Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-05-18
Stanton Opera House.
LAS YOU LIKE IT."

always was true-that the stage in its ilustra-
ton Of "As you like it, cannot preserve the
exquisite grace, the poetic glamour-like au-
tumnal mists on distant hills at sunset-which
clothes this lovely comedy as with garment
of light. Something evanescent, elusive, in
describable-an enchantment recognized, felt
longed-for, but never named-seems still to es-
cape the most searching processes of dramatic
art in its treatment of this theme. Men who
have walked alone in the autumn woods, call
ing to mind the words of the royal exile, the
sad wisdom of Jacques, and the richly tender
songs of Amiens-songs which are the perfect
and immortal voice of broken hope and wasted
faith-are aware of these qualities, and under
stand why they can never be reached in practi-
cal expression. Nature keeps her secret, and
this great comedy is one with nature. The
strong genius of Shakespeare, likewise looking
down on all mortal things, and touching In
this play, with heavenly colors, the sweetest
and saddest experiences of human life. assumes
an exaltation of pensive beauty far above the
reach of the world of fact. Art comes to a limit
at last when all it can do is to stretch its hands
towards heaven. There are mysteries Of starry
nights and solitary ocean and mountain soil
'tude which 1t can never interpret. There Is
music in the voices of some children, an ineffa-
BILE loneliness in the faces of some women,
which it can never preserve; and SO In this
comedy, there is an interior spirit, celestial
fragrance, secure beyond its reach and coy to
all its duplication. The stage may do much I;
but these ideals elude 1t, and
No speed avails
To hunt upon its shining trails.
Nevertheless, the dramatic management or
company who bring forward this play, and
place 1t on the stage In a conscientious spirit
and adequate dress, are public benefactors. All
the influences that flow out of IT are gentle and
noble Its development Of pure love kindles
the heart Its pastoral pictures tranquil1ze the
the mind. It's presentment of contrasted CHAR
acter and experience broadens the intelligence.
Its philosophy exalts the soul. Its poetry
sings itself through the thoughts like the even
ing wind that murmurs in the dry grasses by
the brookside on late october days. And its
mingled sheen of warm. youthful life and shad-
ow of mournful sentiment fascinate every per-
ception of the beautiful, and satisfy us with
inexplicable pleasure, Though the effort to in
terpret this comedy, therefore, fall short of per-
lection in its results. it is yet noble effort and
its results can not fail to be good.
The rendition of it by Miss Pomeroy's COM
pany at our Opera House on last Thursday
night marks an important era in its history. as
we'll as in that of our dramatic growth as 3
city. It is the first occasion since the compile
ton of the building for this purpose. that the
classic dramatic representation has graced its
boards. The audience was numerous, refined,
intellectual, attentive and delighted. The
promise of the managers was found to have
been fulfilled in the matter of costuming.
The liberality of our City Council in the es-
sentials of elaborate and variegated scenery.
provided IN the construction of the stage, was
gorgeously manifested. The woodland scenes
composed with feeling and handled with skill
were made to present, in the loveliest confu-
sion, leafy vistas continually changing and
sunset colors softening into dusk.
There was no moment when, if completeness
of picture be considered, the stage ceased to be
luxury to the eye. To accomplish this result
was to accomplish much; and we are more
anxious to recognize this achievement with
cordiality, since we are compelled to add thai
the acting was not up to that degree of artistic
excellence which the sensitive taste of our city
demands, Miss Pomeroy appeared as Rosa
lind, giving her first appearance in that part
here. It is not finished Rosalind. tits pretty
and rather we'll dressed it is, at times, coquet'
fish and tantalizing; it is notable for fidelity
to nature in the mere respect of assumed boy
ishness; it has freedom and vivacity; and it is
graced, in the musical episode. with passable
execution and arch manner. But there is more
| in the part than prettiness, railery. and be-
witchment; much that Miss Pomeroy's nature
| does not convey and probably does not seize
| The intellectual character, the luxuriant wo.
manhood, sensuous yet spiritual, the child-like
purity the fascination. the gleeful radiance
;Iya p1vo he bic
did not indicate and apparently does not ap-
prehend. Her Rosalind is first a robust fiaxen-
haired beauty, and then saucy boy, The frol-
&c is present, but not the soul. Such a woman
might tease mans fancy she could not break
| his heart. Aside from imperfection of ideal,
there are other defects in Miss Pomeroy's exc
ecution. While she approaches more nearly
| the ideal conception than Miss Davenport and
others who take elevated rank in the profess
| sion and are luminaries on the metropolitan
stage, her Evolutionary work is defective. Her
| tones are sometimes muffled and indistinct
and her enuneiatiop too rapid. This can surely
be remedied and as to the loftier element, it is
enough to say that there are some depths Of
| feeling and thought which can only be sound
| ed in the actual experience of high-bearte ma
lures, and that for some conceptions of poetry
| the artist must be born and not made.
| The Orlando of Mr. Roberts vas inexpressibly
| tame and Ineffective. The amazement and be-
wilderment, consequent upon the revelation o.
Rosaliads identity, was feebly exhibited, and
the infections required in pttering mild sar-
casm were absolutely wanting The Jacques O.
Mr.. Leake was highly creditable delineation
The dreaminess and intellectual cynicism were
faithfully given, and the physical accessory o.
| a fine and well cultivated voice, supplemented
by accurate appreciation and good method, en-.
abled him to make an impressive hit at the
point of the Seven Ages. The Toutchstone o.
| MI. Davidson was crisp and rather too comic
conception, bpt was far above the average, and
| the Celia Of Miss willis was creditable, to say
1 the least.
! Miss Pomeroy's reception was most cordial
and her well expressed and graceful acknowl.
edgment in front of the curtalr received rounds
| of spontaneous applause. She will always be
heartily and warmly received in Staunton.
49,