New-York tribune., 1875-01-13
THE URA MA.
FIFTH .AvENuB yrHEkTER.
THE MERCHANT OF VENIl


produced there on Monday night. with Edwin L. Daveu
port Shvioch and cariotta Leclercq Porfa. TIE
house half filled. Tho performance lasted tlrco
hours and gave general pleasurewbich was tvioced
several outbursts OF hearty applause The play
mounted with four sccnss--three aad frooand
was given. according usage four acts The scenes
by Messrs. Roberts and wthaD, represented-with
fidelity fact, and with delicate rch ooors-a
street, with view OF tue Riato, 10 Venice; hall In
Portals house, at Belmont; another street IN VeDce.
with view Of the Palaceiof ST. Marks and the interior
Of the Court OF Justice Portals first scene Was ao.ed
IN tho Ven tisn street. there. in fact, occurred tho
whole action OF the piece down TO the sceuc Of Bdss1n0s
choice OF the easkes At least eight scenes 2Od twco
many changes scenery would required to DO tbs
piece precisely according 20 Shakespeare. Tho cen
dehsation. In this respec-since 1t saves tune and
trouble and acceerates the flow of the story houehat
some sacrifice of technical accuracynay be set dewn
acceptable and judicous There were tedious delays
Monday night: but when wrought into smooth run
ming order. this preseDtment Of "The Merchant OF
Venice" villas q picture-oe no loss enjoyable than
lovely As performance it presents points Of worth.
but 1t deficient Of brlliaDcy.
Shytock formerly acted as comic character The
intuition and study Of Edmund Kean discovered sbat
shakespeares conception OF the part Is tragic. and
Kean's performance astOnished bis generation and
created legend which may DO regarded perpetual
To invest Shyock With the attributes OF majesty,
sion. and pathos-not personal merely, but representa-
tive Of the scorned and outraged Hebraic nationality ana
reigion-s to follow the Shakespesroan conception.
and TO present awful pcrsonay, volcanic and iurid
with suppressed passion venerable by reason OF years
and sorrows aud and fearful the avepgDg fury
Of wronged and Insulted faith. To divesi
ShyLock OF these atributesto orsmp him within the
sphere OF his individual experience ~ make his mo-
tiyes and actions entirely seshs to lower the IDEAL
and consequently sacrifice possible effects OF very
great emotional excitement and splendid imaginative
perception. Any theory Of acting which. practically
ned hell ia nurnO OF
be incorrect and njudicous Mr. Davenport. in his
sonation Of Shyock seemed TO be trying TO fuse TWO
contrary doctrines and therein he blurred his ideal and
hampered his execution To say that the performance
scholarke symmetrical and Impressive Is but
another way saying that 1t was given by Mr.. Dayen
port; but unable to say that IL was Mr.. Daven
port best. Once, when he reverted to his tragic
mood, and acted the old waywhich was In the street
scene with the jeeriDg So'anio and Tubahe ancient
fire within his spirit eaped forth in his eyes, kndled In
his voice, suused his action, AMI stirred the public
heart with o great tremor OF sympathy; and again
when at the close Of the trial. he portrayed Shyocs
misery In ruthless outrage upon his religious faith
as well discontinue OF his aud the wreck
OF bis fortunes-the freedom that he gave TO tragic
impulse and powerful passion wrought the iull ond
splendid result Of acting that is precisely right in
spirit and execution. At other times and in general
Mr. Davenport toned himself down into level harmony
with the commonplace OF prose ideal Much subtle
argument and many fine words might be used TO show
that the doctrine thus illustrated correct: but its
results dscredt t altogether One or these was thing
very remarkable In Mr. DIvenpOrts acting-Dcerttude
Of purpose and incorrectness OF text Two or three
times, important juncures, he stumbled on words
which surely familiar to him as the alphabet.
This could be the consequence OF neither agitation
debility: it was result OF the partial and therefore
confusing adoption Of new ways. Edwin Booth, when
he played Shyock at the Winter Garden, nine years
ago. made, at the outset, similar error ana with
similar effect. 1t should be said, tae oher hand
that Mr. Davenport is actor so thouRhtrul ana so
rpely experienced that any shakespearean ideal which
he chooses present is entitled 70 respect from all
intellectual persons; WHILE 10 execution, Nr. DaYeu
ports method is Invariably beautiful He received
as Shyloe at the Fifth Avenue Theaer with the heart
good will. and upon his last exit recalled BY
vehement ana sincere paudits-in which there was
grief we'll al admiration.
Miss Lecercq is mechanically a good POrtia. Her por
sonal beauty indeed Is of kind that does not suit the
character 1t lacks youth and neuess and the
quality Of her temperament, likewise is of kind thas
does ,suit the character because 1t seems TO lack
poetic exaltation and innate dignity But Miss LocercQ
Is possessed abundant OF technical mechan
ism, and trained talent In the OF tnem Her Portf0
in the first scene failed 10 interest by the charm Of
delicious personality; and At lumbered heavily through
che light and sparkling sea foam of the comedy
speeches but her by play in the moments oBasGn,os
debate her careful elOcuton in delivering the famous
speech mercy; and her artful assumption OF oollo
quial and worldly familiarity with Shyioek when
making the last appeal were not ouly foe In them
selves bnt notably fine as close denotements OF her
ability. For Imagination. dramatic. intuition. p'etry,
and a sweet and charming NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
yfyacity archness tender gravity dignity and brilliant
ntelecthe OF this Poria Will look In vains
but In stage experience of general IDEAL aud
ease execution it is strong and sufficient. 1t
moderate applause
over the performance in general there the hosf
tant vague air OF parior heaross which. to greater
or less extent has invested all OF Mr. Days reyiyasOf
Shakespeare. This is commonly impaired by youthful
and experimental performers and by such
ture but Wonderland probably, 1t is unavoidable Mr.
DAILY Is credited with having done the best that
was possible with the materials al his command. Muoh
stress land on the music. Miss Nina varsn [to
whom, as Jessca, Is an evenings entertainment In
ITSELF she so sweetly picturesque tho vsonl sang
IN introduced song, ia father Shylocks balcony and
Joined with Mr.. Hart Conway as Lorenzo Ia an in.
troduced duet in Portals hall; and these pieces
executed with beautiful precision and In deep and
feryent mood OF especially the part OF
Mr.. Conway, who revealed brilliant and surprising
talent as q vocalist Mr. Owen Fawcet acting Laasee-
lot Gobbo. drol and nimble clown. and did the
usual farce backing upon the Venetian gall
lants with the ease OF the old stager Mr.. HarSins
ratified gaily through GrataHo but favored 1t rather
with wooden nutmeg than Italian spice. That much
has been gained either for dramatic art or the public
instruction and pleasure, by this revival OF Snakes
paare will not suppose, be claimed by intelIigent
observers N theatrical affairs. It Is however. enter
prise very eredtabe 20 the Fifth Avenue Tseaer. and
we hope II win be rewarded with crowded houses.
PARK THEATER.
OPERA BOUFPE-IE VOYAGE EN- CHINE.
French Comic Opera was introduced Mon
aov ni1htr tha tag of in ha