The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-22
AM US ( M ENTS.

MARY ANDERSON AS LADY MAcB. TIL
Last evening Miss Mary Anderson was the recipient
OF benefit at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. ON This
occasion varied programme was presented, con-
ssting OF "Box and Cox y "lngomar," and the sleep
walking scene from .Macbctb.r Tho sole interest
OF the evening centred upon the appearance Of Miss
Anderson as shakcspeare's most complex female
character, Lady Macbeth The celebrated slcep-
walking scene Is frequently chosen by actresses who
desire to show how far They have penetrated into dra-
matte Interpretation, although their ordinary paths
oil usefulness many diverse widely from that which
Is marked out by this tragedy Yet no single scene
play Is more subtle, anu, therefore, more ms UNDER
stood, man the one in question: is breincss only
cqualled by lie intensity; aud, while the central pcr-
sonaee has not more than fifteen lines prose to &c
liver, these few lines are so deeply human so SUI
premcy tragic, ana so expressive o. conflicting emo
tons. mat the UNION Of profound genus perfect
art alone can rcallzc the poets rue conception.
Mis- Anderson's portrayal oil Lady Macbeth was tho
heroic cNort 81 an uncommon, though unframed.
ture 10 grasp complete poetic iacal. That II was
not successful effort We must record The very ue-
ginning But II was distinguished by remarkable
qualities which II would DC unjust overlook Miss
anderson gave 10 TINS Impers2n,tlon dignity and
carnessness, natural majesty ana dcairc fulni
tho exacting conditions oil the r6te that far
ard propose ssng tho audience her favor Snp was
ut ouce ieryent and picturesque, aud her movements
were luli Of rcposc. But the character, Ia her
hands, seemed rather TINT oi conscience stricken
child Khan OF guilt burdened Her gestures
were eloquent though not sufficiently broad. Her de-
livery was very imperfect inat crribiy tragic
teIcc, yet VINO would have thought the old man 10
have had SO mucn blood in hlm.n WAS merely pa.
thctc and not Otherwise suggestive. "ro bed, to bca
there's knocking at the gatc,h &c. was spoken with
true power, although II was faulty accentualIon.
In word, TINS brief performances impressed Win
the CONVICTION mat when MISS Anderson acquires IN
amount OF artistic cuturo equal to her ability
she VIII DO able to pny Lady Macbeth unlil laen
lot her DO patient.
Miss Anderson Will make her last appearance In Now
York. probably for several years. the matinee per-
formancc tomorrow. During her engagement which
has been successful one in many respects, aLd Ger
tainly decisive ono IN regard 10 hcr abilities
actress, sho has appeared Pauline Juliet, Evadnc,
PartL cnia, Meg Mcrriics Blanca, Aud, naily Lady
Macbeth. Unfortunately she has stuulcd r6ies, NOT
conceptions. she has tho iniuitionS oI genius; sue
lacks In u largo measure the cXprcssvcness which
grows out OF art She has exhibited rare, though
crude, tragic power she has proved herself capable
OF heroic emotion and commanding impulse.
She Is endowed with the physical qualities OF great
artists. But, on the other hand, she has shown
that INTEL Get l grasp OF SUBJECTS which gives last
Ing value to tragic conceptions Though possessing
elements OF greatness she still far, indeed, from
being great But, nevertheless she is brave,
talented gri, and the future is In her hands.
From nature she has received what Is gwen to few.
But she must learn before nil that one mmuiablo les
son--Naturc IS the Intimate blending OF the perfect
and tho imperfect aud art Is tho dividing limo be-
tween tho Two.