New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-13
THE DRAMA.
MISS NELSON IN The HUNCHBACK.


MISS NELSON IN HE HUNCHBACK.
Last night at Booths Theatre, in presence Of
numerous assemblage-tasteful, appreciative, re.
sponsive and very earnest in its eager sympathy
and It's expression of pleasure Miss Nelson pre-
sented still another of those radiant figures which
she has added to the pantheon OF the stage.
Knowless fine old play of The Hunchback" was
performed, and Miss Nelson acted julia. The char
acter -current in our theatres since 1925 not
difficult one to act if only it's representative is for
tunate enough to possess back of her professional
ability, deep heart. proud and sensitive spirit.
and beautiful person. Miss Nelson acted it, not
only with the ease of an artist who has c0nsum-
mate mastery of bistrOnic resources, but also with
a profound and absolute Identification alike with
its passionate spirit and Its lovely form so that,
under the spell of her fitness and sincerity, comedy
that often seems artfcially quaint, dry and slug
gish seemed suddenly to thrill with the vitality OF
real experience, and to glow with the fragrant
freshness Of the poisoning Spring. 1t is only
in the presence Of such Julia as this that the OBJ
server of THE Huncbback" fully realizes what
wealth Of emotion is imprisoned In that Anticipated
and sober work. After all. the stage can afford no
better type than is seen In this character OF the
wayward impetuosity of innocent youth, the revolt
of passionate heart against injustice In the affairs
Of love. and that miserable sef-confict which. in
such nature. Is always sequent on an act OF folly
or moment of pique. 1t IS type, moreover. which,
| In application comes closely home to the everyday
experience Of the world. and quietly suggests many
useful lesson of the fate of love that will not be
adyIsedp For this reason, doubtless, "the HuDch-
back" has thus long survived, and for this reason
It will continue to survive, as long as passion Is
proud and fancy is errant-as long as
| life is thorny and youth is vain,
And to be wrOth with one we love
Doth work Ike madness In the BRAIN"
This is the thought around which the author
crystazed his conception of Jalia, and this thought
is made more pictoriay and eloquently conspicuous
in Miss Nelson's presentment Of the character than
in any Julia of the last thirty years. To state its
sovereign excellence IN phrase will be to say that
while it's womanhood is wonderfully tender and
sweet it's emotional earnestness-the spirit. that is
in which an agonizng experience is received and
uttered-is absolutely tragic. Over the rustic por
ton the actress casts soft light OF chid-ke gee
and gentle, demure animation-the denotement OF 0
pure and simple life and Of an honest, frank, and
wholesome character. Over the artificial comedy
passage she diffuses glitter Of coquettry and aec-
tation essentially modish and entirely true to fact
| These felicties of treatment, together with the
gradual leading up to the scenes Of pathos and OF
storm, the firm grasp of the whole nature amidst
these trials, and the finish with which the work is
rounded come with comparative to this actress
Kindred felcities have been seen In othersin Julia
| Dean. for instance, In Kate Bateman. and in Mary
| Anderson when acting this part. But tine unique
beauty of Miss Nelson's Julia-the quality whereby
it stands alone apart from all Others and above all
others since Fanny Kemble-is. first, the fascna.
| ton of an exceptional personality. secondly, an
intensity which swallows up all the conventional
| "po,ntsn and renders the embodiment as uni
| formly fine as the rainbow arch, and, finally, the
.nl - onlay nnluy
real. While the art Is poetic-the perfection OF
grace-the suffering and the tears are actual. Here.
in brief is the true soul of the poet using not words
merely but the vital forces of human nature to ex-
nress one of those awful conflicts Of love and duty
| which ore inccssant in experience, and therefore,
representative in art. Here is acting which makes
us understand that there may be tragedies outside
of fiction that the martyrdom Of the affections is
| going on around US every moment; and that true
moral greatness is not in deadened sensibility but
in noble endurance. Seldom has any note OF
music been heard so tenderly and mourn
| fully beautiful as Miss Nelson's ntterance
| of "Clitford, Is 1t yOu." Never has been
expressed q more n0by spiritual resignation and
holy fortitude than arc seen IN her acceptance OK
the duty OF sacrifice, which crowns the greatest SIT
uaton in this play. The theatre many times rang
with p.audts. The emotion of the audience was
| nlintuly aroused. The success OK the actress was
slmgularly brilliant. Mr.. Compton acted Clifford.
and presented winning type OF gentle ana non
| orablo manhood. Mr. Weaver acted Master Vdtter
, | ana Miss Ellen Cummins came forth as Heen-giv-
inv sharply accented performance, chiefly notable
for the refreshing character Of the exils
Tho Hunchbacko will be repeated on Saturday
night, Twelfth Night" will he repeated this eve,
ming. On Friday night the " Lady OF Lyons VIII
he produced Tor the hrst time during Miss Neilsons
engagement. "As You Like 1t will he performed
at next Saturdays matinee par. Of Measure
of plan, to be brought forward; Will
| bs presented on the GATH. Miss Nelson re.
vived This play in America, IN November 1875, at
| the Walnut Street Theatre. Its hrst performance
in this country occurred III New-York, at the Old
Park, February 81. 1878 Mr.. ireland notes T. i1
his excellent book Of Records, and gives the CHIEF
taStures of the cast. The Duke was acted by Mt
Pritchard, an admired player Ut that time, angelo.
, | by Hopkins Robertson. who seems to have been
man OF exceptional powers, Claudio by Mr. Simpson,
and ElboW by Barnes, professional ancestor o.
the present race Of eccentric comedians. ING
} famous Mrs. Barnes acted IsabePJ. Measure iot
Measure has not been seen in NeT-YOrk since tnss
, | time. Miss Nelson's engagement at BOOM
Theatre will last only till May %. The privilege
Of seeing the greatest Engshspeaking actress Of
the present epoch. accordingly will soon have pas
away Miss Nelson will take farewell dement, ~
. Booths Theatre, at q special supplementary POI.
! Torrance on Monday, May "a. After That she goes
. 10 California, aud then will return 70 Engiane'