New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-21
MUSIC AND TIE DRAMA.
LAWRENCE BARRETT IN PENDRAGON'

,,pr,N-c,r RAPRETT IN PENDRAGON.
a. porrott recently produced at MeNichcrs
Theatre Chicago December 81, u"-o"N "a
snhiect of King Arthur" written by MI -,
yon,c of that city. The piece is IN hVe "'''' ""N
introduces nineteen characters besides ""N of
Tbo story is based on the ancen' chion..i'
pr;t;sb history, and on Tennyson ldyI Inv -"
e,oce is blank verse. The snhlect mas p'eh 80
T. prclisb stage many times, although not u
late wears There is tragedy nearly '"'1> -,
t1,r;es old on King Arthur, and DTj den' Unions
- o,,,bors. wrote a piece about lln MI. A"uuE'
Lorvever seems to have surpa'sei previous ""i",''
:, +h;. 6sl6 and made a really successful 'tag'N.
1bo C5;o,,o Tribune gives the following sNe''n Vi
,bo Mot. Ayihur the chief OF the 'ohI'uela''o"
ofRri,isb tribes known as the PendIa@od'AlH INV
az. overcome the Scots, Danes and Northm' H. con,
ooves the idea of freeing Britain from the yoke VI
por,c He ia seconded in his designs by LGupceo IFS
Greatest knight, who-being in secret the goh'N
LIVER of 4rkar's wife. GgiRerer-lS coHsclenCcS'"''
fen and desires 70 escape from his SURROUNDINGS
Lauuce Of real motive is suspected by DoW''"' anu
,naddened bv love aud jealousy. she blnaN OF o'''
tl ,or with the idea OF retaining her lover al her
siac She in turn is closely watched by Ao"e"
l,,tuy,a peDbey who has hopes OF the succeSsioh
oa ,rbo also fayors peace as being more conducive
a. +Ia erovy+b of the intrigue which threatens 10 "o
-, lie rival IqeRcelot. He shreWdN uses
(,;ncr.r "a his unwilling ally ard obtains PROOF %
her guilt. With this proof ne coHlIOh'' H'""''
The latter at first refuses to believe the statements
Absorbed in his ambition he had let pass unhouce"
many trihcs which to a smaller mlnd Wouiu H"No
boen cause for apprehension. But, pVcrrultu ny
The advice of his followers, lac agrees 10 inc
fest which Modrcl proposes, and returns at
once TO Camelot. There, in the Queens apaf
he finds La1aceOt alone Warned Dy the iI'cnu'S
Viriep the knight had cOntrved the escape VI MS
,oi mistress remaining himself TO bear the bruht
of the Kings wrath. Modred and his adhefeh'S
clamor for the death of Laaneelot but ArtRaT o' +
-, h, the r,,n Of his hopes and the pcrhdy OF
his trusted friend scorns the paltry revenge ue-
olrinc that Lauacoot shall live to bear the burden
81 b,s sin. and turning upon hOdrod whose scho ID,
b comprehends he filings hun TO the gFouiu ''' u
tramples upon his body. LGunce.ot fees TO france
G;nerer to Ameshury, and hodred raises the Stanu-
ard of revolt On the eve of the last battle A''""
visits Girnfrer in her sanctuary. In passionate
scene he forgives her, and bids her farewell linen
the mists of the great catastrophe close ABOUT tl
The battle of Comlan follows Defeated Wontiueu
md deserted by all save his faithful TOOL. A'"T Is
attacked by MOdred, whom he Kills WIN h'S las,
effort of strength. He falls upon the ground ana
Lauacelot who had returned TO assist him. arrives III
time only TO close the lightless eyes" ~,
The same paper adds that Mr.. Barrett as h"g
Arthur acted with vgor and spirit. aud gave luli
force 70 the beauty of the text. His long declah-
atory passages were admirably rendered and III 'he
touching, tender scene with GuinerT at the aOoey
he was grand and thoroughly satisfactory. his
GOODNESS of method seemed to have entirely di'ap-
peareo. and he merged his own individuality ell
tireIy in the character he presented"
The CHICAGO later Ocean says, of the play ltseH'
"It is vigorous play, trenchant i'll thought en-
phatic. robust, noble, picturesque. romantic ana
effective. Its delineaton of character IS compIe-
hensjye and intelligent Mr.. Young has made me
type of mental, moral and physical manhood ana
in the realization of this Mr. Barrett presents per-
founance which, for briiliancy of portraitnre
and natural feeling, is unsurpassed by any
other of his fine representations The SIMPLE
directpess of this character is one oil us
charms There is freedom from the In
volved methods of some fancfu creations that Htts
II above the possibility of attack because OF de1
bated theory of interpretation Inc youlhiui
energy the daring ambition, the noble atpHauoh
md lie tender humanity of the character OF ArtaGT
are Charming to contemplation, and IN his reallza-
tion of the varied phases of valiant honest nature,
Mir Barrett comes near to perfection. Never nave
we heard Mr. Barrett read his lines with more leeI-