New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-08
THE DRAMA.
MISS NEIL SON AS VIOLA

May brings in the viOlcts. Miss Nelson ap-
peared last evening, at the Fifth Avenue Thcatcr-whch
was crowded to the doors, with uncommonly brilliant
audence-and acted ViOiG, In shakespt ares delicate
comedy OF Twelfth Night" This performance furnishes
a remarkable example of intimate correspondence DO
tween pOetcal conception and actual ndividualism.
The indiyduasm, however, is lifted, by force Of
Imaginative emotion and by skill in the art
of embodiment, into ideal atmosphere; and this
fact at separates the work from the realm Of
photography, and yindcaes IL distinct creation Of
dramatic genius. Miss Nelson, mean TO say is not
content with initiating herself, or with initiating the
character that she On the contrary inter
prets both. The result, last night snguariy de-
EGhuu; for both to be compounded of
business and spirituality and each felt be har
moniOus with the other The full scope OF Miss Neil
sons powers is by tested in Viola;
yet it affords abundant Illustration Of her
quality 10 charm-and we shall do VIC
lCnce TO truth when say that, compared
with certain other and stronger cmbOdmerts whereby
this actress has revealed her genius and her fame it
Is like perfume that hits the before come
upon the garden OF blown Of which springs
The feminine elements that combined in Tota make
her, upon the hand the most piQua't and lnntaz
ing aud, upon the other band-f except pJ0en-the
most teuderly fascinating OF all tic hcrOn's OF
Shakespeare. She Is young beautiful, refined, gentle,
and brilliant She is arch, without cOquetry, and
sho il afectiouate without mavkishness She can
hut they not intense she capable of but
not OF misery. Her emotions do not distract her soul
She both patient 10 suffer and prompt ana efficient 10
act TIE rathos OF her condition arises from the be-
s.owa Of her where seemingly her love bestowed
in vain The denoement Of that pathos is the CLEAN VI
wstiul sadness that only and then becomes visible
through the roseate flush Of Gce which plays over the
whole surface OF her character and conduct sorrow Is
never so touching as when its presence is detected
Through the vail of jOyaud 1t Il through this vail chat
Miss Nelson, acting l,Od, permits the gazer to LOOK
upon the endurance of this pure maidens cling
ing trusifl, afeCtiOua.e heart Nature has given 10
this has developed the gft-precsely
the attributes and faculties nccdul TO the winning
portrayal Of VtOGs condition and experience. The scn-
der figure, the sensitive, expressive cOuntenancc, tho
br liant cycs-n which there is light equally OF mourn
fulness and hOpe-the Innocent geeful, ciildhke
SMILE the rich, musical voice, the unyalmg because
unconscious grace movement, and the pcnsyc, sweet
gravity Of character and demeanor all IN place in
This representation. To describe it s~wcll nigh
impossible The dreamy dying odOr OF the
jasmine is not moro Cvanescent than Is the quiet
grace Of this embodiment As long as TINS
Viola is present the the eye follows her little
figure with pleased interest and the fancy muses. upon
her with kindly, protective sentiment Many Cra-
cioUs images are prompted by her presencc-the
laughter o innocent children the ripple Of un'con sum
ner brooks the notes Of distant music. the las rays al
fading sunset hc Odor of blossoms on the soft winds
%
they serve to denote character and indicate value Miss
NELSON'S method in acting VIOLA is, its results, sim
u.lcity itself The portrayal would have been
truer last night, had lis shadows been MADE
darker and deeper. IN all Othcr respects 1t
was fauliless. The ouburst of mischioVou7 gee
upon the discovery Of Oiiriqs love, may be named as
specal felicity of the action In the challenge and duA
scenes also the portrature Of shrinking feminine coward
ice-conmngled of amazemcat CONSERVATION, fear, and
weakness made dcci0usly drOll At every frGIc
point indeed. Miss Nelson's tayiulncss found adH!ia
bic eXprcssiOu and she almost equally elective IN
moments OF deiEure rCpose. Ia" scene with OrSino' III
which Ti0iq's own love is MT ally described
fingers in remembrance, though, - ne gem II the
work Miss NELSON'S clOcution, at all lue7 smooi" and
epontancous- stern taste might perl s = SIZE
formal cnunciatiOn Of certain WOrds-s ohtileF
beautiful IN tins passage and the lines 81 lln III the
daughters of ny fathers house, and ali the bTouth
foo are spoken in tones far Transcend even the
soft beauty ana sad significance OF the language Alto
cetAcr in this rresentmcut Of VIOLA Miss Nelson has
added 70 the pantheon Of tie stage nguc lhai must
long live In memory exquisite III Iioporuoh d'A'''o
in line and color soft aud d eamy in character ana very
bright and tender in presence and emotion The Ie'er
ton accorded TO te performance last night was at first
formal bi afterwaTd genial to the pitch Of enthusiasm
Miss Nelson was Ave times called before the curtain
aud many gifts OF nOwcrs-copiOus alike IN quantity
and splcudor-were conveyed 10 her across TIC
lamps. Mr. Dagidge gave his well-Bno"n and e1-
/ yclicut Interpretation OF SIR IO5g Bfich, ana
Mr. Fisher repeated his famous performance Of N1iroo
The hulnor of the latter might have been more CON
sonant with Shakespeare had it been sarnne rather
than chrruppy and iovia. Oijria by Miss Eigl, was
marred by indistnct uttcrance aud a hard demcanor
Mr. Hardeuburg handled the Cj0'c" very well, and
Mr.. Drew made crcditlDlc though not successful
ESSAY IN Sir AndrcU IgVechcct-which nc might
do we'll 70 dfercutiatc from Muster Slender.
Mr. Ebcn PympOn acoI Sebastian, and made an excel
lent impression by manly Carucstncss III the Steiner
portous and by gaiard dash and eyy IN the scene OF
Otri's mistaken wOoing. a quaint dance closes the
representation Of Twelfth Night" directed by Miss
Nelson, and SO gives 1t the swans end,
diving In music The comedy VIII be repeated
throughout this week, hut will give place next
Monday 10 the stronger play Of "Cyinbclino.' Miss
Nelson will then present I)geH, wherein her renown 10
et young. Il may well Ice thought thai her Fioa is
guarantee of the excellence Of the more intense and
yvomanIv character. 4 little TO change the words OF
Shakespeare,
she hath a heavenly gift o. prophecy
And many blessing hang about her head
That speak fuii pi grace
SMIKE.