The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-29

His Charles NUfdrc ia Characterization self
evolved. He has thought il out Most of tho
Charles Surfaces which We have had were taken
ont OF the chest of tradition shaken and
busted and animated.
The studied manner OF this actor Mt times
makes him appear hard aud International. Ho
acts with his will and is conscious Of his efforts
With Mr. Gilbert usage has made all his Of
forts Involuntary
Ii somebody will make accurate pen pictures
OF Mr.. Chas +. Tnornc and MIR. Chas. Cognlan.
contrasting their methods. their talents. and
their work with honesty and with Justice, we
shall have IN understanding of the two classes
into which theatric artists are divided. and
always will be.
Miss Rose Coghlan makes much the best Ladv
Tedgle we have had in years for she brings TO
the society Of tho city all the VITAL eNuborant,
and careless gayety OF her country life. and we
are constantly reminded when she is in tho
society Of tho hollow people who attend her.
that she is not like them. hut is trying to be.
Her vivacity has n wholesome impulse, as IL Mt
bottom there was some contempt for the cond-
ton of affairs. and her nature was rebelling
without her special knowledge.
do not think that it requires ability OF very
high order to play LAZY Tedsle well. There is
not much feeling involved in the exposition at
gatherings to play 1t very we'll who could play
nothing else.
1t is. however. part which so admirably
portrays the conflict Of sex in social life. and
so brilliantly shows the advantages Of woman
that all women like TO play II and to see II well
played just as all men like to contemplate ii
at n safe distance.
II the management at Waack's had cast Mr.
Coehlan for Joseph and Mr.. Barron for Charles
Surtnce the performance would have probably
been more satisfectory-though | cannot con-
ceiye of Mr. Barron's playing either part with
the easy moderation and fuency that comedy
requires.
He has prodigiously emphatic and forceful
utterance curiously out Of place in an airy play
OF manners. and his whole department is OPP
pressively heavy
1t is interesting to turn from this OLD comedy.
so characteristic Of the past to the production
on Monday night at the Union Square Theatre
Of Victorien Sardou's Les Bourgeois de Pont
darcy under the title Of Mother and SON.
which proved TO be a theatrical event OF unusual
interest. for it marked with the emphasis OF
success the opening OF the season.
Up to the night of its presentation disap-
pointment and disaster had attended most of
the novelties furnished by the managers.
Mother and Son" proved an instant and un-
equivocal triumph OF dramatic art and theatric
| tact
| Mother and Son" Is a five-act comedy. but
| like all good comedies OF lattcr-day construc-
ton. II depends less upon the portrayal " man
ners and the humorous delineation OF charac-
ter for is interest than upon the serious inter-
probation OF social and sexual relationships
| With the sagacity and the adroitness OF tho
French school. it recognizes and uses the ee-
ment OF fate rs man everywhere feels IL in the
consequences Of his evil acts and il employs
| the free will Of the hero to combat it, not by the
aggressive and defiant methods OF the old
heroic school. but by the obedience. submis-
sion. and sef-abnegation of the new.
The distinction involved here is one which
marks more clearly than anything rise the pos
tive advance Of the modern French drama
| from the position held by the old English. II is
customary in this country to attribute the sue
cess Of the French dramatic workers TO their
superior knowledge OF tho mechanics OF the
| stage. While conceding that superiority. II is
at the same time wholly inadequate to account
for tho prevalence. efficacy and duration OF
Mother aud Son shows us. perhaps little
| more brightly. but not more Enthusiastically than
scores OF others that have come 10 us from M"
same source. how close abreast q the spirit @!
| the times Is the better class OF French drama
| tureists: how absolutely they have planted
| themselves upon what the German critics call
| the ethical hNSlS. ana now iNr lleN have Oufrun
| not only the most prominent English stage
workers. but tho older romantic Frenchmen
themselves.
| call for the most heroic expressions 81 charac-
Ter. is the task Sardou has set for himself in
lish playwriehts cannot comprehend. much less
| overcome. The whole spirit OF the English
| drama l. tlnctured by the bury defiance OF n
| strong individuality which comes down to US
| from the age and race OF men who won every
thing by the exercise Of brute force. Ham
| pered on one side 10y an mpert nent and sckly
| morality whl'h VIII not permit the stag" u
fight vice because II would have 10 recognize IL.
AMI on the other hy public craving for muscu-
lar exploits the English dramntisi, even II he
recognize the subdued requirements OF life Ms
We now know II. Is unable t. SO present the in.
| ner conditions Of society that they shall hold
the attention without the adjuncts Of an old ro-
But this is exactly what Sardou is doing. and
| Mother and Son. He has done IL in comedy
without any Of the aids oi mrlodrama and he
| has enchalned the interest OF the spectator by
the exquisite art with which he has exhibited
the struggle o! u noble minded man-with his
own interests and inclinations.
Fajrice the Baron de ST. Andre. is the son Of
IN estmabo and honorable mother. whom lac
loves dearly aha WIG mas ttmsht hilh t. revere
the memory OF his father This son Is about H.
be married to q cnarming pure minded girl
and il also candidate for an important lol,i-
cal pos hion. suddenly there comes from Paris
woman who reveals to him dat his father did
her Grent wrong-thc wrong is 81 the .magni-
tud OF "A felony. for he married her while the
boys mother was living. Overwhelmed by q is
news his chief anxiety Is to keep it from his
mother. He therefore meets the woman se-
crcty and urruhges with hcr 10 meet her no'eS-
sites and to keep the scandal from the public
Certain intriguing women. however, who ar,
working for the opposition candidate, discover
the meeting. and in order 10 save his mother
the son in the last extremity declares that tho
woman is his mistress. He does this with fun
knowledge that 1t destroys his hopes Of mar
riagr and Of election AZ the same time.
| such. in brief. Is the central ana governing
ipOfif OF the play. To explain IN words how adj
mirnbly the dramRtist hHs involved all tho
twenty-0uc personnges OF thestOry in this chr
dinc tangle. 10 tell how intensely interested N,
observer hecoInes in tho primal and secondary
situations 10 do justice to the evenly sustained
ana equally distributed intensity-to 10 THIS
with anything Ike approximate justice wpulc
be 10 transcend the Cuties and the limitations o
a daily record. 800
Instant recognition Of the nuliform merits
Of a work Of ART like this an be nj tho best tt.'
more than an rpitOmc. The essential merit o
the work lies in us treatment of mntcral. liz
morality and bravery are seen in the selection
The influence ~ the actrisstory is upon thu
whole good for It leaves upon the mind decl
| impress ZION OF the prOpaghtlng ana lhr-reacll
| ing power Of n man S sins, ana II presents IA
with now estimate Of the worth OF honor
affection. self-sacrlcc, in opposing those conse
quences.
Aside from these considerations the repre-