New-York tribune., 1876-08-15
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
SARDANApAIJIS.

1t is difficult to determine, Off-haud, whether
the resurrection of Byrons "Sardanapaus'-whch was
successfully accomplished last night in Messrs Jarrett
and Palmers Theater-should be regarded blessing
bore Starting afresh under propitious conditions,
the ASsyrian King will amble with for long time.
That, however Is not the worst OF it, The hour must
come when though steadas TO this land he will leave
the capital and forth his provincial tour in the dis
tngulshed wake OF Julius Caesar and Henry the Fifth
and worthy that the baggage he will then
carry comprises bis great name and Byrons great
reputation. That has already loosened many
teeth ami tangled ears in the polite circles OF this
metropolis. What dental devastation and auricular
meshes it may and what the sound OF IL VIII he
when begins to roll tn ough the valleys OF the Ohio
and the Mississippi imagination fairly willis to conjcc
ture But when to this vision Of dismay Is added the
prophetic conviction that the entire rural press OF our
glorious country will presently let loose its flood tide of
intellect upon Byrons genius and morals, know not
where Is that Promethean which can accept with
out alarm the revival of "sardanapalus."
For the Lame Mailer to the average faculty OF pro-
nuncation and the Byron that shines Though the trag-
edy is pre6mnenty just the man whom his devoees
adore and whom all mOralsts detest He wrote IL at
Ravenna, in lS2i-a fruitful period with his wonderful
nd-and there story that he wrote II TO illustrate
some point relative to ambition and love as motive pow
ers, which happened to be IN dispute bctwiXt himself
and the Countess Guiccoli 1t is work worthy of the
source and the circumstances out Of which it srra1g.
Splendid imagination, audacous conceptions OF char
and conduct deep sympathy with the grand beauty
and omnous mystery of nature, and enormous emo
tional vitality blend its texture with delicate Vorp
tuousness mocking cyncsm pert reckless lcvity ana
breezy awcss freedom from all sorts OF shackles ana
these are clearly seen to be the attributes Of the poet
They make up man who could not help fomeniing dis
cusson and who will always remain tempting topic Tor
the analyst.
That person is abroad with the ful! knowledge OF his
motner in Colubias press, at this time aud an
finn
Byron Is a thing confidently to be expected from this
revival. The undertaking should however juatfy itself
in one way ana there to hope that will do so
in still another. 1t has cer,aDl resulted in amagnli-
cent stage spectacle It may also have the ohect To
prompt such careful thinning ByTon's tortured heart
iogiess lc pathetic end, and desecrated grave as VIII
insure for his memory the charitable Judgment Of tins
generation of Americans
He prOdiced splendid body oi English literature no
lived life of bitter grief and dying at &c. he passed
away at age when most men are just beginning 10 i've
the true life OF man. He a Yory great poet whose
spiritual nature linked him to the stars while his pny-
sca nature tuggcd level him with the brhtc so that
his existence was delirium of wild sefconfict ana
PASSIONATE self-contemp There he no misery more
bleak hopeless relentless and wasting than that which
this iustrous person must have suffered TIC ought 10
have the charity of ali The thousands that arc now or
recently 70 think upon him, his tragedy speeds over
| the American stage.
His tragedy, al all events when viewed asa stage spec
tace will have Their admiration: and "a has been III
tnated, 1t is mainly stage spectacle that u SHOULD
be viewed and uiGcd Ii not intended Tor the pr
poses Of acting and-although it fits the stage quite
well as adapted. in four acts by the Ssin, able aGh
conscientious hand Charles CaycTt-it vcr can
afford much opportunity to the actor. To sI5cct II To
the test acting, accordingly isvhcn dramatic essen
tals are consideredlike holding torch against the
| sun, which deadcns quenches its brightness MA
oreaIy after making four examinations OF his tragedy
In ftN
sionless monotOnous AMI devoid Of action; auc though
LIE afterward acted in H. this experienced and competent
| practical judge never changed this opnioni
PassioIcss is not but the critical estimate Is other
wise exactly true Its threnodyof human ho'hihShc'N
Is struck from n single chord. Dialogues between twos
or tirees succeed other in changcicss eytnhc'S,
upon aciion past or action that IS occurring elsewhere
than the scene, action that u To come Mtch Is
talked about; little is done. The most startling
incident Is the disruption Of the banquet
which is a remScencc OF the famous Beshazzar scene.
In the Old Ebie. The most important action Is the
t,e one Of sta ag.-bltc. which /. made to Huctuate,
in the Of old fashions. OnH Of che finest passages
is Ihat-oocuIring in Byron's third act-wfich srpeS
Ifyrrhds participation in the fight and the Tact mat
the au, hor has caused this be narrated rather than
shown Is not the OF many proofs that s style oi
psy-wrting he repeatedly said designed Tor the
| closet and not the stage.
The thnucss OF the action is really remarkable In net
first the King to change the scene OF banquet
second he thwarts The punishment OF tbe tohspHd
tors; orders their banishmcnt; and talks over these
aairs with his mistress In act third he IA attack'd III
his palace whence after first suffering defeat, ne
beats Ea his assaants In act fourth he describes ms
.0nnies when dreaming Of Baal and scmranls and he
has a farewell interview with his wie-wlch Is the
lftiest AMI most snggestlyCly dramatic p1rt OF the
niece In act fifth Le commands the preparation of ms
funeral pile and accompanied by fy7hd consigns MIN
self TO "A reSI,cndrut death
The Oproruuty provided by this last grand situation
and also inc opportunities Afforded by the scenes OF the
banou.t and the fight have been improved by Mr CAT
vert and NJ ssrs Jarrett and Palmer with delicate taste
and with costly ibeTay. His arrangement OF the pirc"
is excellent He has cOEdcnsed tie first Two acts INTO
one devoted the second act 10 the exposition @! tho
King- reye illustrated the war In act third; ana gwen
the funeral sacrifice in act fourth and be has based his
scenes on authorities His cutting Of the text
| has been done with uuquesonably practical Judgment.
More particular remark the presentation 0l MS yer
sion may be reserved II is proper likewise TO reserve
discussion OF the 9cng Of Mr. Bangs as Sd'ddnoPdi~'
Mrs Agnes Booth MJ7Tha. Mr. Z. X. Collier rs Ar
b0ces Miss Dora GOldhwaitO /dTiH1, Mr. weaver rs
| Beiesrs and bir. Lewis Aldrich as Sd'eme"'s
There was nothing remarkable about H. sucE
as should make analysis OF II precipiiae
We are 10 consider though. That the stress Is lad on the
spectacle more than on the dramatic clement Sd'h
masses Of color such gorgcousucss o grouping, sncl
daz2nc crc have never been before crowded lut" one
dramas and the mo.t pronounced acting wOuld have been
blurred by such overwhelming splcndor Of accessories.
Ms Booths reading Of TIE IA 10 De mentioned "a
finely intelligent. and both Mr. Bangs aud Mrs booih
mpartcd cry spirit 10 the before the battle Tie
ba et he best tGs public hlo sa,n and II elected
cordial psudts-csp"c.ay for bile Mclyina Bartortii
The house was crowded III all parts. There Is abundant
success in the rcviya-GOt much because OF lyTOn,
however a. of ID" ouonco with which his story
hoe t,.n. OF