The New York herald., 1878-09-17
AMUSEM ENTS.
FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE-''EvADSE OR. THE
HALL OF STATUES"


Miss Mary Anderson last night added another Leaf
70 the chsplet laures which already sgnazes her
vand dramatic success. ana IN her rendition OF tho
part OF Evadne that has been made famous for sixty
years by some OF the greatest actresses OF modern
times. showed that the mantle OF the best OF thom
has not unworihy descended TO her own sho uldcrs
The bravcst and airsst Representatives OF tho load
tuK American and Irish families OF New York filed
the Fifth Avenue Theatre to welcome the re.
vival OF the tavori;o play, and IRON be-
ginning 10 end her cfrortE were tho
subject OF urconstrained and honest applause
The drama, which has becn n classic for moro than
hall century is tho product Of tho genius Of Richard
Lalor shiel, brilliant young Irish lawyer, ana was
produced ~ Covent Garden. Loudou, in 1878. with
Miss o'Ncil--,he great o'Neil--as Evadne
Macrsady as Ludovicp, Charles Kemols as
vicon,io and Charles Young as Colonna-a
maaaifcent cast for masni niacent play. Uniortu-
natcly the trio OF male actors last night did re-
fec. much OF tho brilliant iustre of their great predc
csssors. Miss O'Seil held tho part OF Eyadno
by right oil her talent and beauty and
now, sixty years afser. another talented ana
has an Irish nnees,ry-comss 10 ".e ,nersase
tho amo OF tho already famous drama. ''Evadne' has
been seldom played in New YORK OF late years be-
cause OF Tho extraordinary powers which the piece
demands from the ropresen of tho heroi me- but
since Mary Anderson played the part ut the Fitn
Avenue Theatre, last year. the character has
10 her as thoroughly as u dia 10 Miss
O'Ncil and later to Mrs. Drake CHARLOTTE
Crampton Ju;ia Dean or Eliza Logan. She playod A.
well then, the columns OF the HERALD testiv but
she played II better last night than before Whilo
IL Is almost supcrauous 10 give the pio, OF play
vol known that, ike its companion pieces by the
same author, IL In in every gentemans library u rs
always interesting and Instructive. especially the
rising generation, to recall the main incidents. Wo
therefore reproduce them.
In "Evadne" tho plot is clear, although compli.
second luso. Me loves Evaane and b. desires 20 be-
come The king. TO win mistress aud u throne no
plois between the Coionna family anu he King
until all the other dramatis per'on@ arc IN
his toils. He inspires the King with y
guilty passion for Evadne, then reveals tho
Kings passion TO Colouna. the brother of Evadnc,
and urges him 10 XIII the King; then po,sons tho
mind OF VicontO, tho noble Iovcr OF Evaine against
his betrothed: then brings about duel between
Colonna in prison and Eyadnc AZ the mercy oil the
King, the villain seems at last to triumph. Tho
aoronuess OF the ,dramatist now summons up
. situation which onnobles ,he play. Evadne, puro
and lovely clincs to tho statue Of her noble father
ana alter grand passionate appeal to her monarch's
justice, cres out to him TO take her. be dare. from
her fathers and amid tho statues OF anccs-
tors Her eloquent appeal prevails, the King relsns
and the curtain falls upon Ludovro's defeat
fond reunion OF the parted lovers.
There may be, ss acute critics have discovered,
"reminiscences OF .'Othelloh and OF ''Mcrsure for
Meusure' in shcl's play, but tho statue whoh
gives the drama It's subiity and popularity is
tainy original There rs no scene upon tho stage
varied declamatioo. ana the applause tbat rang
through the theatre as Miss Anderson con-
portions
proved that eloquent WORDS eloquenty delivered still
have power 10 movo our modern cynical andien COS.
