The New York herald., 1879-10-22

THEATRE.

Miss Nelson's second appearance in Brooklyn
drew a crowded house. Shakespeare comedy Of
Twelfth Might like his "As You Like It," pre-
sents an artist of her winsome exterior
with irresistible temptation. Hence Vi
ola and Rosalnd have prominent places
in her repertoire Her performance of Viola
last evening was replete with that boyish-girlish
grace which the part demands, and its excellence
was warmly recognized. Mr.. Compton made q
capital Malvolio. and Mr.. weaver's Sir Toby was
good enough to be noted a strong feature Of the
performance.
It is, of course, rank heresy to wish that Shakes
peare alive to take the work of his hands
called Twelfth Night or What You WILL and make
q compact comedy of it. We know not how many
Shakespearians Will start up at the bare thought and
say, Marry, come up" or Ego to-" and will
forthwith otter to prove the relevancy of every
line. And we should in the end. abashed admit
fault or course should il argued at all, in
sst that mortal hand but Shakespeare's should
do the work. We know what named Tobn-a
Bronson Howard of his day-did with this comedy
and that other. THE tanning OF the Shrew, when
he turned Viola into Zamora ana Petruchio into the
Duke Aranza and called the compost the Honey
moon" 1t was far from bad comedy, but then how
tar it was Shakespeare also? Who indeed should
inter word against the casket which contains the
gem, Viola? That exquisite creation at once deli
cate in its madenlness SO fresh in its boyishness
OF such strong fibre in its depth of worianliness,
appeals against the desecartion. Fancy plays around
Der like springtide breeze; the very fears
sic with their wings. Arch boy plead
ing woman. she touches the heart with joy
BUSINESS. that strange pleasure which follows
moments pain Miss Nelson's inpersouation is
dainty and yet sufhcng. The tendency to overact
the boy, in the attempt to remove it from femnn-
ity she avoids and yet dcftly does she touch the
balance OF the part that to Olivia to the men she
meets. she is gentle youth. while to
heart reveal themselves Increasingly. 1t is ino art
as well keen instinct, which accompshcs this
In her Genes with Olivia. where the wooing ot the
A her he cessiO
OF grrlish emotions finely indicated, the startled
look melting into irrepressibe smiles the absurdiy
of the situation oversprcad it's serious import In
the scenes with Orsino the suggestion OF suppressed
emotion was admirable. and the well known lines
beginning "She never told her love-
given with quiet but marvellcusly infected
intonauon which touched the keynote OF the
character with rare felicity. II it not indeed that of
woman patient. and smiling at grie!" The trep
daton Of tine with the brawiing Sir Toby and
the staggering Sir Andrew n admirable bit of
pure comedy. Artisticaily would give this part
high rank among Miss Nelson's impcrsonations. Mr.
Compton gave us "a compete surprise in his NAL
volio. There was not trace of the supple,
youthful. ycarning Romeo but. instead, we had the
short, sentontous utterance; the stiif-statcly gait
the polish OF manner laid on so scnsiby as to be
evident as veneer. Indeed, his position q
comedian was far more firmly taken than his as
sumption of the tragic role of the night before. lie
comes, 1T IN true. OF sterling Momus stock, and
bad a notable pattern for the part, but there
Pity indeed that Mavolio has other part to
play than the butt Of practical jokei Sir
uproarious humor and ready rage made
that usually painful cavesdropping scene tolcrablc.
What play it is for a lazy man to look at. to be
sure. whore the author has actually provided char
actcrs to do the laughter at his jokes The Aguo
check of Mr.. Bradshaw was amusing. the
tanned. and the Olivia of Miss Morant fair.
Mr. Rcymer, who played Sebastian, is such pretty
fellow that we can pardon much OF his inexperienced.
and hope that hard work will do something tor him.
Altogether the support was toerable.
"Romco and Juliet" tonight.