New-York tribune., 1881-09-13
THE DRAMA.
JEFFERSON AS ACRES.

as that house VIII contain. 1t Is rare and peculiar
pleasure that he has placed within the reach of play
poers by his schoar-like revival of that old comedy
and by ms artiot-le personation oi that dTon and
kindly character. This was felt by the brilliant as
sembiagetAat him last night, and gave TO his
perforlnaucc a heartfelt tribute of sympathy and
admiration and it will be felt more and more, the
pftener this work is seen, and the more
closely il is studied. Mr.. Jeiferson's acting of
Acres has already been described in this column, with
careful and minute detail, and with particular re-
mark upon his modification and readjustment of the
comeAy-if indeed the few changes that lie has
wrought in it can be SO denominated. The subject,
accordingly does not Tecur as entirely novel, but
derives its chief freshness from the fact that,
although the comedian has acted Acrcs all over the
country-since his revival of it, at the Arch in Phil
adelphia, on September 13, last year-he now gives
it for the first time in New-YOrk.
His pcrsonaton was to be animated by tho
same subtle motive and Suffusod with the Same
ideal spirit that recognized long ago as consi
tutng its originality and its special excellence. He
presented AcTe5 good-hearted and not unrefned
fellow, with ludicrOus foibles of character and
tnged his conduct with drOl folly and set him forth
as absurdly vet pleasantly vain and made his trepida
ton entirely real and irresstibly comic He thus di-
vested the part alike of the clownish tone of the
humpkin and the coarse swaggcr of the horse
jockey country Squire-wth one or both OF which
attributes it has commonly been marrcd. His
Acres a country gentleman, empty-headed per-
haps but not vulgar, and displayed as passing, with
real emotions, through real experience. 1t would
not have good effect to endow Acres with passion,
or to make him, IN any respect deep: be is a shall
low, frivolous, soap-hubbe sort of person, at the
best bat it is excellently effective to make him
genuine lar as he goesto assume that he is truly
smitten with the charms OF Lydia Ldngush that he
sincerely resents the capricous manner in which
his addresses are treated that be feels real
of courage when at last noated the tide of
fashion and forced into valorOus attitude; and
that he is terribly frightened when actually
brought to the scratch. This il not the treatment
that the character has received in times past. Mr..
Jefferson is its first representative adopting this
ideal and working in this direction.
The comedian has had new dresses made for
AcreS, and indeed the entire piece newly dressed
last night. the town attire of icres and the Tanent
of Mrs.. NdGpT0p being of magnificent richness and
beauty. This attention to detail-leaving point
unconSidered-had, of course the effect of difusng
over the representation an atmosphere of lovely
refinement. The thorough fidelity of a thinker and
an artist has extended its influence to every par
tcular ana Mr.. Jefiersons effort. while it peases
much. is that instructs than it peases.
The test to which, in his success comedian proves
equal is suggested, in all its clear and cold
severity by this extraordinary work No tragic actor
Is ever rigidly judged; or in the nature of the
case, can be. 1t is doubt as difficult to act
well in tragedy in comedy. but it is always easier
to produce successful effect by tragedy than by
comedy, and tragedy can often be made to disguise
bad acting. The spectator of q tragedy soon be-
comes excited, sympathetic, and responsive, under
the stress of the tragic subject itself and out of hs
Imagination and feelings viii often supply the
charm and perfect the illusion which it may happen
that the tragedian himself eau neither exert nor
create. The comedian, the contrary derives no
ench I1 his emilia
spectator of a comedy is placid: he does not laugh
until there is something to laugh at and he casts
glamour of emotion or fancy around the artist be-
fore him. The expedient known as "mugging" may
indeed, beguile vulgar taste into the mood of
laughter; but, with 1.-The judcious" it never will
supply the humor that is essential in comedy,
nor obtain acceptance as a substitute
for art acting. Them too it istto be considered
that the composition of piece of comedy acting is
like a mosaic-nade up of many little details tints
and toneS-whercas an embodiment in tragedy may
be made with large, imposing strokes and masses of
color. Never a truer word spoken than
that OF Garrck when he said that comedy is serious
BUSINESS. 1t may not be so high task to act Don
Felr or Sir Peter 7eazle to act H0mletbut in art
1T is much difficult one to make great per-
fornance and great effect. Mr.. jefferson has
thrown prodgous intellectual force into the work
manshp of Heres and in this respect, while giving
great pleasure, has taught a most valuable lesson
The reception given to Mrs. Drew last
night, should be remembered here as one
of the brightest incidents of a charming oc-
casion. Her stately decOrum and formidable
severity her grandiose pomp, the fervent sincerity
of her blunders the comic absurdty of her antioua
ed cOquetry, the admirable accuracy and precision
OF her speech and business made her performaucc of
Mrs UdlQpTOp simply perfection. There is a certain
harshnesS in this part which Mrs Drew brings out
as no other actress OF our time has done: it is
the hayor of the crabapple which other fruit can
give. Mr.. Frederick Robinson, acting Sir 1nIb0ow
was also received with marked public favor. The
performance has mellowed in frequent rcnefi4ion
and is exceedingly life-like and strong in humor
and chOler; but the rage still be ARTIFICIAL
AS of a man lashing himself into a frenzy that
does not spring from within there is stll too
much emp phasis also laid upon the animal carnal and
gioatmg element IN that somcwh hat overstnrdy and
oyer-eXphCit character. Miss Rose Wood is very
pretty and pleasing Lylia LaRqaish correct as to
Inspldity, charming in outbursts of romantic non
Sense and spirited in petulant resentment.
The general representation passed smoothly and
brilliantly, and an almost constant ripple of laugh
ter testlie' its effective character and to the
public er nent, Mrs. Drew complimeuted
with thr' special recalls and MIR. Robinson Mr.
Galloway and Miss Rose Wood were also recalled
while all the characters summoned at the fail
OF the last curtain. Mr. Jefferson was, obviously
peclaIly IN ms hrst scene but the art only became
more trcnchant and sparkling under this pressur of
e1cltement. lhe s9btlety and variety of the duel
scene was wonderful, and at several points in ita
course the humor was charged with natural
pathos that laughter was almost turned to tears
more exquisite effect coud not he eima0inod Cd o.
very seldom the result of dramatic art
In leaving this subject it may not be amiss to re-
peat few words that were used by this journal on
previous occasion, when rcnarking on Mr. ,JcfIer-
sons ideal of BOB Acres, and his method of ex-
pressing it:
Mr.. Jefferson has considered that country souire
need not necessarily reek of the ale-hOusc and The
Stables that AcTcs is neither the noisy and vulgar