New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-21
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
REAppEARANCE OF JOHN GILBERT.


Mr.. Gilbert had an affectionate welcome nj war
lacks Theatre last night Wave after wave, the
applause of the public rolled 10 upon him, tili 10
was almost overwhelm and could say nothihg'
Such a manifestation of goodwill Is uncom"o.'
and it was deeply impressive. Mr. Glbert niau ~,
his re-entrance as Jesse Rurd, In Mr. boucicau'
comedy of "Old Heads and Young Hearts" ana BIS
acting of the familiar part had all its usual sweet
ness and supplemented benignIty. 1t was .he
actor. rather than the performance. however 'na'
engross d the thought of this occasion. ouch III
experience. now and then cannot come amiss "
the stadious play-goer After all, 1t Is not uo''
to interpret the specific concep',o
authors that chiefly animates an actoi 0 !.
and is the soul of his career Ills larger pulp
the revelation of human nature by means OF per
sonal manifestation. by the display Vi ni1
knowledge and feelngs-his own mind and hear.'
W. Jo,,ht whether a single one of Mr.. Gilberts
anditors last night. troubled himself to CONSIDER
,vhetbar lesso Rural in making those amiable oiuh-
ders ! al too much Nervousness or 100 ltile' vi
whether his ensuing perplexity and ultimate agony
If Grief were ill., or out, of the harmony OF proper
lion. There u.s. in all good acting. value which
transcends truthfulncss 10 an anthor ana wAlch no
;n6d.litv of technical ideal can mar-the value,
namely of that rich and splendid personality wnlch
con oxnress each human attribute in the superlative
degree We do not mean to say that art is needless.
The effects of nature have never yet been produced
upon the stage by beng natural. The actor VINO
should weep in public precisely as he mgm weep
in private would evoke, not sympathy, but dersi"h
But what we mean is that there Is something winch
the good actor himself mparts TO his works, over
and above what he usually finds in an authors
text,-settng Shakespeare aside,-and that TINS is
the browning glory of his art Back of the dignity
ofo md tha iOnif y
tenderness of John Gilbert himself and, in making
artistic use of this particular image of simpici
and benevolence, the comedian sets before us
concrete type of those virtues, transcending the
eyanescent needs of the play, as broad as human
comprehension and as lasting as human memory.
TO think in this way; occasionally, OF a dramatic
performance, to strengthen the excellent mental
ha6it of looking INTO the spirit OF things ns'e 10 OF
peeping for pln-holes on their surface You are no
wiser tnan YOU were before on learning the helghtol
Strasbourg Cathedral but you Will be forever
wiser and better if once you take into your heart
the devuut and glorious aspiration oil those VINO
reared il.
Mr. Giloerts personation of Jesse Rural has al
ways been extremely gentle: l1s tone las' h,g I
ness and paihOs were predominant over us I'M
CONSCIOUS humOr. To say that a long lie OF iran
Qml goOuness was suggested as the Oackground or
the performance 10 indicate its essential qualty;
The actor recalled alter the frst act, ana
flowers were thrown to him. ana ia'er thgie
aff ction for its old favorie. The comedy carries
satire of English social life and politics somewhat
far but II contains touching story anu some caPl-
tai equIyoke, particularly III the fourth act lhe
general performance, ide from few featureswas
tame. these exceptional merits, however. made 1t
pleasant to an unusual extent. Chief among taem
was the acting OF Miss hose Coghlan.
The characters in which Miss Coghau
moss especially charming are those
thai display vein of sentiment glimlmerlng through
the diamond glitter of artiice Lazy Alice Hdw-
fkOJse "A character conceived In the sensuous mag
Inaton of youth is all sparkle, and lacks the relief
of tenderness. miss COghlan presented remark
aOle and fascinating image OF beauty ana Dilil-
Iancy and il only needs that she should temper the
carnal richness of the mpersonatiOn with
more highly refined and polished manner
to make her work perfect piece
of art She animated the entire action with her
presence and each scene that she left seemed dark
ened till her return Mr.. Edwards gave his spirited
performance of the martial Rocket, ana brought out
in sharp relief each passage IN which that gentle
heated but turbulent soldier appears. MI. Elton
was again seen as the mischeyOus LOB, III winch
part ms skill and humOr as an actor OF eccentric
character efficiently displayed to the delight of
n1c midi