The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-10
The Lady of Lyons.

A good audience, considering the driving
storm, gathered at the Museum last evening to
see Mr.. Wheelock and Miss Joyce in ''The
Lady of Lyons" Those who braved the storm
and wind were amply compensated for what
Inconvenience they were put to, for they wit
messed performance of marked excellence.
The "Pauline" of Miss Joyce was surprise
Most of us have the idea that the lofty scorn
and contempt which the merchants daughter
is called upon to evince can only be expressed
and perhaps fully felt by women of command
ing presence. For this we have no warrant
the facts being against US. Indeed, history
teaches us to the contrary. Of the naughty
women who ruled the French court and cabinet
in the dissolute days of the old monarchy, by
far the greater portion were women of low
stature, and Thackeray, with his close fidelity
to nature, bas made in his "Virginians'' the
cold and proud daughter of Colonel Esmond
little dame who easily stands under the arms of
her sons None the less the contrary associa-
ton holds with US, and so many feared that the
attempt of Miss Joyce would be failure.
But the lady compelled her audience to forego
that objection. She gave a performance of
great and striking merit, not unm AIRED by
faults it is true, but in the main admirably
sustained. In the second act she was easy,
finished, charmingly natural, playing the part
with quiet force that was excellent in its way.
In the trying scenes of the third act she over
came the great temptation there is to exagger-
alton ofmanner while not essentially failing to
portray the passion intended to be conveyed.
Indeed, she was if any thing Gf the expression
be allowable) too natural, though she never
approached tameness. Buwers drama is in
its very nature stagey-staginess of the very
highest order it is true. It exceeds all bounds
of probability, and in both the leading charac.
tiers, calls for the most pronounced emphasis.
Yet it is not just TO say that Miss Joyce failed
to convey the full strength of the situation
One missed the magnificent sweep across the
stage seen in the "Pauline" of most of our fine
actresses, and the passionate scorn in the voice
when those lines Of splendid bombast are de-
livered in which the outraged woman taunts
the peasants son with the pictures of imagina-
ry grandeur which he has drawn. Still the in.
jured pride, the loathing, the dawning pity,
and the affection surviving all wrong were
amply conveyed-not so much by voice as by
feature. The expression of Miss Joyce's face
as she sat by the table while "Claude' made
his confession was triumph of dramatic art
Her Juliet showed that she had considera-
BILE mobility of feature; but the varying emo
tons which fitted over the face of "Pauline'',
the rapid changes of expression while the man
who had wronged her made his partial justifi-
cation, were wonderfully well done and showed
the possession of great natural histronic abili-
ty. The whole scene was given by the two so
strongly and well that they were called before
the curtain at the close of the act. From that
time forward she held her audience to the close
of the piece.
Mr.. Wheelock's "Claude Melnotte'' calls for
very high commentator as finished, spirited
and picturesque Characterization. Despite a
severe cold which affected his voice and went
to mar his delivery his playing throughout was
strong and effective. In the opening scenes
he acted with great dash and uerue, presenting
a finely executed conception of the enthusiastic
young man, filled with high hopes and aspira-
tons, and stretching out his hands with the
sublime audacity of youth, for the highest
prize in the awards of life. He was strong too
in the expression of wounded pride and unre-
Quilted passion where the friend brings back the
rejected address," In the third act he was
''the man born to be king" and carried himself
with the air Of the Prince he feigned to be-
AS he stepped upon the stage with pauline
he looked the picture of handsome yonng
hero of the days of the French Revolution
His love-mak.ng was ardent and impassio ned,
and in the scenes where he is swayed by con-
flicting emotions, hesitating between his love
and honor and the qualification of his ven-
geance,. and where he finally turns upon the
conspirators he was markedly successful in
expression. Not less fine was his manner
when he took Pauline to his mothers home
and revealed his treachery. His delivery was
perhaps little too declama!ory in that scene,
but it was pleasing and effective, and his action
was fully equal to the situation. In the clos
ing scenes.after his return from the wars he
sustained himself with equal power and grace.
The afterpiece, "Katharine and Petruchio,"
we have no space to dwell upon this morning
1t is sufficient to say that Miss Joyce and Mr..
Wheelock acquitted themselves admirably
well, achieving new triumphs.
The play will be repeated this evening and
at the Saturday matinee 1t deserves packed
houses on each occasion. Tomorrow evening
Mr. Wheelock and Miss Joyce take benefit,
appearing in "Much Ado About Nothing"
and very fine impersonations of "Benedic."
and Beatrice" may be confidently expected.
Seats are now for sale, and a rousing house
ought to greet the two.
FOREST CITY TEMPLE OF HoNoR.-A large