New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-10
TIE LONDON STAGE.
ANCIENT AND MODERN PLAYS.


LONDON, Dec. 16-There are people fool
hardy enough to confess that they admire Gero'nc or
an Alma Tadoma than the dingest CorreggiO that
ever was painted who decline to reverence smudgy
old it bears the signature OF Bach andwh
wckedly prefer modern glass and frosted silver 10
hdeous beerug of the middleages. TO their number
fear must be added not few Of the Londoners who
have been called to Crystal Palace to delight in the
Greek drama in the shape Of the "Antgone'
" SophOcles. 1t seems curious anomaly III
every way not least in the place where II
was given. for the Palace at present Is chiefly
occupied by dealers imitation jewelry for afternoon con-
cers the eating OF hot dinners and the exhibiting of
photographs OF great many fat and hourishng royal
Acknowledgment surroundings for the and simple
severity o; a Greek play. Even Mendelssohns music,
and pathetic 1t is in many passages suits the
text OF the chorus almost little as the Engllshmen
aud Italians in muton-chop whskers and incompre
hen,ble dresses who sing it. There is also redness
and spindencss about the bare arms and legs OF the
guard that is painfully unTheban. so long AS the text
runs along simple Saxon not unworthy Of the
original but when 1t swells into the pomposity OF Latin
derivatives the Of the ncongruous rises with IT,
As "A curiosity the "AntIgone" done into English ana
played upon English stage is worth seeing but
losing its dignity Of time and place and language,
it keep little other interest that which might
surround It's author were meet him tTeading be-
widered pavement OF Ffthaye 1t Is like dressing
noble Diana Of Phidas In red petcoat ana bonnet;
he anger OF the gods, CreOns tyranny lsmenes SOFT
femninity Antgones brave devotion, lose oven typical
value modern stage The production OF the play,
however has given that handsome and clever American,
Miss Gcnev1eyc Ward. opportunity TO show power In
the ungraciOs character OF sketch from the antique
she has played Antigone with the serious grace and
aud occasional force called for by the text ana
her stately figure, her large, fine features and deep con
tralto voice. suit well the sad and quoeniy heroine
y dnt of quiet yet passionate simplicity she has sue
l.F.r harl
entombneut n really elective piece of acting. and that
not an easy thing to do
could be greater contrast TO The "Antigone
than Is Mr.. W. s. Gbert's new fairy play OF " Broken
Hearts" just brought out the boards whero Robert
rc.cd long II ia dainty lttc poem III plot ana
sentiment; it is sad but not sombcr and with all the
delicate uuworldy grace Of Mr.. Giibcrts former plays
has more warmth Its romance ia OF tho ideal sort to
charm young poet dreaming girl, but 1t has GER
tain philosophy for people Of sudiOus Temperance NJ
And blank verso, sadly musical and simple, has
real literary merit. When work 80 beautiful so
pure and tender finds success on the stage IL
not it time for the cynIcs to step little
way ont of their agreeable state OF despair
concerning it, prospccis Under the palms on m sand
in halcyon 1--we six maicns, who. with one eNcep
tou have loved and lost on EARTH and who have CHIT
refuge there for their broken hearts The exception
the Larry vdrir. gentle, fragile childToman' whose
heart not broken IT has mover boon awakened
But an these .ad hearts Frightening OF the
nonoonols island life and III tho drcary days with
devotion 90 things inanimltc one loves a mirror
that's not strange" muses. the hero-and 'drT
watches and hangs with flowers sundial whcr'at she
learns like the fool l. the forest TO moral on the time
The Lady Hida who has a stronger nature than Vdcrs
aud who earth has loved, unknown to him. Prince
Iloran ~ Span brave, GOdiearing knight, the very
pink aud bloom OF chiyalry," gives her VOWS 10
fountain which her represents tender AMI unseihsh
charity. The mlidens have only one attendant
uons,p n dwarf. hunchbaeked. halfblind, crooked
horrible another Caliban. Accidentally there comes to
the island handsome. merry gracious Prince F0rian'
who with maynard curiosity determines TO stay, In spite
Of a warning from Monsta. The knight has magic
DO session. a vail OF insi-iby, ana shrOudcd III ltr
fold, ne gayly and thoughiles,y woos ldrT when she
appears To place her goodnight wreath upon her dlal
Unseen ho ayows hmscl. a mortal imprisoned by en-
chantnent in the dial and the gentle girl yields her
heart nj once that playful voice aud disappears to
dream Of the hero focls has To bring hope
an love 90 her fndng lfc Presently comes beautiful
dd and fancying herself alone. tells 10 her little oun-
tain story Of her uusOught unrevcalcd love for RIO
ran II snot in mortal man to listen unmovod to such
tale and Forum sill Invisible, responds as the spirit OF
the Waters in Ioyer-lke strain. this time genuine And
tins with touch OF humOr In its pathos the first act
leaves Vdrr and Hiia both in love with voice. The
next has more OF tragedy. The unfortunate Monsfa,
who has a mans holrt and the form OF monster has
for long secretly adorcd Hd and steals the vail Of In
visibility I'm order to WOO her Ike FIOriar. Like
Flor1an pleads In eloquent and touching phrase and
fiiia bewitchrl. gives him solemny her troth, AMI
with tia ring II ng into the fountain. Then at last
W,ns'a throws off tho vail and H,ida recognizing her
servan in passion Of horror and disgust coaXes the
alisman from him. and then bitterly declaring that
she is indeed pledged to him but that he shall
never sec her more, wraps herself In II ami
disappears leaving Monsa remorsefll and dcspairlng
H. nj discovery OF He
das love- ind, too late what effect his idle words have
had upon Vlris virgin hoart and grieyingy and ten
DERBY he tells the fashion oi parable that he loves
her sister Before he finish HIS story FdrT core-
bends her fate that lowering shadow OF death falls upon
her face. and when he asks, shall 80 onl she ws
peers:
"No ncch-I know tho rest
The maiden died She pardoned him and died.
Emf Hflda hidden behind the magic vail has heard all.
and resolves sacrifice her found Joy to keep her
little sister In life Casplng Fo,idn In her arms at the
moment when she tells him how she adores him, she gyes
hi up forever ana impores him TO save Tdrir Heart
broken he consents and IN frantic appeal to Vdrr to
I've and her possible happiness Hda kneols beside
the dropping lt'le maiden:
Gentle little SOUL fly not to thno appointed heaven
Not vet hot vet, Eternity ia thine.
spare but a few brief hours to us on earth.
And sim eternity remains to thcel -
lie loves thee florian loves thee we'll o Death
Are there no hoary men and aged women
Weeping for thee 20 come aNI comfort thtn!
q DEATH - Death! leave nle this little howerl
Take thou the fruit hut pass this blossom byP
But the black shadow will not be lifted. The gentle
little soul mrrmurng "Goodnight," goes 10 her own
place ~ the suu sinks behind her da-and the curtain
falls leaving not few stout Englishwomen sobbng be
hind their handkerchief The spirit aud treatment or
this little dramatic poem IS dany exquisite that IT
M ght well carry Inferior representation But the acting
though not striking. Is uniformly good Miss Holdings
head young and very pretty woman. makes charming
Torr Her innocent erlcssness only occasionally falls