New-York tribune., 1875-05-11
The DRAMA.
BOOTHS THEATER.
MISS CLARA NORRIS Az FvADNE.


MISS CLARA MORRIS Az EvADNE
Richard Shells tragic play of Evadne was
rcsurrectod lEst night at Booths Theater, and Miss
Clara Morris made her reentranca upon the metropolitan
stage before audience and under many pleas
in and propiiious circumstances The welcome accorded
Miss Morris cordial and unqualified and it was
Expressed in vigorous applause. In offerings of flowers
sx recalls before the curtain. The drama seemed
10 be observed with curiosity not uumingled
with wonder. The OCCASION however, was not one OF
triumph ior the genius of tho lamenied sheI-which IL
stating the fact quite mildly Interest conferred upon
Misc Clara Morris and this young actress Is much
favorite and il welcome after long absence, that her
public would endured anything. rather than not
have her.
The play of Evadne" Il soTt Of little Othero" Its
plot, dramatic ooholsrs aware, taken from,
"Ths Traytor" t1635l by James shrley.-orisn-
ally by jesuit named Rivcrs,-whrrein IL IL
shown how tho Duke OF Florence was. by a
rsscay relative and fayoritc induced 70 entertain and
evil passion FOR tue sister Of FUrctine noble
with the purpose thar he should lose his life by the
hand OF this injured genlcman and be removed from
the favoritc's path to the throne In "Fvadne.' the
"confrver OF all harms THE Irg0 of tho conspiracy
prompts the King Of Naples to assal the chastity OF
Er0dae sister to the Mcrgs9s Of COionra OF his
ble acratcs from Eyadas Nv foul falsChOod and strata
gem. her bctrOthod lover, Ticenfi0; promotes
duel bctwixt yioento and CoOnna, In which
the former Ia wounded. and left for dead and
leads hi to undertake the assassination Of the King o.
Naples. intending after the death OF the king. to kii
COlOHnd seize the crown OF the Kingdom and himself
possess Eoadne In the upshot he ia defeated by the
chance action OF Eeadne who. IN an impress
siyo sud touching iDtorvicw with the King. held
in the Hall OF Statues. In her deal fathers
palace, huinilIaes the young monarch and brings
him coDtritiOn The climax is the death o the cen
tra villain Ludo,icO 10y Co,onaos hand :he exhibition
of LudOrco's intended u-ugPaOn and the happy recon
ciliatcn OF r'cea6o and EUotne and Cotonno and hs
sovereign This is old story but it has not heen told
for 50 lon. that brct epitomc OF II will scarcely
he deemed out Of place IN comment ON tho present re-
viva of " EvGdnc."
II may be said of Epadnc herself that she represents
beauty, virtue. magnanmly Sanctity, and grief oho
H. far-Jf way, the ccbO Ot shHhespeaie's IS1bs4d
Her is that. simply, of vestal purity IL Is
snowwhte and 1t would altogether lack color but for
the fac; that shc capable when wounded TO the SOUL
Of both rage and scorn. Tue most Of her moments.
though, are moments cf majesty SORROW, self
abnegati0n. and agonizcd effort at seicon-
troll. The dranatist has Imagined a woman OF noble
nature hoaven-ie pury, and he has onmeshed her
in web of troubles, by frat cDg her 10 he dominated
by Snsesh love. and then making herse her lover
brother and her royal puruer alike the victims OF
treachoy. she has four and in oacb or them se
Is almost into pieces by dstlactng emotions and
conflicting interests and motives One narrowing
experience IL her discovery that sbo is carry
thinks il is that OF Tiecnfio; and this being made
IN Vtcento's own presence. ana after he has re-
preached her with reachery. faschOod and shame her
conservation horror. wonder and agony almost reach
madness. Another is her dread of her brothers anger
against TicO the lover abandons hcrtis bong
expressed in effort 81 Cvy of manner wnich anguish
completely defeats. Another is her trial at resignation
10 loss and misery whcu she learns that T'tento
will wed another woman, and tertupon utters
The welnOwn epoech Of blessing on Their loves
and nuptials. Another IL her byetercal, con
vu,ive tcrror-stricken Intervention bctwixt brother
and lover. when these rush forth tO fight. Another
is her reception That Voenio is dead by the
hand Of Colcnna Another-but this is moro awful than
horrible, and therein unlike its predccessOrs-s her
chasie confronting OF the amOrous ksng at the "ot OF
her fathers In fact she is lady very profoundly
cruelty bgrbaOusy, and continually tried and thc spec
tator hau regrets that she has not more
OF the devil In her nature. with which To
curb II not 70 oueil the stormy, fre-eainG loud AID
car1lous men who prance and roar AMI gascGnado
around her Mr. shiel fond OF agony. and he has
heaped On Erddc al that he could devise ana aecIn-
ne whether ny sacrificing nature IN ne massng Oi ono
or two attributes only into chaactor or by saorif .ug
art by the utter rejection Of probability Tho men ~
this plav arc not human beings but yelling fuEics and
poor Era,iue s kept amongst them, pcrpetly on the
rack Of anguish.
Miss Morris. as Raadnt suggested correct IDEAL OF
this character acted with sful precision and with
iuvenity of nhoOd for which she IL remarkable
IL Ia mat to say however that she did not make ta S
nal and brilliant success In the part which mignt be
thought TO Justify the revival Of such paint al tainted
and sntled piece "Eyafnc." II Ii character
is.io of Miss Morris that She Is real
and OF tho passing hour She is like girl OF THIS day IN
all that she does and she seems to need representative
experiences bring her quality OF mind ana teInper-
nen to the front the picture AUis ideals se se6us
foreign The defect OF hrr Ecafne was lack of p"~er
Tho calihor WAS slender. The conception, however
VIA seen 10 DO lust; and though the execution
was frequently feeble, II was always nShuy OIL
rcotad and some times it was Intensely synp9hctc'
The convulsive passage from laughter to tears being
dramatic mood very corsOnant with Miss Motifs ma
turc vss given with excellent effect aud TIC burning
concentration of purpose with which the scene WIN INC
King in the statue chamber begun. was IN e highest
arr 20 dramatic aud beautul-oply it soon roazod
with the gnle and the collOGu manner OF every DAY III
is moi On be natural when interpreting pueyO DC - peo-
pl, al G IN real life Mss Morris showed however marked
yrrtl m The great quality Of rcpOso. Mr otudey, as
T,,,I1r,ro Mr. George Clarke as Ticcnfto ana MI T. B
Wae "a Coona lid thcir boisteros parts with d'serc-
,iou and temperance and the curtain TEL amidst general
Satisfaction.
THE VHE4T CGOP.