New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-29
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE RANTZAUS.


In the Union Square Theatre, last night. the do
nestle drama of The Rantzaus" received its first
representation in America and this was seen with
deep interest and pleasure by a large assemblags
The piece has been derived from the Theatre Fran.
Gals in Pans, where it proved, last season, a solid
and brilliant success In spirit il is noble and ender
in style it is strong, clear nervous, compact and
remarkably pointed. Ii follows "A distinct purpose
and 1t sets forth sgnfc mt picture of human life
wi hout the WASTE of a single incident The power
Of literary and dramatic art TO invest the dmplest
phases of human experience with the vitality Of
true feeling, aud with that painful suspense which
is the atmosphere Of tragedy. receives IN this work
q potent aud splendid illustration.
The authOrs-Erckmlnn aud Chatrian-bave
framed, i'll dramatic action and DlaIn straight
forward, yet always CHARACTERISTIC dialogue, the
simplest possible story Of domestic trouble. Here
are two brothers, alrea y elderly men. who have
been alienated from each other, and who are living
in bIttercs, enuiity One Of them is rich The oher
less So The former has a daughter; the la.tsr
son. These young people secretly love each other,
but are separated by the hostility of their fathers
The village scbOomaSter-a swert-temPered. sim
PIE. tender-hearted, homely entsusast-trlcs 10
beiriend these lovers aud to reconcile their parents
The rich aad p rse proud brother, when he ascer-
fury. driving the schoollnas,er from his presence
and hurting the girl to the hOor. The daughter
tier that sckens and droop, till at last she Is at
the point of death. Then. IN a beautiful night
scene the choomaster-struggling between fear Of
his rich and poweru pa ron aud hlnesi, indignant
chivalrous and human promptngs Of sympathy
wi the oppressed and suffering lOyers-liscoses
the truth 10 the Doctor aud the villagers. and
in an inpassoned speech. repete with the eoquence
of the heart pleads their cause, and beseeches the
stern father to relent. Ultimately the c.ue rich
man is compelled to seek the home of his brother,
and a reconciliation between them is at last effected
The piece closes with the betro bal of the c0usins
10 well-contIiyed scene, in which each OF the chief
persons is made to reveal the essential truth Of char
acIer-and wi h the embrace OF the brothers whose
quarrel of years is ended in restored agreement
and affection. The play is in four acts, and the
scene is a village among the Vo~es Mountains, On
The German frontier OF France.
In their treatment of this subject-which at frst
sight seems impoverished and inspd for dramatic
D. .,oses-the authors have laid strong emphasis
upon the deineation and contrast Of character and
by this means they have provided opportunities ior
the most various and spirited acting. The nch
RaaiSau with his ferociOus temper and as srelk
of vulgar manners, is as strong and fine character
II
FAIR and before the millinery novels OF the present
day came INTO fasl mon, and the world found cut thai
Ihackcray was nobody, that used to be thoughts
pretty sturdy and stalwart piece of literature be
poorer Landau with his almost implacaDle spite
3 likewise admirably defined. The daughter ra
complete type of feminine purity, and tender, in'
gsnuous inn0cence-io whom fllal duty is the law,
and love the religion of existence; the kind u
woman in whose presence the best of men may wen
feel his uuwOrthness The lover j. a manly ieiloW'
who means TO viii his wife, and is not AFRAID 70
fight for her or die for her and wd0se sole purpose
is ALWAYS unselishly &c do what l. right. butHs
upon the schoJlmaster's character that the hnes'
strokes Of genius have been expended. Tins Is Suca
part as the lovers of JeiiersOn's acting mighl nav
conjured up for that most human and gentle OF p''
theic comedians. 1t involves the tender hear,'
the spontaneous belief In goodness the unssinsa
ten,nerauent, the homey rustic manner, the tings
of scholastic pride, the aniable little yahily Oh ="
ing learned the Jesse Rural sort of selicomplaee"
assumption of being able TO manage eVe'ylu.ns
the perspicuous simplicity, and, deep dowa' 'n'
sterling manlinesS-underlying dependency 'uS
ticity, pedantry and all feebleness generated I"
onp.coutinued abne cation Of self-whlch appef'sH
TO the perfect and absolute Don Quixote 81 luaS.
and virtue. There quahtlesin this charae'st.pa
make one think of Dominic Sampson ana Io@ f'
and it is not easy to say anything about u"'
ought more strongly than this 10 commend IL 70 '"'
sympathy of the world. -.
The sch )olmaster il called Mr.. Florence ana w
part WAS acted last night by Mr. John f"s,"
We have long known him for an actor oil s'eiiD'
powers and splendid equipment lie had tneoPPV
tnnity here, and he amply improved H. |" nv
himself a master of the springs of laughter anu y
tears The elegant grotesqucness OF the nsue
fho almost forlorn sweetness, the kiho, eas' 49,
manner the symmetrical blending oil all '"0
ments of the part, and, Throughout tho tiem''V
fervid workings up of the night-scene,-the go"
passionate emotion made this one almost q p'' =.
work Mr.. Stoddart, acting tho rich R"@'''"
made a great success. His acting is always ina'Ae
by formidable strength of character anu !"
eccentrlcity that waits upon his VIII, ""''
It shall be grave and impressive
humorous and droll. In this perforuah'0
was also marked by passionate INTENSITY 80
as made the arrogant RaRtsaa crneiIy-ah' ;.h
fore rightly-re In the tempestuons s00
the schoolmaster and the daughter he tower" al
fearful height Of frenzed rage; aud ID Wv ~.
struggle with himself, before kuockhs "a
brothe,,s door he brought tho character ." 80 ~.
Of perfect pathos Miss Maude Harrison a0'' 49,
daughter IL is a part that requires sweetneS' 80
ont insip,dity. that must not be oyerdono ths1
wins by retreat rather than advance s ase OF
exacts gentle personality aud tho ar. d;s,incty
Miss Harrison mace tnas schieyoua
felt-repressing with resolute skiii heI luz smooth
mIrthfulness of temperament, aud givlhx n uol
and touehinr performance. 1.-The RantIauo 1onS
a scenic piece; nevertheless Dir; Palmer Ia