New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-04
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
MARY ANDERsoN As ron.

its vitality Is Of the spirit rather than the blood
its lofty and noble moral feeling Is somewhat fa
removed from general human sympathy It's poetry
though delciously eloquent, is OF the kind that Il
impelled by scholastic mental purpose rather than
the warm, spontaneous currents OF the heart; II
is suhused with a cold, whits light ratheI
than with color its persons more the represents
tives of abstract ideas and artistic purposes thar
living human beingsj and Its central character,
IOn is 80 absolutely sexless that it makes no differ
ence whether it be persouated by man or woman
Altogether, il is a thoroughly ideal creation and
as SUCH it exacts an ideal sympathy, OF which man
kind is but slenderly capable. II ever the time
should come when Shelley is as popular poet az
Robert Burns, or Shakespeare's Tempest draws
as we'll aud pleases as deeply as The Lady Of
LYONS" then Talfourd's tragedy of Ion viii b
as famous and as much admired the stage it /,
now in the closet
he revival of "Ion," from time 70 time. b. non,
the less dearable. admirable and useful achieve
ment Ii ia piece that Is fruitful OF excellent les
sous. 1t shows with conspicuous clearness, thai
simple severe beauty Of form IN works of art
which the ancient Greeks were the first TO attain
and to teach. 1t noble English tongue with
copious sffluence of wealth and melody such as ia
rarely found anywhere outside Of Shakespeare. and
such as lulis the sense of harmony into perfect
cessories and its suggested traits of ancient civza
ton--an old, far-uistaut historic period, thickly
peOpled with majestic shapes and great ideas.
and dimly invested with that air Of shadowy
mystery which is so captivating to the
imagination and so elevating to the whole spiritual
nature of man. 1t is instinct with the Hottest
moral purity, and therein 1t streams upon the soul
like sunrise on the Ocean--a glory comfort and a
CHARM Its stage pictures please by the prOprley Of
their natural sequence, by the spirited character Of
their grOupngsan by the sharp clear and steadily
increasing effect which they give to the dramatic
purpose Of the piece. Its sustained intellectually
shown in the unfaggIng directness. precision and
continuity with which its chief character is made tc
develop itself in action, under the weli-contrived
stress of propulsive ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and holds
the respect and admiration Of every thoughtful
mind. It's object-the nOblest by which art can be
actuAted-is, likewise, fOund to be most deeply
impressive; that object being to present,
in grand setting and with splendid
emphasis, the beauty of self-sacrifce-the simple
yet glorious idea. which at once destroys all mean
ness envy malice, fear and Duny self-seeklng that
the best use he ever can make of his life is to give
it for the benefit OF his fellcw-creatures.
The simplicity of all this is another obstacle
which has ever STOOD and will ever stand. consider.
ably in the way of It's effective practical llustra
ton and nforcement-smplicity bt.ng the one SUI
preme quality most difficult either to realize or to
convey Each motive of Ions conduct is elementai
each of his acts is direct and his whole personality
is like white marble Virtue is his nature readi
ness in duty his condition; and, IN the seyera
successive situations in which he Is displayed
he presents always The same grandeur of heroic mag
nanimity. He will be the messenger of the prieso
to the dangerous Adrdsts and he has no fear OF the
rnenaced doom of death. He fronts the formidable
King with a perfectly fearless brow, and charms
and subdues him. He joins, with more than the
serenity Of Brufus, in the oath which deyotes the
sinful monarch 10 sacrifcial destruction. lie L
himself ready to strike the awful blow that the high
gods of his religion have commanded And When
at last il is apparent that his own death can alone
preserve his country from pesilence and ruin, ne
walks TO the grave as to festival, and with his OWN
hand pours out his hearts blood upon the altar OF
the chendeddeities Of Greece. He is the Antinom
of dramatic terature-the one entire and perfect
chrysolite" of beautiful young manhood, human
goodness and sweet. SERENE devoted self-sacrltee
1t taxes all the resources Of exalted spirituality ant
refined mechanism, to bring forth this brave ane
lovely image of ideal excellence.
Miss Anderson acted Ion last night for thu first
time in New-YoTk, and her performance was Oh
served with intense eagerness by brilliant assem-
blage that filed tho Fifth Avenue Theatre in every
part The young actress was fortunate in it beyond
all promise or anticipation. Her very lack of expe
rience became now power and help. The soulful
innocence of her nature, breathing through every
look seemed the literal radiation of the spirit o.
Ion. Her figure, in the garments of the Greek boy
was like Phidean statue. Her movements had
large imperial grace. and her equally-poised teIn'
psrameut-slow 10 ignite and never profoundly dis
turbed-aided tins effect of animated marble. Hell
elocutiOn partook of the symmetry which,
like an atmosphere, seemed to enfOld the
whole effort and it was measured, fluent, melodous
and noble-never dropped into colloquial tamenesss
and seldom Jared by spasmodic breaks. More than
ever as this performance proceeded 1t conld be felt
that this actress should most serny restrict herself
within the fields of the imaginative drama. as far az
nossIbIe removed from realism" and from the
emotional school of acting Hers is the grand
STYLE if anything, and more and more as the years
drift away she ought to make the grand traditions
of Mrs. Siddous and Charlotte Cushman live
again. Her embodiment of Ion is a perfectly
satisfying augury that she can do it. The ign;
personatiOn lacked depth; and 1t was constrained
by a self-consciousness tat times. however, qnlta
oYercOmel which the circunStan yeS OF the occasion
could not fail TO cause and as neither unl'
forlnly sustained nor exactly fnsne.. but 1t had
splendid glow of imagination 1t was ethereal ana
exalted; It was beautiful in its refinement; ana IN
its denotements OF capacity ana nnexpioren re.
source it was very eloquent Miss Anderson mas
done nothing upon the stage that Is sweetef purrr
or higher than this.
The general presentment of the piece was loose
and mechanical. Mr. Mines Levick embodied,
however. truthful ideal of AdrdsHs, which would
have had finer effect had the actor been In g0Od
voice. The character is one that Byron might nave
conceived indeed, he resembles Sardaaapdtasl, ana
thsG speaks in more compact blank verse than
Byron habitually wrote. Mr. Levlcks expression OF
the remorse and grief OF the doomed klbg was
strong and sometimes pathetic. Ion" will be re-
peated tonight aud Wednesday. Miss Anderson
was called before the curtain four times s'he was
especially fine in the first three acts and preserved
almost throughout, the masculine identity aud
manner. The chief detection was apparent 10 the
fourth act; but take it all in all 1t was an extraor