny
and talk to US every DAY. We know them far TOO
e to desire to nave them without
has made is forgetting this distinction in some
parts Of her Interpretation. or rather In imagining
drama with the severer forms OF dramatic
art. We miss the energy ana strength
her heroine It was repuisvc. but 1t made US
feel instinctvely tnst such woman as she pic.
,nrsS coud have the bloody part
which is 50 essential to Lady MacDeth's roe in tie
conception. bhe played so much the woman
that we could not recognize in the quiet
nSsTusys Sooa1 pos ns v Ssor. spirit Of ~
heavily against the effectiveness Of the iady's
showed careful thought the struggle Between Ias
@ the as
from her unnamed husband was clcverly
Rsis5ed %sS is 0s always i vely 1s snss 9tns she
attention q inc audience II tie s!ssp,wasns liking
energy mas given place TO remorse. This phase
was admirably pictured, and won from the
auQleuce q nearly rcc0tI. we cannot regard the
new interpI citation Of the character OF Lady Mac
beth as q success. It lacks to our mind, the
matist has given 1t, and in exchange we
have nothing that compensates for its absence.
Another great defect is the failure OF the
actress to sink herself in the character she person
ates. II is perhaps Impossible for humanity to
forget acquired mannerism absolutely, but it
takes from the value OF dramatic performance
when we notice the same business and facial
movements brought. into play In Macbeth" that
have done service In article en- Something
may be allowed for the nervousness OF first per.
f0rmance, but we tear the are too radical to
be cured except alter long years OF study. 1t Is,
perhaps, unfortunate that Miss Morris should chal.
lenge attention IN roe 80 difficult when the
performance OF great actress wn0 has the ad.
vantages OF long years OF study has rendered
both The public and the critics exacting, but she
has herself challenged the comparison, ana must
be prepared to hear the verdict. Mr.. Robinson
who played the part OF Macbeth, made very
favorable impression. He has nne stage
presence. a good voice, reads well and acts IN
diligently. The play was put on the stage with
CONNIE ndablc care, especial attention being paid
to the chorus Miss Lillian conway. as the first
singing witch, received the honor OF an encore.
IL was merited