, 1874-09-08

A1'v1uEEtt's

I Ill FIuKEH6
After m absence OF four yoars, Joseph Jofrer.
son 1oturns to tho oAicaRo public, bringing with
him tlo drama with which hiB namo viii In ovcr
associated in history, tho jolnt production NJ
Washington Irving. Dion Dorcicn,1lt'' ard
Joseph Jefroraon. It sas pfnyed last oyonino h
An excellent house, with crowded socona liar.
and woll-tll1od circles aloyo md bolow. It VIM
mounted with caro, skill, antl tnsto, aud enLc1
by tho stock company, no far as thoir share Of
tho piece waa concerned, in tic bost spirit; md
| With moro or less oxccllouco. or course. tho
nocossorica aro insignificant, their full forco
bo1ssg brought to bear upon Rip. There Ia on}y
tho thankloBs part Of Gretchen for Mrs. Allon.
aud Bho plays 1t vol.
Tho part which abBorba tho ontiro intorost OF
tho plRy IL Mr. Jofrcrson's Rip Van Hi,,kle, and
in Wow Of such perfection in hiatrionio art tho
audienco for onco eau feel grnteful for tho fact
TINT the principal Is about tho only figure. In
approaching s1ch performance for tho p,,rposo
Of criticslug 1t. q writer cannot but feel tho I'LL
moat diflidoncc. It Ia 70 oxquisitcly perfect that
thoro is notAiug to do but writo upon its bcautios
and, but that tho thomo is woll-nigh noxlaausti-
big, It had long ago boon wristen out Tho
tribute of praise which tho tilno would allow
eT1tH 70 olor altor I., performance would 10
aa'd, and QUO fools reluctance to merely add
hia little sharo to tho general mass. But wo aro
expected to s1ny something Of tho performance,
anu tEns can be said briotIy.
Tho ial-health which At ono time threatened TO
ron Tho stago Of ono Of it's brigAteat ornaments
Ina fortunately left Rip u1scathcd Az wo
Tefnemoor it fo,'r years ngo 1t has lost nothing
aer,os9or IL u tho % SANG posfoct, symmetrical per
humor. Of tho irst ' two 'a."'',sua lets. and
Cue deep, half-oxprosHod pathos Of Ito
last .nsk,oaa arc .% %hat t4oy. over woro. Tho
rathoa from the outsot, and by nomo ludoinnbIo
inehtal and moral process wo ignore his yugu-
boladis1n and find only tho generous, loyaldo ti1s
position s!:al at the bottom Of it. 1t cannot DO tho
ab!e and wrotchcd. Tloro is something < i a more
tn THO personality OF tho actor which throws into
strong rolot the simplicity and n,niability of tho
clntactor, md casts tho darker Rilo Of it into
oeseurlty. Ihcro is always lurking sentiment
sontin'cns would condemn Rin heartily.
Int tho eympathioo vol up against |
tfiat just verdict u We sllaro tho punishment
10 meets WITH and mover call to mind tho fact
aro genuine hoarty PLEASURE. Tho last s ono Of
tho tondercst, gontlcst, most pathetic pictures |
tho mind can conf iuro up. Tho humor in 50 ad- |
mi1aoly subjected % to hcighten the picture,
Of tho fancy, and tho dccropituda OF tho actual
iigure. That tcara will in apite Of tho most deter
mined efforts, forco themselves to tho eve, Tho
whole nct ls intonsely pathetic. It is ono lonr-
drawn sob over tho pnst. It Ia 10 exut1;stely H.
cdentay plaintiyo, that it catres our sy1npnth,oa
with it. The perfect art with which tic uncor,-
sctoasnesH Of age aud ita storm demands is portray
OIL IL almost lost In tho reaiity of tho effect andit
ls ths unconsciouEncss which appeals to our Dity.
Tho ha!f-hnnorouB inquiry whether thpro iB any
ono living In tho Village OF Falling Watcr ia M
thatic in rare degroo. It is not tho stock M
thos OF tho stage, Which calls ont tho oyor-rcaly
andkerchiof over the fate of Camille. or eycu Of
Jtftct or Ophe|ia. 1t is apart from any Of this.
J ho nttor desolation Of heart tint it impliea ID
ooyond all expression in words, IA the ]
'roator of tho character is beyond alt clarac-
erization. And tho scono with 4Nfeu;e is 80
absolutely mud powerfully Nature herself that
do auditor throws aside all so]f-rcstrapt, for
,ots that Ito Inns paid foo toHee representation
n tho stage, and gives himself up to tho spell Of
10 actor. It IL uEnlcsB to mako comparisons.
hero ia but ono Rip Kan lFinkte, and Alr. Jof-
ors0u ia le. !
Before his engagement expires, h1r. Jefferson {
nd tho prospect should warm III, tho heart Of
very 1oyor of dramatic art. It will bo traat +
!1eh aa il rarely accorded l1s. "1ip Van WIN
10 " will 10 repeated oyory night this week, A
THE OTHER THEATRES.
hlr. Mestaycr oponcd to III cxceIlont house ut |
10 Academy Of Music Inst evening in stlle
[oodlum. /" Of which ne shall aay something on
mother occasion. "Lcd ABtrny" drew a rood a
ouso ut 1ooley's last evening" and will bo ro- i
sateu Tonight and tomorrow. ''Abluction Il
Ill holds at tho Museum, and tho now bill at Il
10 Opora-HouBo received last evening tho ~
oatty applause Of q largo nuuience, +,