The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-26
IMVSEH ENTS.
Park Theatre Mr.. Oakley Halls Firrt Week
In the "Crucible."

Now that Mr. Oakley Hall has played the
part Of IVVmot Kettton week. It may fairly be
assumed that he represents the character with
his best dramatic ability and SKIN. II, when he
frat appeared as an actor the unusual rclItion
In which he stood to the public caused such
nervous excitement as to impair his sense Of
freedom and un 'avorably affect his action and
defamation, this hindrance to his first and best
dramatic expression should now lave entirely
disappeared. Yet his impcrsunatiDns now are
hardly distinrushalle from that on the night
when he made his first public essay, In the re-
spects above indicated TO do so well a. no
does Ia To display an uncommon degree OF YER
saiillty. For any man frat to seek distinction
on the thcatric stage after he has arrived at or
passed the prime Of life Is a hazardous under
taking At that period be has already entered
upon the age In which It IL proverbaly hard to
adopt new manners and form new habits. The
bent Of his mind has become nxcd his mo des "
expression rigid, and. to "A very great degree un-
changeable. these have been diminished and
narrowed down till they are oniv sufficient for
his daiiy needs In his usual occupations. An
actor. ON the other hand. has not only done his
hest To reserve and strengthen all modes of cx-
preston with which his youth was endowed.
bu; to increase their number and enlarge their
effect.
Hut when the man. who at this age W 1uld he
come player, has been engaged for years in ac-
tive practice Of the law. the difficulties in his
that part Of his life when germs OF character
and habits are growing hard and rigid IN the
shape which education gives them, he has been
studying to render his thoughts and feelings In
! strutahlc. He has gradually enCased himself In
shell. now induratcd till It's suppleness u gone
aud Its elasticity greatly diminished and II al
! ways presents the same exterior, Interchangeable
! IN form and color. within this rigid enclosure
| .ll the impulses, passions ahd emotions that
have survived the dwartng and DESTROYING pro-
cess of his professional education are shut. ana
| can only ind exi ressiOn through outlets always
| watched
| aim To- seek that discipline that shall make him
always self pos ssssed always muster Of him IT,
| that he may he master Of the situation always
so cold and unimpassiuncd that no surprise can
make him betray any secret Of his cause. In
| short. his second nature has come TO he almost
| Numerically opposed To tat OF "A well trained
actor. whose study II has been not only To sur
| render himself to imuul'es and emotions, sud
| dem varying, antaconi-ttc. complcx, but to SIM
| ulate passions and TO act aud feel as II what Is
| feigned were real.
| Hence TO persons who reflect, II would have
been matter Of great surprise had Mr.. Hal
shown himself capable uf acting part renll
| well. As II Is, he can hardly nc said To act, In
the full meaning Of that term. That his piaN
was arranged with reference to sentimental
! defence Of himself, against wha: he con, eived t.
be at least unjust suspirtuns. WAS evident at thC
first, and the feeling that he WAS not acting. tut
| was pleading his own cause at tue tar ut public
| OPINION, seemed somehow to dtsarm criticism
| This feeling was all tue stronger from the fact
that MIR. Hall carried himself throughout "a h,
| would have done In his law ONCE and In III,
| courts. lie carries himself IN this way stu
hut this Is not acting. he methods by whlcf
an advocate may move jury, " exactly coiltC
by an actor would fail TO move a thesttica
auditory. The auditory IL moved by dramatic
not 10y oratorical art. Mr. Halls work on tn,
stage has, a. yet hardly noticeable quality 81
dramatic art. no breadth Of effect. no atmos
phere. liis walk. his gestures, the mi, ctoni
and iutonations Of his voice might b, encctiv,
In an Office. in n parlor, IN court room bu
they are ineffective ON the theatTic scene, ns in
effective as would he a hucly-painted land cau'
if used for scenic decoration. lie shows clsarl
enough that he understands the meaning OF TIA,
teal. OF the action. Of the situations. Want -
dramatic expressioL is his great deficiency
That he cannot master this Is certainly no
proven that he has not Is plain.