New-York tribune., 1876-01-12
THE DRAMA.
MR.. DILLON AT THE PARK.


NJ Jobp Dillon il able, as De Boots and
-. 70 disclose more fully than he coud in Cruci-
A., hs onality and faculties as an actor Hel hlu'
ssged man OF thin figure, eccentric yet rePoseiui car
900 and obviously drol temperament HIS eyes, gray
So, in color are bright and mirthfui his voice is ehli
r,Dv and smooth ond his countenance though ''eu III
onge end variety Of expression. displays an amusing
opaintess The element by which he chieny "oiks ~
produce laughter is comca absury-an attribute 'nc-
10, IN bumor but often mistaken for IT, For thiS ee
c,.pt whether in individuality, situation, or "hsu'se,
be bss keen perception; ana IN eAIe4o"Oo -
,hs stage lie has acquired that COMMAND N
confessional methods which enables bih 10 uan7ato
ttis element in way that ia effective upon others ne
IA moi hmorst but he can amuse by lu'ueious Pranhs
-, ,t,r,iop. He does not depict humorous traits OF
tr l,t be rresents volatile changes OF irOcs0me
conditions lie is proficient actor somewhat coNol III
burlesoue but in way exceptional hlS PeIsoh"'on
a, ne p.ots was rough piece OF DurlCsqueacIhe SUI
,rsd bcye ard there. with ambent fun sharply comic
A. two or three points, in stage business and clumsy In
,,s,i. construction No spectator unacquaiDted with
,Io cou,edv Of every bodys Friend" could derive
from Mr. Dilon's impeysonatiOn OF De Roots anything
Hte n dist'nct and rounded ideal OF the char
seter There was visible intention, IN DIS
acting beyond the intention 10 make sport 1he
mart of Ds Boots is to some extent, canca-
ture but better actors than Mr. Dillon have found ana
bown that the nts OF carcature laid upon surfaces
., ,hpsn nature and that De Boots Is humorous indi-
,dpaiitv and not merely a buffOon. Mr. Dillon drops
him 10 the level OF Pilic0ddg without succeeding III
making him strongly funny and this he does with an art
design so thoughtloss careless that 1t permits the
use of personal pecu arcs to he intermittent instead OF
making II vigorously continuous. When we add that Mr.
Dmn made little or nothing Of the crisp, scntenous,
whimsical lines that abound in the language allotted TO
DE Boois but often amplifed them, as TO "rub in
the meaning we shall have sufficiently indicated the
nature Of his performance and the grounds OF our
esnaethat he is an actor of merely average merit,
whom accident has placed in a aconspicuous position
His T,rttcrs was a dry, Of-hand whimsical, distinct
performance and much better than his De Boots Miss
Maud Granger appeared to advantage in the comedy and
Miss Edmonson and Mr. PaISlOe were notably satisfac-
tory in the farce Mr. ParslCe, however, is coarse al
most to vulgdry, and Miss Granger has yet TO acquire
tho art TO make simplicity and naturaneSs discTeety
emphatic Her defect Is the defect Of many beginners
tanencss Acting should Of be nalural but the
person who under artistic conditions behaves as II those
conditions commonplace, will not produce the effect
OF nature stage is pOPulous with callow amateurs
who walk about in dress suits and think they look IKE
people in society, while IN fact they are mncng, vapd
nummers whose only effect apart from tcdiousness' Is
to deepen IN the plilosophic mind a sense OF the
colossal proportions OF human vanity and ignorance
We do not in position dstinctyspeak Of Miss Granger as
caliow amateur; but the lady has almost everything to
learn before she will become actress, ana she calls TO
N nd class OF theatrical asprants much in need OF
sppreciave knowledge Of the principles Of dramatic art
Among the miscellaneous performers who appear at the
Park Thcator in "EveybOdy's Friend" called now "A
Widow Hmt"y, and "My Turn Next" Mr. Cyril Soalle
is notable for good bearing and incorrect management OF
language; Miss May Stuart for artistic ugliness and
talent for cayicature Mr. W. j. Ferguson for conven-
tonahty and Miss Pearl Eytnge for personal vim and
assurance The performance ends with the jury Room
scene from "Crucble" which has been altered without
being improved. This exceedingly funny when first
shown rs bit OF broad burleSque, amid dull surround
ings; hut 1 now seems as vulgar the horseplay OF
boothlacks ON O nicnio in Jonoss Wood.