The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-27

though undeniably great Characterization,
disappointing. 1t was given with all outward
seeming, bnt the actress did not always catch
the sentiment of the part and persuade her au-
dience that she felt the passion she professee.
Her bearing, her gracious and graceful man
ner, her fine attitudes, her large and noble de-
| livery, and her ample know ledgs and great re-
sources of expression made great failure impos-
sible. The Interpretation was eminently correct
1t was not wanting in understanding but IN
sympathy. Thus In the first act where she whis-
pers on Macbeth to his damnation her manner
fulflls all the conditions of the scene but she
does not convey to us the overmastering ambi-
ton, the memorable determination of purpose,
the revolving mercilessness which we should
find in Shakespeare's appalling heroine. She
was so careful with the technicslties of the
part that she could not feel it. But as the play
went on she seemed to forget herself and be-
come "Lady Macbeth" The sleep-walking
scene was wonderfully done. In quiet, intense
power, in genuine feeling, in mastery express
sion of emotion that has to be delcately accen-
tuated not broadly portrayed, she was fault
less. The horror and loathing with which she
contemplated the blood-stain she imagined
upon her hands, the persistent endeavor to rub
it away, and the ceaseless shudder in her voice
as she dwelt upon her crime. were painful in
tragical and pathetic power.
Yet, despite the strong and finished presen-
tation of the sleep-walking scene it must be &C.
knowledged that Madame Janauschek is less
happy than in others of her characterizations,
aud that too in spite of the fact that in personal
appearance she is better suited to this part
than to those she before essayed 1t islin great
and violent outbursts of passion, in the por-
trayal of stormy and wayward natures like
Catherine" and "Mary Stuart" that she is
most successful. Though the physical condi-
lions that belong to the beautiful Q1een of
Scots are wanting in this actress she conveys
with marvellous strength the vehement yet
subtle character of the world-aamired woman;
and the play fortunately deals with the later
years of Mary's life when though her wonderful
beauty had faded,th womanlyIgrace and queen
lyldignity remained. Better even than "Mary
Stuart" was Catherine Toe impsrious and
capricious temper, the mighty force of will, the
violent and unrestraned passion, the intellect
ual strength and keen sagaoity and power of
command which made the "Modern Mesa
lima" in spite of her vices the greatest woman
of her time, were put before the audience with
picturesqueness and consummate skill. The
coarseness of the actresses voice and certain
masculinity in her bearing measurably aided
the illusion. But happier than any other of
her roles, one would think, must be her as
sumption of "Brunehild," and most suitable to
her method. Her large manner, her emphatic
action which sometimes gives grandose and
unreal air to lesser creations must be eminent
ly fitting to the heroine Of the Northern epic in
which we look for the "large utterance of the
early GODS" and feel no constraint of time and
place or tying down to mere human conditions,
in which everything is on Titanic SCALE In
deed in most plays Madame Janauschek seems
cribbed and confined. She dwarfs everything
about her. The stage itself is narrow and re-
strcted. Thus LADY Macbeth" grave and
severe in spite its departure from classical mo-
dels, does not afford the largest opportunity for
the display of her genius.
Of the support Saturday night there is not
much to be said in praise. MI. Tllton began
well as macbeth" but soon fell into rant. In
the murder scene he cana near rousing the
whole household with his shouts. Unless he is
more careful he will get caught some time.
Mr.. Taylor did some good acting as "Macduff,"
but once or twice fell to bawling too, aud evil
IDENTIFY labored under tbs impression that the
scene where the sack of "Macduff's" castle is
told to him was intended by Shakespeare as
lung-tester. Mr.. Steadman was correct Ban
quo, delivered his lines with ease and dignity,
and looked very CORY indeed at the banquet.
Mr.. Willard a" Malcolm looked all theltime as
though he was just going to sneeze. For the
absurd observation-disclosures in the play no
company is responsble-these have long been
fixed by stage traditon-nor should objection
perhaps be made to the "First Witch who
wears her beard, like the Duke in Lucille"
Sin the fashion of France for it would be g
difficult to prove that genuine witches do not
wear boards of that cut; but there is no reason
to believe that the Thames of Scotland were
privileged, like the grandees of Spain, to appear
bonueted in the presence of their Sovereign.
Neither is there any apparent reason why those
in the long line of kingly appartions that
skulked across the rear of the stage should ap.
pear so ashamed of their high destiny.