Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-08
ADJUSTMENTS.
The ThealeF.

Last night there was q very apprecia-
tive audience at the Memphis Theater
to welcome Mr.. Adams in the play of
the Marble Heart; or the Sc,tLptor's s
Dream. The piece was well mounted,
easily worked, and in many respects
better presented than ever before in this
city. The prologue, which is intended
to give, as it were, an insight into the
ideal OF the play, and at the same time
portray the relative position of thu ar
tist aud society, the philosopher and the
citizen, as learned from history,
though, perhsp., as interpreted by
the experience of genius when intense
In its sympathies, but iDjudicious in its
selections of objective realities, was
handsomely mounted, well cast and
most gracefully executed. Mr.. Adams,
in the role of "Phidias," the sculptor,
was received with applause, and by a
rendition of this role made himself so
effective as to elicit not only the plaudits
Of all, but the tears from a goodly num-
ber of the audience. This play, to speak
briefly, is u strangely beautiful illustra-
tion Of the unhappy love, the pitiable
life and sorrowful death of an artist,
Raphael" who, bewitched by the
smiles ana guiles Of heartless coquette,
" Mile Marco" forsakes his study, and
at last finds that he has wOrshipped
creature so beautiful, very beautiful, but
fatally fslse, aud as she says, deaf to ey-
cry reproach, dead to all re-
mOrse-One who had been taught
to honor the luxuries Of wealth
and idOlize the possessOr of
gold. The character of Raphael"
though strangely enough portrayed by
the author, is yet one in which abounds
the finest sentiment, the mos dreadful
folly and lamentable fidelity of hope
confidence and devotion, that misguidt d
affection ever demanded. In the rendi-
tion of this role Mr.. Adams brought into
play not only the livelier ana more
graceful moods of feeling and fancy, but
also gave expression to pathOs and
passion tender and winning, and realis-
tic and impressive; in fact, his portrayal
was 80 natural and life-like, so grand
and touching, as to enlist the sympathy
of every one, for here and there, through
the melancholy of the lover, would
gleam much of the moral SUBJ
lime in truth and philosophy. We
seldom witness in our theater such in
tensiiy of feeling, such unity Of SYM
psthy on the part Of the audience as
Mr.. Adams aroused last night. We
hardly could have thought that in the
character of "Phidiss" there was such
fund Of rich varied sentiment, and that
any actor could have expressed so effect
lively and impressively the current of
emotions which warm into grand dra-
matte reality of sight, speech, attitude
and action the humble self, but proud
and unfortunate love-dreams of seulp-
tor. But from the time "R9phael Du-
chatlet" owns that the image of "Mar-
CO." the marble-hearted statue, is
craven deep in his hesrS, through
the scenes of hope :and disappoint.
ment, to the return home, the
consciousness of a mother brought
to an untimely grave by the neglect OF
her son, and tire final scene where the
artist sinks into death, there is a natu-
raj, consecutive and even portraiturs,
which once beheld can not soon be- ef-
faced from the memCry OF the audience.
There was In the acting of Mr.. Adams
last night matchless feTvor of simplici-
ty, charming to the senses of the audi
ence and satisfactory to the critic. And
in the scene where he tears the white
wreath, emblem Of purity, from the
brow of the marble-hearted woman, and
tramples it under his feet, the great actor
rose to the zenith of dramatic power
and artistic reality. Indeed not more
was his attitude than
he portrayed of "dignity and honol"
which his friend, Ferdinand Voltage"
had upbraided him for losing and pros
tituting. 1t is glorious play, one which
as interpreted by Mr.. Adams-leaves
its impress upon the heart and elevates
our feelings into a higher sesthesis of
virtue and truth. Mr.. Hart Conway,
as "Ferdinand Volage," the editor,
shared with Mr.. Adams in the applause
so generously awarded. His rendition
Of this role was smooth, skillful and ef-
fective. Miss May Arlington's "Marco"
was quite acceptable, and If she were
In the power of voice, she was
not in the grace of attitude, the fidelity
of expression and the case OF manner. or
Miss SadieVivian as"Marie, ,"an orphan,
we must say she hss an elegant simpli-
city of style and manner equal to the
of the role she peIsonated
80 charmiDgly. The other members of
the company were acceptable even to a
critical degree of excellence, and it is
,afe to assert that Marble Heart last
night was enjoyed more than upon any
previous occasion by the refined audi
ence st the Memphis Theater. We
nope to see this play presented at the
matinee. Tonight Enoch
ATden will be played, and Of course
here will be full house, for the enter
,ainment is both attractive and interest
no