II was not alone here, however, that she achieved all
tho triumph OF the evening In tho passionate
psadngs with her lover, vicontio her alter
nate expression OF wOman's fidelity, scorn.
to conceal from her Sroher coonn. The TACT that snc
had been renounccc by her lover, and prevent him
from rvsngns her wrongs, wcro superb specimens OF
actink AZ times there may havo been cruditiss
and faults that were apparent to tho oye
and ear, but these were quickly sue
ceeded Gy grand outbursts OF feeling to be
isrgottsn in tho noble art which the woman WAS
representing. No one can see Mary Andersen dozen
times wl.heot observing s,sady procsss OF growth,
TN provcmcnt In feature, voice. attitude and gesture
touipg down Of thai which Ia rough ana virle ana
toning mp OF that which Is 100 effemuate This was
espscslly noticeable in the performance last night.
tnfounaiely her support was not all that could 10
desired. Ths cast lacked strength Olivia (hnss
Agnes Elliott, dressed Beautifully, Out played ioesy
20 . fret appearance beiore New York
pastic.. HLss M be ,chars,ab,a OF tho male
characters Msssrs. Mordaunt and Buckley may DO OK.
copied from sweeping condemnation. Whom Sh,sl
wrote the drama ho must have had In miud the
sturdiest representatives OF honest manhood, full
In tho gontsmep above named these reg quirem n,s
were partially observed. Nv. Mordauut MS fudovico
has anything sut pleasant part to persopate for no
IS tho scnenIng villain OF the piece; bot no played
10 well, II not oxcelicny, and shared the vlaudts
Of tho evening. Ono OF tho nne characteristics
OF this actor is the artistic manner N which hs ces
ttcuates. HIS hands and arms are always IN rythm
with the sentment be is al the moment expressing,
from him durihg any play in which he ~ cast. Mr.
Edward J. Buckley has IA fine voice. and uses IL dis
crectly. though not always with tho hos; OF
emphasis TASTE but no scored bis point man times
last night and with Miss Anderson ana Mr.. Moraaunt
was often recalled lie ought 10 cure himself OF the
bad habit OF talking too much NJ the audience. Mr..
L. A. Mcdowell 10 not successful lover--cven
Tor Italian He lacks the combination
OF toroo and dciicacy that belongs TO the part and
does little that wins the sympathy aamiraton O:
the audicrce. His denuncNtops want strength,
ana his lungs are weak lie hus yet many
can no NtAA,
no. Mr.. Hart Conway, as tho King, has au
opportunity, even IN tho icw ines hc sttsrs, to
invest his part with dignity, bnt he missed the
last night, looked like anything but tho owner OF
a crown. Mr. James Fcakcs as Spaiatro, having bur
little TO do, coad not eommi, many grave errors Lo
would, and played fairly.
Tho pieca was handsomely mounted, ana Is likely
TO become Que OF the che iavori,cs IN the repertoire
OF Mss Anderson ana draw larger houses than have
been yet seen in the Filth Avenue Theatre during tue
present season.
Msruacrite.... Enma Abbo,t
ss1 .....-...............nr William Castle
saenone'. Mr. henry Bragus
h Ellis ~, 50
Wasncr... D. w. Jennings
SUCH was the cast with which .T'austr was pro-
duood last night at tho Park Theatre, Bruokyn whom
Miss Emma Abbott tho young American primx
donna MADE her long expected debut IN English
opors Her effort was a magnificent success IN
svsry respect The house was literally packed win
q refined and critical audience OF which this city
very respectable quota. Managers, prime
donne ana musicians lcvel-d lorgnetcs unc strained
praciiscd ears in every par. OF the house and
among tse most generous in bssowng their applause.
Az tbc fall OF Tho c,r:ain she was called Qua, aud at
tho end OF sverv Succeeding act vas compelled to ap
poar a, the fooIighis to receive such ovations AZ
,out tho blood dancing 10 her cheeks. Tho perform.
Rnce was, IN fsct tho climax In the life Of tho young
artiststhe roanzaiicn Of her lies dream, the cu
mir,i,ou OF her long years Of uutrinr per.ever,ng