The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-09
a NUS EN- IcNTS.


Mr. Sothcrn. was glad to SEQ. did not give
what Is usually called star performance. That
IL to say. he did not assume that his individual
talents and celebrity were sufficient to make
play acceptable On the contrary. he offered the
new piece flor II IL virtually new hercl with
select company of clever players and pcrfcc-
ton Of ensemble that were u surprise to the
people who are in the habit OF going to the Park
Theatre.
1t IL peculiarly satisfactory to be able TO pay
this tribute to an actors dramatic sincerity at n
time when even those who have done the most
to dcbauch the drama are bowling about it's de-
cline. Mr.. Sothcrn's talents and fame are SUI
ncient to warrant him in following the course of
his eminent contemporaries in this matter.
That he has not followed them must bc accepted |
ms indicative of his superior professional hon
csty
Byron's pleasant drama hns not been inverted |
or bent from ts original integrity by such |
treatment ns Mr.. Sothcrn bcstows upon it, II |
the part Of FHz AHdmouie in the performance Mt
the Park Theatre were given to an ordinary
stock nctor the play itself would still be inter-
csting. and the acting admirable Mr.. Sothcrn
has not substituted his part for the story. He
has enlarged It and added it to the story.
| think il is important to understand this be-
cause il involves the whole question Of dramatic
honesty. The inIuitous star system has in
sisted that W. shall have individuals instead Of
plays and il is notorious that the most ilagrant
and impudent OF these stars have tried to SHIFT
the responsibility upon the public. | also make
point here. because the praise which con
ccive Justly belongs to Mr.. Soihcrn for his
latest impcrsonntion. and which intend to be-
stow upon him. will hc none the less valuable
when Il II understood that 1t can be- given with
out that almost inevitable regret that his pre-
emnoncc is made at the expense Of everybody
else in the play.
Ftis Ahdmonte presented himaclf 10 the public
as n new character and was So accepted. The
moment he walked upon the stage. Il shout of
admiration and approval greeted him: for the
public If marvcllously quick at recognizing
fresh arrival The truth is. it is a little weary
Of the eternal paraphrasc Of the theatre. which
| is always presenting us with the old idea and
| the old character in a now garment.
Some one said that the plaudits OF the assem-
| blace on this occasion were meant for recog-
milton Of Mr.. Sothcrn think they were Hon
estly offered. because Mr.. Sothcrn was not
distinguishahlr.
The actor had so identified himself with D'U-
| dreolB that we all expected to see that character
peering through any disguise. We had come
10 accept Mr. Sothcrn ~ the stag" fop of the
period. There WAS a notion that h" thought 50
much Of D,miredrV that he admitted him into
all roles. When. therefore. TiS itNuoNie came
| il stranger. without even the strawberry mark
! - manner -m on his urm--a lul.ubrious "illl.y
| Of stage tradition. dark. hrooding. with the
mus .l.. Of his face drawn down into heavy and
dolcful Inns. ana the eyes guitcred to his
checks. as IL with many Seasons OF tears. an cN-
press ON 81 wo"-hegonr moo, -sity and iutrns"
| enthusiasm for him- II 30 mingled, that it was
| impoSsi llo To separate thom-whon this sahl"
appari,ion stepped with careful. technical tread
a.. 20. tt. llf sffttrs
word. with all that II udicrous and familiar in
the Formally Of tragic art. we set our instant
seal II admiration upon IT,
The cleanliness and care az the method were
interesting to me. used to admire Sothcrn =
DpndredrV for the same qualities. Up 10 his
time the stage fop was reverbcration. Prob
ably nothing in the drama was so unchanGcably
reproduced rs the brainless popinJay who over
dressed himself that he might bc butt for the
bright woman or the stanch man Of comedy.
Even his clothes and the cut II his mutton-chop
whiskers suffered less change in the advancing
years than any familiar stage type.
Sothcrn took this manikn and hreathcd an
ample soul Of satire into IT, For the first time
the fop became the gentleman. without ceasl IN;
10 show signs Of diocy. DpidrtdIV Re presented
man run altogether to manners Just a. Asa
Heachdrd represented man not yet developed
into a gentleman. Together they contrasiod
two forms of civilization With all Dmdredry'
stupidity. he never ceased To- show good breed
Ing With all Asa Tei,chdrdS hectoring bravery
and INDEPENDENCE he never ceased 10 hc coarse
Nothing in the Satire drama is so piquant. so
irresistiblv funny. as Di1oredry's perpleNiti
over the hopeless mudG' d, life. He was
,, human being in whom IN 'loprictics Of civil
aation had eaten up the logical faculty. H.
r was So gentee that he couldn't figure out VIII
. his own mother was An the workings Of thin
: added intellect Mr. Sothern exhibited 10 US. -
% that We got TO know Do,drcarD perfectly
1 In short Mr.. Soihern got inside this charac
ter and made it talk and act itself. And this
: believe me. Is alone acting that 10 worthy @
consideration.
+ Inthis respect he moro closely resembles Mr. J
q s. Clarke than Mr.. 10 Jefferson. and perhaps h
e resembles the celebrated Mr. Robson NOR
= closely still. Mr. Jefsrson's is an ac'retiy
. method He has built Rip Idn II0'kle up. n
l. beaver might. by nnumerable additions. MI
:, Sothern reared his fabric as the coral nsc,
/. rears his-out Of himself
T. Even in such q role as Fitz Afdmone h
!. evinces an earnestness that IS refreshing. In
= tensity il hardly looked for in comedy PAL
n that is accompanied with laughter. and y
genuine earnesincss is what distinguishes thl
9 parsonage from SO many Of the same kind tn
h have preceded him. He is crushed. There
no DOUBT OF TIN MS own 'StinnHiloH' ne
r hahtunlly crushed But as soon rs We percci'
!, that It is an absurd professional egotsm th'
10 suffers. Il begins 10 be delicously funny
r Mr. Sothern has characterized Fitz Ahdmon
u with Il frank. direct. and curt manner TINT
10 new When he makes love he Is not quite SUI
rs that the emotion he feels is the regular proie
u, sional thing or not suspicion haunts hi
r that he will be crushed again. So he plung'
3, into his declaration very much as he plung
y, into n part. and speaks only his cues. I'll
ut woman to whom he profiers himself is a lit
startled 10y the abrupncss and vchemence
~ | his manner, but the audience see in 1.-THE harl
r.. less bravndo Of tho stock tragedan. TIN
n never forget that AHdmoHte is an actor who I
81 ways acts.
he The impersonation has n great many hume
IL Gus and happy touches, not perhaps. grown
ont OF the character directly. but which do Il
disagree with it. What, for instance. can
RS more exauisitely absurd than the matter-oi-i'
nd, way In which credit is given to Shakespeare !
md his language when usedi Or what can be mo
'n' ludicrously honest than his contempt for I