Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-11
ADJUSTMENTS.
Edwin Adams 10 Eaoeh Arden.

Edwin Adams In EnOeh Arden.
One OF the most touching aud saddest
of the poems of Tennyson is that de.
voted to the simple story of EnOch
Arden. 1t is history that requires and
has but little OF the aid of mere words.
1t is brief and to the point, and as in
tensely dramatic IS the most worship
ing of the intensely dramatic school
could ask. Love is the most engrossing
OF human passions. Upon the love Of
two men for one woman the plot of this
poem hinges. The favOrite of the
woman wins and enjoys his hap
piness for q brief spell, when the
second = the disappointed one -
comes into possession and succeeds
to all his " fancy painted her. {"
That is the whole plot of Enoch arden
in poem and play. Very sympathetic,
sometimes sOul-harrowing, the drama
tizatiOn by Madam Julie de Margue ties
comprises five acts that in the hands of
a really good company might be made
an effective realization of Tennyson's
touching and appealing conception, but
with such company as now occupies
our stage, cheap to cheapness, ut
terly without ability, barren of any
schooling, a mouthing, rsnting, fretful
set Of tenth-rate people, it is tiresome,
save when Adams sheds the lustre of
his genius and lights up the gloom
of otherwise unrelieved inefficiency.
How st. Louis can stomach so many of
the same calibre at the same moment,
passes our comprehension, and how the
stage can survive them all is only TO be
accounted for on the score Of a patience
for which foreigners seldom give Ameri-
cans credit. The engrossment Of so
many of the same low caste is an out
rage on the public, and still more an
outrage on gentleman whose position
as an actor is unquestiOned, q man who
with the first and best actors OF his time
has held place to which ne leaped IN
the very infancy of his dramatic career.
We think of the ever-sniveling, crying
'Annie Leigh" of last night, and pity
"Enoch" as a fool in all his desires to be
united with her again. And as with
her, so with all the other characters.
They were abominable. No labor OF
| Mr.. Adams, no effort of his artistic skill
could relieve the mOnotOny of his sup
porters. Ellis, as usual, ranted and
raved and staggered where ne should
have been most pathetic; and his harsh,
voice made "PhiIlip Rsyn the very re-
verse of the character, "tender and
true,n which Tennyson has painted
him. It was all wretcbed burlesque, save
when "EnOch" was upon thestage. The
central figure and foundation of the plots
MI. Adams makes of it all that is possible,
and fulfills all previous expectancy from
study of the story. In the third act the
tableau which ne makes as the vision Of
his wife, is certainly as effective as any
thing that Jefferson gives in Rip Van
Winkle. And in the fourth act where
he holds the stage as
"a desperate sailor waiting for a sail
No sail from day TO day"
we have acting that lacks moth
ing of the finish Of Jefferson as "trip"
in the awakening on the mountain after
the long sleep Of twenty years. The
conditions of the mind of a castaway
OF superior mould, Mr.. Adams portrays
with rare fidelity. There is no strsining
for effect, no eagerDess to do or OverdO;
the setor persOnates nature, and so rests
bis case. Last night his audience caught
eagerly st the opportunity afforded by
the close of the fourth, as of the third
act, to testify its appreciation by de-
mand for repetition of the tableauX.
But the fifth set is the best of all. In it
there is the greatest draft upon the ar
tistic instinct Of the player, and he hon
Ors it as q true artist. It is in nothing
overdrawn. The man, broken in heart and |
hope, sustained in his high resolve not to |
trench upon the happy family circle of |
which he should be the center, is re-
produced before US, and when the cur |
tain falls, it is upon an audience literally |
melted TO tears. The force of acting can |
go no farther. Mr.. Adams. throughout |
the five acts of this play, which might |
be improved were it modernized in |
dress, and presented to US in style |
more like the close of the nineteenth |
and less like the middle of the eighteenth /
century, expends all his wealth Of !
genius to tone up and relieve it of the |
"bligbt and blot" Of wretched support. !
He does his work well. He makes for |
US an "Enoch Arden" quite up 10 1
portrait, and, we were glad /
to notice, retains most Of the lines I
which have been q source of en-
joymept to so many readers OF the |
poet laureate. From the first act |
to the last, his is consistent |
portraiture, characterized by all the
evenness and truthfulness Of the orig
inal. The unfaltering trust in Provi-
dence, the abiding confidence, the high
and noble fortitude, the hope and trust
of deeply religious nature allied to %
healthy mind, sustained by 8 powerful
physique, and moderated by plain, mat.
ter-of-fact employments and surround
ings are exemplified by Mr.. Adams,
who might rest his claims on this one
character for dramatic distinction, were
not his ambition of the broader type
that cOmprehends and embraces all /
varieties of impersOnatiOn. 1t needs
but little pruning and trimming to
adjust this play to the public heart
as fully and as eDgrOssingly as Rip Van
W5glkte, and we believe that if Mr..
Adams would make it so he might in
crease bis fame and stand with
J Jefferson upon the same high pinnacle.
For himself there needs but a little
meditation of the round, rich voice-all /
else is perfect. Tonight he will appear
in the Lady Of Lyons, and of course to
3 full house. A gentleman of deserved
distinction in his profession, he is
worthy of all the hOnOrs our people can
Oestow upon him.
Saturdays Matinee az the Theafer.
We learn that arrangements have
been definitely concluded for perhaps
the most interesting performance, take
it all in all, ever given at our Theater at
any matinee in its history. Mr.. Ed
win Adams, whose "Enoch Ardent has
challenged the plaudits of our play
goers, will appear in that part, and Mr..
Mueller will follow him with his talent
ed pupils in a grand fairy ballet, such as
be knows how to arrange for and man
age. The professor, whom cur citizens, /,
one and all, acknowledge a most con-
sumate artist in bis line, has volun-
teered this extra performance at the
request of many of our leading citi-
zens who delight in his displays, and
desire to encourage him in his efforts
for the improvement of our children.
Besides this pressure there is the respect
and esteem which Prof. Muller enter
Iains for Mr.. Adams, and his desire in
this way to contribute to make the ma
.inee performance a markedly brilliant I
success. And that we guarantee it will
be. \
Uhe Exposition.
The attendance at the Exposition last
light was quite large, and the visitors
enjoyed themselves very much. The
interest in the Exposition continues to
Increase, and the attendance of country
people growing larger every day. We
would again remind the public that the ,
exposition will close on the fourteenth !
# this month, and that all who wish to /:
.ttend should 90 so at the earliest con- !
-enience, for the longer they wait the !
.reaJer will be the crowd, and the less !
asy to see and examine the many won- ,
ers and attractive features Of this mag !
lificent temple of human industry, art I
nd science. The managers will have a
'sried programme FOR every day and q
light, and we assure a most pleasant z