The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-07-15


On Tuesday evening Of this week, Roberl
Mcwade, the rival Of Joe Jefferson ~ the
representative of Washington Irving's amia-
BILE vagabond of the Catskiils, Rip Van Win
kle, made his first appearance in Deer Lodge.
He came unannounced to Montana, having
hastily resolved in Ogden to make the trip,
and played but a few eveningsin Butte. There
were conflicting rumors as TO whether or not
he was the genuine Mcwade and ~ to the
merits of the performance. These were put
at rest on Tuesday evening. Not since Coul-
dock rendered his mastery studies on the
Montana stage have we had so fine piece
Of acting. 1t Is many years since we saw
Jefferson, and a close comparison Of the rel
alive merits Of the two cannot be instituted,
but If memory serves there are ut least some
scenes IN Mcwade's rendering equal if no:
superior to Jeffcrson's. In the first plac e
Jefferson plays Bouccicault's draniatization
Of Irving's story and Mcwade plays his own
The former has some effects and situations
the latter does not possess, but Of the two
Mcwaies is the more correct Interpretation
and conveys better moral Instead Of Rips
wife Eda unnaturally marrying the tavern
keeper, Derric, who had poisoned their
lives, robbed them of their farms and driven
Rip to that yagabondage for which Eda
drove him to the mountaiR, and then after
living fifteen years the wife Of Oerric,
rushing back into Rips arms on his reap
pearance, n the Bcuccicault version has 1t,
Mcwade's Eda dies meantime ,as the story Is
written, and old Derric is gone when Rip
4 rata Tb.as hah ala h..%x
maintained, In that Jefferson's Steenie, who
was left at the age of six, recognizes Rip on
his return without any good cause therefor
except the instinct of natural affection,
which is very doubtful one, whereas Nc
Wade's Rip on being driven from home
makes an appointment for the morrow with
his child "down under the willow tree, to
play" and this, impressed by disappointment
and long sorrowing for her father, Is the nat
ural clue BY which she identifies him twenty
years after. Again, Bouccicault's Rip goes
back to his cups again to make the point
with the final toast, while Mcwade's Rip has
the tempting cup kindly taken away by Stee-
nie's hand. and there Is whole temperance
,ectnre in the closing speech. Jefferson's
version II the most dramatic; McWade's Is
more correct and conveys better morality.
The scene between Rip and Eda before she
drives him from home, the parting Of Rip
and his child, the meeting with Hendrich
Hudson and his men in the mountains, and
the return were all fine, but the awakening
ia the mountains was the best Of all In this
scene we think Mr.. Mcwade has no superior
The support Is not as good throughout a
might be. but as the interest principally con-
cenfrates with Rip, that defect was not so
material. Mr.. Mcwade goes to Helena for
week and. returning here, will play ON FRI
day, July % From here he proceeds ria Mis-
sonla to Walla Walla, taking in intermediate
towns en- route. We advise all who like real
ly fine acting, where studious art sosimulates
nature that it cannot be distinguished, to see
McWaIe in Rip Van Wrinkle. Il il rarely
such dramatic treat Is attainable in the
mountains.