New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-28
Music AND THE DRAMA.
Mps LANGrRY AS JULIANA.

mr.
sSs proceedings of this lady in the light OF uncom-
- oohievements In dramatic art would be UNJUST
.n the dramatic profession. TO herself anu
to common sense. AS yet, III pro-
so,s,onal wsv, she has achieved but htlio.
Several actresses might he named who can excei
ZACH of the performances that Mrs. Lanetfy mas
oiven. Miss Ada Dyas, for example, is pet'er
representative of Hester Gr1rebrooE MISS Au"
Cavendish aud Miss Rose Coghlan are better repre-
sentatives of ROsatmd. Miss Fanny DaVenpo!t S'
or was, better representative OF Ju''"n"
which part Mrs. Langtry assumed last
nj, Int for the first time. Tho executive
snperiorty of these performers, though Is techhca
and profess onal, aud comes by experience. but II
Wrought be allowed TO linger upon what MIS- Lang
NV is rather than what she does, it finds in her
mind and nature much to admire, sand-yis'ole
Through her performancet-nuch TO accept WIN sa'
isfacton and well-grounded hope.
Some novlces not only 90 not act but plainly de-
note that they never can act. Mrs. Langtry Is very
far from being one of these. She cannot yet ehtey
control and conceal her 6eli-conscioushes'
She still frequently shows HERSELF III act'nE'
10 he aware of the unreality OF what sue Is uo"s'
Sbe does not arouse deep feeling III othoIs' oo0""'
she does not seem them as II she were
with deep feeling herself She u.s. distln0'iS ""u
obviously deficient alike of the magic Oh
nndthe glamour of romance; and she mas notVe' "o-
- an adept ia stage illusiOn-as anyone may
80. who will closely observe her en-
soos and exits. Yet Mrs. Langry
ho,n actress. if ever such n thing ex-
IIar performances have shown that beyond
So -a,,obio doubt. The AIT of stimulation Is
.a.nroI 70 her and ripper experience VIII teach hcl
g. host n use It, The only question, for oDsef'-
nO" n define and describe the artistic
,irds and works of the passing ago. Is the question
40 ,o her line and her limitations III seemeu " U.S.
=, the first that she would excel In the heid OF tha1
brilliant comedy which needs no reserves
~ sentiment and no groundsweli OF emotloh'
She ouqht to succeed admirably do
Mrs Chilliugton, as AnRe Brace9rdte' OF even as
I,ha Hardy; but her success III the last three actS
"rbo Hpncbback" OF the third and fourth acts
of The Lady of Lyons" couId not no" DC a"'i''
ratad She shines rs ice shines, and for the same
.aason Last night her acting OF JuliaHa made this
,ua,ment q conviction Ii was not strong In dis
+inct,ve individuality. But the performance
a,3uoed n perfecty clear comprehension OF the
character and the mechanism of the performance
,ras marked by definite purpose, central luea OF
.olf.Ued peryersity delightful caprtclousness OF
mood and many felicites of expressive look ana
tone IL will be given hereafter ho Doubt III SYM
metry. in vvidncss. in exuberant richness ana III
repose but as 1t now stands, 1t is good work. ana
4be hest. because the roundest OF Mrs. Langtrys
imperSonauons
The character of Jalidnd presents no very serious
difficulties At the outset sheis "a irowaId' foolish
girl full Of capnclous thoughts and merry
sn,rtsD At the close she is a serene, gentle,
- oeectionate woman. During the
intermediate scenes she has to display the gradual
transition from selfish arrogance to sweet humility
The philosopher Mcheet. who claimed to under
stand these matters said that marriage begins with
n combat. IN which the party who is victor at the
atari maintains the superiority to the end This
doctriue-illusrated long before by Shakespeare III
"The Tanning of a Shrew," and by Beaumont and
Fletcher in "Rule Wife, and Have Vile
Is enforced in THE Honeymoon" with Jultdnds
experience for its exponent. There IS nothing IN
this that should perplex anybody. The representa-
live of EiIiana must be beautiful must be capable
ofexpeditious action and innocent dupliclty, and
must have IN her nature both pride and sweetness.
Mrs Langtry seems framed for just this sort OF
charac,er Nothing could be better in its way than
her expression of cool, naughty, selfish AFRO
gance in the opening scenc-whiie her noble
presence and sumptuous wedding-attire made her
at this point a magnificent figure. Petulance,
angry vexation defiance, and haunting AID sneerng
contempt are all combined in JaldRd's next mood,
and all these Mrs. Langtry expressed with unmis-
taxable vim and relish. The famous line, III be
devil was most convincingly uttered. and III the
plarino outburst at her swelling heart cries ont
revenge" Mrs. Langtry exerted precisely the ex-
plosiye force which appeItalns TO this mar
row, violent, but not intense nature Inc
next transition is TO sort oil demure
humility and III this the actress was perfect and
very charming. The hypOcritical ahcctation was
left quite transparent; the wheeling tone was
taken simply and skilfully; and the little touches
of expressly by play were made with gratifying
dizziness The treatment of the text also. was full
of arch mischief. In the scene with the Mocs Dake
her pleading demeanor and honest earnestness of
feeling were entirely appropriate. The ill-temper
in the scene with ArGnsa and Lopez was adroitly
toned with an air of sweet and genuine perplexity,
md the transitions of mood were effected with easy
accuracy In the closing scenes her manner had
4he serene and ingenious cOmpOsure OF calm
loyeliness If Mrs. LangtTy were possessed
of the art to conceal art II her spnt
were as much at case upon the stage
her person is if acting had become to her sec
ond nature-sO that she could avoid letting the OBJ
server see at any time, that she knows herself to
be acting-and If, as this performance of JRlidnd
progresses, she would more fully denote tho nwak-
ening of the wOman's heart beneath the pride and
perversity of youthful, undeveloped condition. her
impersonation of this character would be a perfect
achievement. III SHOWS Iho "IcS Ho"' anu IL
lacks subtety; hut it is beautiful in aspect.
replete with piquant and engaging feminine
traits and marked by measure of dramatic
ability which commands respect even If 1t does not
VIII unqualified admiration. The rich. delicate
beauty and the delicious grace of movement pc
culiar to this actress are conspicuous in every mo-
ment Ofit.
Juliana has eight scenes in "The Honeymoon"
and Mrs Langtry applaudod in most of them
copiousy so in the wine scene and IN the dance.
The revival Of Tobn's comedy is an important
event, for 1t brings up many pleasant rccol-
lections, and II pits luxurious enjoyment
rxithin the nnhIic Ieach. lnNY nIaXa snInass