Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-10


curiosity to zee the famous beauty of aristo-
cratic English drawing-rooms and fashion
able garden parties was the leading motive
which drew the majority of the audience at
Wallack's Theater last evening. There are
those dramatic mourners who will regret
that such influences draw people 10 the play
house, but it is only justice 10 say that those
who came merely TO see handsome woman
were agreeably disappointed in the actress.
Mrs. Langtry does not propose, evidently,
simply to pose as 4 fashionable beauty, but
has undertaken 4 serious task, in which
she seems very much in earnest. Were she
not 30 thoroughly in earnest she could easily
have found part less trying to beginner
than that of "Hester Grazebrook," and yet
abundsntIy suited to the display of her per-
sonal charms.
In appearance Mrs. Langtry is certainly
the attractive woman report has pictured
her. Her beauty does not consist, so far as
stage effect goes, in the statuesque regularity
af nor features nor the natural brilliancy of
her complexion, wnlcn IN the stage gasiight
goes for little. Twenty actresses could be
named whose features are as clear-cut, whose
hands are daintier and prettier, and for
whom paint and powder have provided a
perfect stage substitute for natural advan-
tsges. But the greatest charm of Mrs Lang
try's presence is in the sweet simplicity of
her mauners, her grace of outline, the beau
tiful pose OF her head, the perfect proportion
of her figure and its easy, sristocratic car
risge, her soft expressive eyes, her winning
emile and her we'll modulated voice, which
is bright and laughing IN comedy and de-
fectiye only in pathetic utterances
In considering her as an actress il would
be easy to find vulnerable places in this COM
parative novice at which to level the wound
ing shaft of criticism, but she has not been
heralded as a new found Siddons or Bern
hardt, but is welcomed 10 the stage as a
clever and earnest aspirant for dramatic
honoTs, willing and striving to earn a high
place in an honorable profession by diligent
study and practice. 1t is evidently her am
bition to be judged eventually by a high
standard, but it would be mauifestly ungen.
erous 10 compare her with the geniuses who
have preceded her until she has had greater
experience and acquired full command OF
all the resources of her art. Had she fallen
into the snare TO which ambitious actresses
are 80 frequently victims, and aimed at the
great tragic roles of the stage, a stern rebuke
would have been well deserved, but she has
chosen line OF characters within the rea-
sonable measure OF her talents, and in the
beginning she deserves encoursg cement of
her ability rather than coldiy critical dis
section of every weak point made apparent
BY inexperience. She is not of the sudacious
class of debutdntes, but has a suficiency of
talent to give her right to seek. position
on the comedy stage.
To sum up her merits as an actress, apart
from a special consideration of the CHI aracter
of "B ester" it may be said that Mrs. Lang
Try is already so well trained iu the ordinary
routine of the stage that where a constrained
amateur was expected an actress was found
who has mastered many of the technical diff
hcultits of her profession. Her posing and
gestures are easy and we'll chosen, and her
grace and bearing are far more pleasing 10
the eye than that of many actresses who
have great dramatic pretentions on the COM
edy stage, bat have not her refinement of
manner. Her facial expression is varied
and interesting, her voice is under good
commaud, and when Ohio h as learned by ex-
perience the use of all those delicate little
touches which perfect stage Illusions she will
be a skillful and effective If never a great
comedy actress. 1t 10 not to be exp ec!ed
that she has yet acquired that canning skill
in her acting which conceals at all times the
art producing seemingly natural results, and
her methods are at times broad where they
should be subtle, and one can frequently no.
tice her mentally anticipating her lines But
the means at her command, If not abundant
to the most delicate expression of the varied
emotions OF the heroine she impersonates,
are judiciously employed, and frequently
produce charming and often strong effects.
In outward graces and accomplish me mis- as
an actress Mrs. Langtry is strong; il is only
when we apply a critical dramatic standard
and fathom the intellectual depths of her
work that we sometimes, as il were sound
in comparatively shallow water. As re-
suit We discover, not genius in her efforts,
but strong, womanly intelligence which,
though it cannot take the place of the feu
sdcre, gives promise OF a satisfactory, if not
brilliant future. What Mrs. Langtry lacks
ID the full possession of that true dramatic
instinct, the evidence of which il is impossi-
Bile exactly 10 describe, which is felt rather
Than seen or heard, and which cunnipgly
impresses upon the listener the reality of
emotions which the actress Stimulates. Mrs.
Langtryis not without traces OF this instinct,
but they so ftful that in her pathetic
moments one sees that she lacks real feeling,
and that her impassioued lines have not the
glow and warmth of true dramatic fire. but
are the momentsry effort of a clever woman
giving voice to an emotion she does not
really experience. Elegance and appropri-
steness OF gesture, varied and correct facial
expression, are aids to the actress, but some
Thing more eloquent than these are needed
for the UNCONSCIOUS expression of genuine
passion. But her intelligence enables her
10 conceal much of this from all but the
most thoughtful listener, and it must be said
that she has made such steady advances in
her profession since she first appeared at the
Haymarket, less than a year ago, that we
can confidently predict even greater i'm
provements in the future.
MRS. LANGTRY AS MRS. LANGTRY
And now that everybody knows what her
first American audience thought of Mrs.
Langtry, some may be curious 10 learn what
Mrs. Langtry in turn thought of her audi
ence. 1t was not easy to ascertain, for she
was yesterday not only thing of ire
proachabe but OF unapproachable beauty.
She went to rehearsal at IL O'Clock, but was
manifestly determined 10 save herself from
all unnecessary effort at that time. She had
caught q slight cold, and Mr.. Abbey thought
it best to send DIR. Phelps to see her, but he
merely ordered that she should be kept in
quiet until the evening. Hence it was that
Mrs. Langtry received no callers in the day,
and when She left her .dresaing-room at the
theaier at night che hurried to her hotel, and
was again invisible 10 all but her eompan-
ions and her manager. From what she said
TO friends at the theater, however, il may be
set down that Mrs. Langtry was really sur
prised at the magnitude and warmth of her
reception, and that she felt in consequences
less than usual of that nervousness TO which
she SAYS she Ia 8. victim on first night occa-
sIons. A few minutes alter the had gone to
ner rooms in the hotel a wagon load of
lowers arrived, and one handsome piece of
artistry after another followed up stairs in
he path of the Jersey lily.