New-York tribune., 1878-09-28
BENEFIT TO MARY ANDERSON.

A performance of Milman's noble tragedy Of
sFaziO" given at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, last
night and with much interest by cOnsidera-
bic company Of TO honor well as
to enjoy the occasion of benefit to Mary Anderson who
assumed the great and exacng character Of Blanca Mr.
r. J Buckley enacted Fasio Mr. F. Mordannt the Duke,
Mr. F. r. Pierce BqroiO. Mr. Z. A. Mcdowell FdiSeO Mr..
Hart Conway Philerte. Mr. James Peakes GoRzaio, and
Miss Ahce Grey Aidd6ea. The piece tastetuy set
and smoothly performed. Mr.. Buckley carried Fdsio
with grace, and Mr.. Mordaunt carried the Duke with
suitable dignity and occasional CLEANS Of grave
tenderness Miss Anderson Eve times called before
the curtain.
Blanca vrtuous tender gentle, but terribly passion
ate woman, who, becoming maddened by jealousy-for
which she has good cause-betrays her husband to
death and. thereupOn, realizing what she has done,
lapses INTO frenzy and dies in peOus detection after
paroxysm Of agony. This ideal is not difficult to grasp,
but IN the tragedy Il Is immensely difficult TO express.
When Mary Anderson appeared Blanca last Autumn,
In this city, her performance OF It was seen to
be but little than experimental 1t was deficient
alike in deep feeling unity and symmetrical FORM The
personaton Of that she gave last night the con-
trary revealed grasp Of the subject intelligent purpose
thoughtful design and passion The shafts OF feeling
are not indeed deeply sunk they viii be hereafter;
the skill In sculpture tone and tint IS not as de as u
must day become; but the improved faculty
was unmisakably obvious. and the growth was seen to
be 10 the right direction. An effort was made-and
made with just instinct and uncommon forceto deepen
the color the foreground Of domestic love The suege
tOn Of BaHeas deepsrong and wildly passionate nature
as denoted at the moment when she divnes that fGsio
has seen her rival IN his afectious-was made with
sumptuOus warmth, and with struggling. reck-
less sgitatioR that properly and fear
fully ominOus Tho subsequent delivium sDgulGry
well Indicted often reached. and 20 extent sus
tanned The thus met 1t need not be said is severe
for certain point Bi0nea Ia lOOsed from all moongs
and dashed upon the widest bows OF stormy anguish.
hmm pelif Ia
not to see loOseness Of method-as though
the viii we're Outstripped by the impulse. This,
Of course IL right feeling; OuteXpresson always
deepens sincerity and effect OF feeling when II con-
trolls its TIE third act became merely turbulent
and spasmOdc for lack OF this controlling hUsbandry
and direction OF resources These resources, however
we're felt to be OF luxurant description, almost
preeedented In this epoch The result Of the peculiar
Treatment they received iD Miss Anderson's present
method. was 20 make her Blanca, In the matter OF
execution an alienation Of tremendous Outbursts with
sudden and surprising ealmsj strange peas Of meodOus
vocal thunder with shrn cries and with tones as soft
a. the echo Of the prayer Of childhood Through these.
not the less Miss Anderson exhibited deep perception
Of the dreadful and deadly experience OF Blanca The
allusons 10 the children may be named as having been
made In q spirit that was especially iluminative
Of the ideal that the actress thus essayed 20
express The suppcaton 10 A6a6eG IN the fourth act
Was Likewise beautifully uttered. and a. 10 carry
convincing weight Of significance. The breaking OF the
voice was quite Irresistible Tho previous lines in port
ing with Fazio-There must be- IN this wide city" etc
uttered with al the meaning that underies this
agonized scene they could have been uttered
better There Is rouRhness in tho execution OF
Miss AndersOn's Bianca the actress judges VI In
allowing the distracted wife make several toilets IN
the eOurre OF beT affecting eIpereuce and there lb room
Tor pFofOunder passion and delicate touches OF
suggested sentiment. But, the embodiment is DOW
fraught with power, aud Il shows q steady advance
from which those who interested IN the growth OF
tragic may derive happy apguFies OF the future OF
OF the few things that there 10 be proud oil
IN the present period OF the American stage.
Tonight Mary Anderson will make her farewell appear
aHce. On Monday she viii be succeeded here by Mod
ieska who viii act Camille The play is east thus
tlaQame Prudence hIh. ieiilago
tFirst appearance this year,
10. .-.s.- 90
ID.
H..
(Pron tho Lyceum Theatre. LOudOnl
...--
tFirst appearance here.j