New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-28
THE DRAMA.
MARY ANDERSON AS BLANCA.

revival of Mliman's noble tragedy of Fazo."
effected last night at the Fifth Avenue Iheatre pro-
sented Miss Anderson IN the most exactiDg cnar"c-
ter she has ever yet undertaken, not excepting Ledg
Macbeth, and enabled ner, III powerful ana snect-
ing embodiment of Blanca, 10 show form not aloho
her brilliant natural faculties and fortunate graces
of mind and person. but her remarkable ahvance-
ment in dramatic art. This character OF Bidncd Oh
course has not the intellect OF Lazy Hacoeh' anu
nowhere does rise to the awful altitude of the TWO
or three moments of hopeless and terrible remorse
in which that royal murderer Is TRANSFORMED INTO IN
image of immortal anguish bu: Bidncds tendon.
womanlke nature is crazcd BY terrible conflict OF
passion and the situations in which she IS dlspiaSeu
are such IA make n steady, ever-increaslng dram
upon her forces, alike of suffering and expression
and therefore the part though easier TO reach or'
difficult to sustain. Miss Andersons first perform
ance of 1t here III the season OF 1877, was e1per"
mental and fruitess. Ii had neither depth no.
symmetry. year later she played II here again.
and showed a marke growth in design, and INFUSED
into il n fine fire of passion. Last night her work
was stronger and mere sklful than ever.
She began with sunshine, making visible the pro-
found earnesness ardor and passionate lntenslyof
Biancq's temperament. and thus showing her to be
capable of the madness presently to come, but CIV
ing no PRECIPITATION of the latest tragedy OF
her life This may be called OF tone and
color and certainly It was directed with a subtle
instinct OF a sound judgment. All the foreground
Of the picture warm with an atmosphere Oh
domestic lOve-wth the content, the trust anu
the hopeful eager enjoyment OF the hrcslce of nome
ana through it all faint, trcmulous agitation,
which, without being prophetic was III certain
strange way omnous. The keynote of this work
is struck when Blanca says. Fazo, thou hast seen
Aldabella p and this point Miss Anderson made
.lann- wa M H.
ening which was splendidly true to nature and
finely effective in art The cold. metallic tones OF
settled misery ia which tue denunciatlon OF fds0
WAS uttered were deeply eloquent, too, a to what
vas in the soul of the actress. besides being exactly
right as vehicle for the feeling OF that crisis Inc
illusions to the children and the adJuratlon to the
scornful 4lfabella tender as infancy and as
touching as true pathOs could make them No
hsteper could doubt that the actress had, through
The sympathetic exercise OF the Imagination,
grasped full sense of BiaAoas trials and condition.
and projected her individuality into q correspondent
misery
The capacity to do this is the main thing-be-
cause il Is the gift Of nature, the illumination that
the soul derives from the spiritual forces within and
around it, Tho government of the mechanism by
which this capacity is used, being matter OF taste
and will, be cultivated, and Is susceptible of
endless improvement. All of Miss Andersons re-
cent performances have indicated that this il the
direction of her study, and effort and self-disci-
pllne. 1t assuredv ought TO be. Her guidance of
the delirium of Blanca has all along lacked the
control of an informing will and the precision OF
distinct, over mastering purpose. 1t was
last night seen TO be deficient still,
IN this respect. and this defect
somewhat married an illusion which otherwise would
have been perfectly sustained.
We must not, however expect miracles. IL e1-
perence could be acquired by the immediate appli-
cation OF the precepts of which IL Is so liberal per-
fecton would be gained III moment, and iite would
be exhausted the threshold of maturity. Miss
Anderson will not become Charlotte Cusaman IN
day. nor In a year. Her experience IS to DO gained,
as others have gained it, through living and striving
and suffering, and not through experimenting on
the IDEAS of other 1t is impossible that her
works should have, at present, the solidty the
splendor the satisfying fulneSs of knowledge. and
emotion which appertaIn TO ripper years. For girl
OF twcnty-one who has only been tive seasons
the stage she has already achieved results that
almost without parallel in the history of acting
To censure Tor not doing more an actress who has
already done much. wOnld be folly "a well as in
justice. Tie public has great reason to be satisfied
that this young and beautiful woman so richly
lowered 50 capable and 80 earnest is here to grace
the stage, and. in representations that arc
sweet, and pure, and high and well-nigh as
sElful as the best that have been seen, 10 exert
upon the popular heart he DID, immortal charm OF
sculpture and eloquence and poetry. she mad. last
ight IN the copous applause of great throng OF
Spectators in several recalls upon the stage. in the
significant hush of deep emotion that often pervaded
the house, and In the tears that trembled in many
eyes-a whOle-hearted tribute Of sympathetic re-
cogniton. Ii not perfect embodiment OF
bidncd-fOr that would be the consummate Hover OF
womans love, jealousy frenzy, despair and broken
hearted deab-but it was splendid revelation OF
wOman's heart and noble effort in acting, and 1T
justihes the most hopeful anticpations Tor Miss An
deTson's future career.