New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-16
THE DRAMA IN LONDON.

GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST IN HE CuF AN Az
TIoUE GEM IN A MoDERS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF SPECTACULAR AcCEssoRIEs-whAT THE
CRITICS sAY-MR IRVING AS A MANAGER AND
AS AN ACTOR-MR ALMA-TADEMA AND HE
MAsoUE OF PANDORA"
IrRoM THE REGULAI coRRF sPoSDENr or THE TRlBuNti
LONDON. Jan. '4.-Mr Tennyson's new play. " The
Cup" much Leralded and gossippcd about IN ad-
vance, was produced last night at tho Lyceum, un-
der Mr. Irvings management-Mr. Irving ana MISS
Ellen Terry in the two chief parts. COpiOus accounts
of both play and performance appear in TINS morn
ings papers. The Times excepted, which shows us
usual fine Indifference to news, and devotes the
space which might have suficed for an article on
1.-THE Cup to lucnbration on Roman Remains III
the Town of London.
Mr. Tennyson it has long been known, is not con-
tent with his aurels as poet but is eager for
fame as dramatist Besides the Inflated Queen
Mary" nc has writ cn. it is understood, number OF
poetic works intended for the stage but thus far
doomed to the obscurity of his private PORTFOLIO
since to publish them in the ordinary way would be
a confession of their unftness for the stage With
reference to this second attempt which is the first
under Mr.. JrvinGs management. public curiosity
which would have been enough without ar
t.iical stimulants has been whetted by
the many devices familiar to the eX-
perenced ca erer 1t is weeks, or perhaps
months since paragraphs began to appear in the
pa ers, first announcing that Mr.. Tennyson had
beel prevailed to give another work to the stage;
then limiting at the subject; then revealing the
source of the story and date of the action then de-
scribing the piece but with inaccuracies of detail
which had to be corrected IN following paragraph
OF in rival journal; then foreshadowng the III
credible richness of decoration and costume with
which the play was being prepared and so on to
/ Judge, more thuu the usual competition. which is
always keen enough for places on the first night 1t is
recorded this morning that Mr. Gladstone with his
family occupied private box, and that the au-
dience, as a whole was of unwonted brilliancy. IT,
therefore. Mr.. Tennyson's dramatic aspirations are
to be satisfied by all the accessories and external
aids to success, he ought TO be abundantly content
But if he is DESTROYS of that sort of triumph which
depends on the intrinsic merits of his play. he may
have to wait little longer
AN OLD TALE RETOLD.
The story of "The Cupn Is not new; nor the
period modern; nor is this the first or second dra-
matzation of the story. Plutsrch seems to have
been the first chronicler of the incidents dealt
with by Mr. Tennyson Corneills made them the
subject of q tragedy. In Germany they have been
treated and acted undor the title Gamma; which
is also that of the Italian version by signor Monta
nelh in which Ristori acted, whether in America or
not do not remember Of firm historical basis for
all the horrors which have SO fascinated successive
writers there is. 1 believe, mono whatever.
The period must be taken to be before
Christ-in tho third century, says one critic
more confident than his comrades. The sceno is
Galata. in Asia Minor, where flourishes among
population of mixed Greeks and Gauls the worship
of Artemis. Gamma. the heroine, is q prestess of
this divinity, which does not prevent her from be-
a..
than her wiehood protects her from the Illicit pur
suit of Synorix Before the marriage Of Gamma.
Synorix had known, and-after his fashon-loved
her. Then he had been driven from the country,
because, as Artemus Ward used to saw lie
was bad man. He became an officer in
the Roman Army, and at the opening of
the play. reappears on the scene, with the double
view of deposing Snnatus the pretext of enfOrc
ing payment of the tribute due to the Romans and
of gratifying his passion for Gamma.
II to the gloom and horror which hang over tho |
whole play there be any relief whatever, or any
thing to reconcile the spectator the procession of
tragic incidents which pass before him. it Is this
idea of fate, and this only Synorix presents him
self to Gamma with a sacred cup saved from n
DESTROYED temple elsewhere; and is invited to
the house of Sinnatus. There lie begules Gamma
with tale OF menaced danger to her husband. and
lures her to the Temple to meet the Envoy OF Rome
Antonius who alone can avert the peril At the en-
trance to the Temple SyDorx declares his love;
Gamma Iepulses him; Sinnatus ovcrhears, and,
rushing to the rescue of his wife, falls under the
dagger of Synorx and the first act ends with tho
escape of Gamma the Temple. 1t is characters
tic of Mr. Tennyson's method that he delays the fall
of the curtain with long sOliloquy of SynOrx.
The second act opens year later in the interior of
the Temple. Synorix has succeeded Sinnatus rs
Tetrarch to crown his felicity he wants only the
hand of Gamma and to her he SENDS proposals. which
she accepts as the readiest means Of fulfilling her
vengeance. The marriage goes on-Other incident |
there is mono in this act-and Gamma accOmplshes |
her revenge by druggng the marriage cup-whencc |
the title of the pay-whch both she and Syn0rx |
drink, dying with al exchange of Pagan sentiments
In the hands of the accomplished dramatSt this |
story might serve purpose and make good play. |
In Mr.. Tennyson's hands, it ID to be feared the play
is not good one,it is, perhaps, in tho true sense
hardly play at all. am very Tree from Offering
positive opinion on the matter, because | was not |
able TO be present last night and my impressions !
are derived from the criticisms in the morling |
papers. But those criticisms are both fun aud |
friendly Everything. | judge, has been sad for |
the play that could b. said for it by competent |
judges VITA a sincere desire to discover |
all its merits, and to inpart TO the public |
the enthusiastic good wl-laiike to Mr.. Tennyson |
and TO Mr.. llvlne)-wlich aniinateS the writers Of |
them. | share this good WILL and yet find it diff
cult TO believe that the applause Of last nj nt and
the flowers and the other familiar demonstrations
of first night at the Lyceum are the tokens of any
thing more than preexistno aud often justified
admiration for both author and artists-Mss Ellen
Terry included. OIL whom 1t appears to have rained
flowers. Mr. Tennyson has written u beautiful and
spirited. though exceedingly sombre poem. Ii has
an easy flow of narrative but 10 plot; descriptive
passages of the most picture que quality, hut 10
ton; succession of interesting incidents, but no