New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-19

and geutle IN influence, IN which single, and
that comic. character-one of a group.
and drawn and kept in perfect harmony with
its acknowledgement thus be made tributary to
the idiosyncr ases Of an actor, and thus elevated
into brilliant prominence without injury its own
integrity and without the least violence to the SYM
metsy of the play After seeing The Rivals" a.
Mr.. Jefferson and his company present it, the spec
taior retres with positive love of the old play and
with the conviction that in Mr.. Jeferson's perform
ance of Bob Acres, he has seen a slight character
made fascinating by drollery of spirit deep sincerity
of feeling amplitude of treatment. and perfect
grace of expression.
TIE PLAY AND HE-CAsT.
When The Rivals" was first produced, over a
century ago. ii had TO be cut, in a ruthless manner
before it could be made to succeed. The author,
then but twenty-three years old, had written 1t
with exuberant spirits and it contained substance
enough for two plays rather than one. Mr. Jefferson
has not hesitated to cut it still further and slightly
to change its sequence of action, and here and
there, in his character of Bob Heres to fill in
traits that the author has only outlined, to add new
busness-always. however, in harmony with the
original conception-and TO give. by occasional new
lines, an added emphasis and prolongation to the
humorous strokes Of sheridan. The brightness of
the effect denotes decided Improvement The
falls upon the exit of Sir AnthOny ABSOLUTE,
after his choerc scene with his son. The
second falls upon the exit of Acres, at
the words, Tell him xii man a week" And
the third falls upon the close Of the piece with
tag that Mr. Jefferson has added. The character OF
JHlia is cut out altogether and that of Falkland is
considerably reduced-which Is a positive relief.
since these parts only pleasant when acted by
PLAYERS of the first class such can no longer now
be got 20 undertake them. The loose lines, as well
as what Moore called the " false fnery and second
rate ornament" have been scored ont. Two of the
scenes of Aes have been blended into one, that the
vain and tmorous squire's trucuence, when writing
the challenge, may be made the more cOmical by
immediate contrast with his dismay and gradually
growing cowarlice be begins to realize its posi-
BILE consequences. In other respects there is
no change. Nine actors carry the piece and
il moves with smOothness and beaut-
full celebrity that is positive refreshment. The
cast comprises Jefferson as Bob Acres, Frederick
Robinson as Sir AntBony AbsoIate, Mrs. John Drew
as Mrs Malaprop Mr.. Maurice Barrymore as Cap
tain ABSOLUTE Mr.. Charles Wavery Sir Lucius
D Tiqgger Miss Rosa Rand as Lgfia Langaish. Miss
Adine Stephens a Lucy Mr.. H. Z. Taylor as Fak-
land Nr. Thomas Jefferson Second Of the come
diam as FGI. and Mr.. J. Galloway rs Ddcid. This
may not be the best cast that could b. conceived;
but It is the best that could be Obtained. after
months of careful search and endeavOr. The parts
are beautifully dressed. although with some inten
tiona inaccuracy TO the matter of powdered hair
and. as the rchearsals have been vigorously thor
Cugh, the representation Is marked by clearness of
outline bodness of color and admirable harmony of
effect
THE CHARM OF HIS ACTING N THE RIVALS"
To the general public Mr. Jefferson as Bob Acres
will be an absolute novelty. He was, however.
has been said long ago distinguished in IL; and he
has played this part, and also PaRgloss. or Oudpod
season after seasonal few times each-at Fords
Theatre. In Baltimore Nine years ago uS7l on
the occasion of the Holland Benefit IN this city. he
C harmed an immense audience with his representa-
ton of Mr. Golighty; and this exquisite work he
gave few years later 1s77), IN London, on the
occasion Of the benefit to the impoverished and
dying veteran. Henry Compton. when his success
was so great that John S Clarke Immediately pro-
posed TO him a season OF farce at the Haymarket-a
season devoted TO Mr.. GoLghtIy and Hugh De Brass
IN which, while the treasury neither largely gained
nor lost at all the cOnnoisseurs of the British cap
ital enioyad kind of acting which they con-
coded TO be equal with the best upon the Partisan
stage To those accordingly, who keep the rrac K
of such affairs, it is not unknown that Mr. Jefsr
sons extraordinary and really great felicity IN Ight
parts. whether Of comedy buriesque or farce re-
sides In his application 20 them Of an intense
earnestness of spirit and a poetic troatment-by
which Is meant treatment that interprets, Illus
tra;es and eeyates the character In this way he
has now embodied Bob Acres and as the most
scrupulous attention has been gwen to every detail
even the slightest-in the revival of the comedy,
his representation Of that amusing character can
now be seen in greater fulness and freedom, and
with the advantage Of better surroundings, than
ever before.
Mr.. Jefferson appears in three scenes-the first,
that of the call which is made By 1cres ~ the lodg
ing Of CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE where he meets Falkland;
the second. that of his reception .of Sir LHcias
o. Trigger at his chan beers. when he writes the
challenge 20 the mythical Beverley. Is frightened by
the terrors of his pumpkin servant Ddrid, and. at
last with rueful reluctance, entruss the warlike
nissive 70 Captain 1bs0jute; and the third, that of
the frustrated meeting in Kings Mead Meadows,
when. in the extremity of fear, his "valor ont
AT the TIPS OF his fingers and the snarl that Young
ABSOLUTE has woven is finally and happily olsen
tangled The variety that he evokes from these
scenes is little less than wonderful. At first It
seems as if he had overaden the character aud mean
ing and lifted it too far. But when this creation
studied il is Immediately seen that the actor has only
taken the entirely justi6abe and admirable license
of deepening the lines ana tns OF the autuOF anu OF
endearing the character by infusng into il anna
BILE and lovable personality That this was not
clearly intended by Sheridan would not make
against its proprietv The part admits of 1t. and is
petter for 1t aud this certainly would have been !
intended had ID been thought Of for 1t renders the
plav doubly interesting and potential That Acres
becomes a striking figure In the group and stall |
wart motive in the action, is only because he is thus
splendidly vitalized. We're the other parts eectr
fed by an equal genius in the performance of them
il would instantly be that he has no undue
prominence.
THE SPIRIT OF THE nIPERsONATIoN.
Mr. Jefferson has considered that n country squire
need not necessarily reek Of the ale-house and the
stables; that Acres is neither the noisy and vulgar
Tom Lumpkin nor the "horsey' G0ldfnchy that