New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-10
TIE DRAMA.
UNION SQUARE THEATER-MIsS KATE FIELD.
in this effort

UNION SQUARE THEATER-MIsS KATE FIELD.
II has long been the courteous custom OF
journalism to exempt benefit performances from critical
review Sentiment has its rights, as well as fact Tho
performance that given yesterday afternoon IN the
Union Square Thcacr for the benefit Of Miss Kate Feld
should however, TO some extent DO made an cxception
since part of the benefit that sought to be attained
by IL may be thought TO consist in dieting critical
opinion upon the professional advancement If any. that
has been made by Miss Field since her debut
mt Booths Thcater last Autumn. The young aetress
has studied and worked in the interval, and has had
some practical experience Of the sage and, returning
thus newly equipped, she once more seems to invite
thoughtful Judgment her art This reappcarance, ac-
corlingy need not be viewed that wholly takes
shelter beneath the wings Of forbearins courtesy.
When Miss Field, then a novice, forward as Peg
Wo0iug,,u she attempted too much In the represents
ton Yesterday might almost be said she attempted
too little Gabrielle and 1.-THE Opera Box-in which
she aplearedarc thin plays, and their hcroines stand
within the easy reach of actress OF conventional
ability and tho average practice In estimat-
ing these pieces reference Is not made
to tho French original, but to the adapta-
tions as they exstwhch not only weak but tedious
The result OF Miss Fields choice OF Them though,
proved its sagacty. She was not overwhelmed by tho
characters aud she succeeded in presenting her capac
ties as an actress and her brilliant qualities Of mind in
clear light In selfcommand the reposc Of action, pre-
c.on Of method and dstinctness OF form she has de-
cieiiy improved and she cyinced particularly in the
little play Of 1.-THE Opera Box, that instinct to appre-
bend and that talent to merge personal pecul
arities in another identity wLieh rightly called
dramatic and which absent from her earlier ex-
pot She did not Indeed show that she possessed these
in unusual abundance but II import
ant point gained show that she possessed thenat all To
this extent the reappearance Of Miss Field success
explained her choice OF the profession and it denoted
the Of her promise in its pursuit The line Of
light comedy, that has deep emotion in II, ought to az
ford her occasions OF fine professional achievement She
il qualified for that, and, In steady practice, would
steadily advance IN that direction.
In the drama Of Gabrellc"-which, as adapted from
a well known piece Of the elder Dumas, contains few
good situations and great many words-the heroine Is
an innocent anectlonate impassOned woman whose
husband foolshy her Of infdelity and whose
truth and worth arc proved through much trlbuaton
aud some twaddle. This heroine Gabrielle has two
stormy with her turbulent lord. which call for the
vivid utterance of strong emotion 1t is plain sailing,
and 1t was, evidently, understood b. the actress.
But Miss Fields acting shows that she reaches
emotion through the head, and not the heart,
that her excitement is devoid Of mag
nesm added to which she has popularity Of
speaking In faseto voice and OF seeming be phys
ically fragile The effect il that in such situations
have been ndicatedwhen the heart Is strife with It's
and the person at strife with its pers and other
affecting persona ton becomes hollow,
indstinct conyusiyc, and c0orless like an image
OF wildwood that family squeaks rs II is jerked about
by string. There was time In her performance Of
Gabrielle when Miss Field did not evnce complete and
accurate intellectual perception OF the personality the
surroundings, the suerngs and the changing incidents
melting TO actionthat appertain to the character
and, aside from few passages Of level speaking there
was no time when sho got into the character 80 rs 10
make herself forgotten. In the comedy scenes OF The
Opera Box" the other handwhich require the stmu
lstion Of airy glttorng elegance Icy soshness, ten
pcred with undercurrcnt VI sentiment and the innate
refinement and external polish Of the natural lady