New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-09
MITSIC AND THE DRAMA.
STANDARD THEATRE-PATIENCE.

dOubtS
n was urgrd that asthetcisn. as It is SUPPOSED ~
avist !, ENGLAND had made so little progress III
Arerico that the satire of the piece wOuIu oo '
mon the public and that however much T.
might be euioved by those who uhueI S'oou -
1yould prove caviare to the general Inv I
shown. however that all such leaIS WIZ So ~
loss The Standard Theatre mas pcch Vio
;ts utmost capacity every hIsh' anu -, rt
,iori4y of the opera seems HhoS "
,ivo1 that of either . Pinaiore OF l"o ! "
Ipa,,rorcey Such success could hardly DC ac-
oourt.d for bv the beauty OF the music tne eAooi-
Ionce of the performance or the brililahcy vi inc
80 settino or even by that peculiar hunlor Oh MI
cimort,s which pervades the piece, ana wmch con
ts LARGELY in treating the most ludicrous situations
aud imposshls ideas with the utmost seriousness
"Patience is so essentially satire that unless It's
obiect were understood it could not prove elective
That the ies hetcism which Mr.. Gilbert ndcuies Is
readily comrrehcnded, even by those VINO haNc
never seen the genuine thing, is proven con iuSiNo
enouob bv the way in which the piece Is l'oei'o''
The audiences fail TO catch few OF the inner points
Int for the most part they are understood E,.H
a., Loy1s absurd description Of an Early-E
Itch y Uniform never lacks appreciation
since tbe first night the performance has improved
in a marked degree. Not only DO matters ~ niVi'
emootblv but several of the parts been nave eIaO'
rated and much amusing business has been auueu'
Miss Carrie Burton is charming in the ltle roe' ENol
since her debut at tie Bjou Theatre two yearsago'
her acting has steadily improved, but IN TINS piece
aho disrlovs n dramatic talent which has taken
everyone bv surprise. Her action is gracelm anu
onpropriatc and her eocutlon distinct and lnteili
o,ont Nothinr could be better than her abrupt
transitions from tenderness to virtuous mdlgna-
+ion and back again in her scene WIN
Grosreuor in the second act She sings exceedlngIy
well-as such singers go-and IL she VIII only ,"N0
care of her voice which once in while SHOWS signs
of oyerwork she is likely to prove one Oh 'o n"o'
useful artists of her class Mr.. Ryley as b""moIhe
il another pleasant surprise. His WORK III iho
Pirates and "Billee Taylor was so much oil piece
that his versatility began to be doubted. But IN
"Patience' he has developed an entirely new VEN
of bumor, not less admirable or less amusing than
Che old He is an ideal aesthetic of the atttudlnlz-
inc variety and his postures mig t serve as mouei
for medieval saints in stained-glass WINDOWS Miss
Roche the LADY Jane, and newcomer mas ih"uo d
great hit She is capital SINGER anu
barring some lack of cleaTness III her enunclauoh-
a fault common to too many members OF the con'-
pany-an excellent actress. Indeed, MI carte mas
been fortunate III all the additions winch TIC mas
made to his company MIR. CadwalIader' the new
tenor has strong resonant voice, which, save for
tendency TO rec il occasionally, he uses capally
His acting. too. is careful and intelligent. Mr..
Carleton who has been long familiar TO us on the
stage of English opera, gives a spirited, Vlgor-
ous performance as the Colonel. Another
valuable member of the company Is Mr.
Wilkinson, the Major. Although very young, he
makes up capitally as an old man, and his
acting is clever and full of humor Whatever
shortcomings there may be in Mr.. Baron's SINGING
and they are the more to be regretted that he has
couple of the bes songs in the opera-they are more
than compensated for by his excellent acting. The
mart of GrosreRor is one of the most difficult in the
opera and Mr. Barton plays il with = ace. with alb
solnte refinement and with quiet dignity winch
seems all the difficult to assume when one CO...
siders for a moment what al unspeakaDle ldlOt
attention was called in these columns when " Pa
fence was first pr, duced to the beauty OF the
stage setting. Nothing more complete Than TINS Is
in its way has been done here. inc cos
tunes of the chorus IN the hrSt al are
models OF aesthetic ART mat OF 10y '"p, IN pIj
skill. All the appointments are III harmony WIN
them, down TO the archaic instruments on wnGGh
the young women accompany their songs, WINE tie
scenery is pretty and appropriate. Some changes IN
The cast are to he made during the coming week,
Mr. Carleton replacing Mr.. Barton as Grosren0r ana
Mir Iithgow James assuming the part OF the Colonel
Whether these hanges Will prove Tor me Den'ef T.
mains To be seen, but In any case latlehce IL as
sured of long and successful career, which IL every
May deserves
LAWRENCE BARREIT'S PERFORMANCES.
Mr.. Barrett, by his fine performance OF Rtchehea
Il
existed in the high ambition, fervent intellect, and
eager sensibility which the inherent force and
charm of his acting AS memory fingers Overthls inn
personaton the qualities of it that seem the best and
that give the pleasure, its gentle refinement
its tenderness and its elOquence. In repose, the
quality is sweet and thoughtful gravity, touched
with a sort of gr1m playfulnesS that Is almost
humor In the moments of action there is, by
firms a glow of mournfu tenderness and splendid
fervor of intellect and purpose. The inspirung OF
Francois the defiance of the masqued asSaiant, the
illumination of the Churchs threat, and the sudden
resumption of vitality, at the climax, are all
magnificent points, under Mr.. Barretts treat
ment. He makes them with impressive force,
and he RECEIVERS smoothly, and without rebound,
from each burst of passion-so that here the feeling
is natural and the art firm,
He has restored many lines usually omitted from
The original text of Richelieu' and-especially i'll
the Rouel sOlilOquy and in the rejOinder to the
King-he is enabled to present, and does present. |
with superb elOcutiOn and noble sincerity, the |
spiritual and the really glorious aspect Of this
ideal Richelieu's nature. His bearing, his ex- |
preston and above ALL the tones OF his voice when
musing III the lonely midnight, and in the utter
ance of the old prelates brief but touching alluslon
to his lost friend his far-away experience of youth
and love, his premature age and loneliness and isoa-
tion, of surprising excellence III themselves |
while they show an insight INTO the heart of the |
character such IS only possible to men of grand |
ambitions who have taken the experience of life |
very earnestly and have learned their in the
school of suffering. II Mr. Barretts performance |
were uniformly of the texture 1T shows at these |
points it would be faultless. AS IL is the work does
great honor TO his abilities, and shows his steady
advance.
The limitations that perplex Mr. Barret's Richeleu |