The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-02-25
ADJUSTMENTS.

Mr.. Barrett is apparently to do even more
for Boker than Ntncrcady ala Tor Buwor. We an
know that ''Richcrcu" was indebted Tor much "
It's success to the practical suggestions of Macready
who created the character. pouhtcss Hulwer's
dfamal w0ull have mad' their way upon the stage
hd ticrr been uo M,cteady. Rut Lawrence Raj
retra revival of George IT, boxers forgotten
tragedy "Frauccsr, ia RlmniN puts lie into
work which gave ovory promise of sleeping beneath
the dust Of ages with the test o the vast ccucoursc VI
Enacted plays. We know that Che drama has been
considerably altered from It's original form at the
actor suggestion. \ Philadelphia paper speaks vt
u as ''Nlr. Barrelts adaptation OF MIR. Boxers
tragic poem, aud the Welt known scholarship aud
literary ability OF our great actor would lead naturally
to the conclusion that hi, teehnicalkuowedgce enables
him to furnish inst the collaboration needed to make
such plays as Mr. Boxer might write available
FOR successful representation ON the stage.
tho Italian story told NV IAute furnishes material
Tor tragedy Of the deepest paho', and 10y Mir. Bar
tetts artistic treatment OF the central role Of Lrp-
Quito N has developed into imporSOnatiou witch
seems likely to hold the stage even more firmly than
the same actOr's powerful creation ~ Vortex. The
piece had OF several weeks In Bosou, aud proved
attractive that 1t kept the stage In that city
Outing his whole engagement to the exclusion OF the
rest OF hts repertoty. heanGuage Is souotous blank
verse, alw1ya vigorous, and often eloquent. In
IrUrIBiip, Mr, Boxer mas drawn nu heroic man.
tender maguauimous, capable OF All fine feelings In
excess, but warped 10y physical defotmi, aud likely,
when deceived aud wrouged to dissolve In ruthless
totego the love OF woman, tut once persuaded Of haV-
ing II, be would be tcmpestuous In his eCstacy,
| reckless In his alteration and his happiness and
etocouS and deadly In his resentment Ut injury to his
heart and his faith As Mr. Barrett carriesthe part,
1t 10 weird personality intellectually handsome In
rte VI the slight defurmity which Is The cause Of the
self-repression ut an ardent impetuous nature. The
performance has been pronounced and unequlvoca
success wherever " has been The history of the
/ unhappy lovers immOrtaled 10y Dante has formed a
NOtite subject Tor later pens, aud the most important
opera of the recent season in Paris was upon this
I a IhilulplUIlu
has taken the Injured husband as The protagonls OF
his drama White We arc left free to pity the Ill
starred fr1HctScd and even the weak and plletlng
PdOp, who causes all the harm, 1t IS bHpct0ttO 10y
whom are attraCted--hiS courage, his energy his
hatred Of deceit, and Ills uudeserved allCtlOns, Hc
stands as the noblest figure throughout aud when ~
the close he Is driven TO slay 1t Is In the frenzy Of
righteous indignation, not In cold-booded malice.
such figure, rs portrayed by Barrett, cannot fail
to take an important place In the annals VI the drama
II Is exactly suited 10 the actors somewhat sombro
STYLE his grave and apparently careworn couutenance,
his slender aud COurtly figure. Moreover, this Is
something more than 4 mere play; II Is a genuine
poem reciteh In six acts, nlled with uutbnrsts Of
rlOquence and passion In the meiodlUus and forcefu
families which MIR. Boker knows 80 well how TO use.
1t is neodless to say that under Mt Barret's manage
ment II Is put the stage with the utmost care and
attention to detail aud that tile supporting company
Is well selected, competent, and thoroughly drilled.
The 'star Is always considerable both to the author
aud the public In THIS regard In brief, the atnnal
Theatre should bc throngei at every performance dur
lug this engagement, for challenge Is thrown down
at TO the good taste and to the patriotism OF our
tuwnsinen which they should not b. slow to take up
/ By a coincidence there is an American
play At Ford's opera House also this woek-one
thoroughly American IN subject woll as In author
ship. Esmealda " Is an idyll or the not far
distant mountains Of the Ola North state toward
which Increasing tide OF travel Is steadily setting
every year, and which for this reason attract n
greater interest. some OF the right worthy noun
taneer5 set ysiby beforeus fs In their own ONE,
where the demon OF riches and unrest comes among
them, and then In alien surroundings where they suf
fer struggle, and finally discover the true road to
contentment aud happiness. The simple story tor
genius delights IN working with the simplest mate
rials) has been often told In print that
/ 1t perhaps does not need repetition here.
I The ndescribable charm hes In the manner In
| which 1t Is worked out, the exquisite touches
| III which 1t ahounds, the clear, firm char
acter drawing, the purity and elevation Of tone.
/ Without being burdened with moral, " Esmeralda'
inStis one by its very cleanncss aud whOesOmeness.
touches strong men without using scene that in
/ nocent children might not witness. 1t is as far
from the mawkis mess of many English plays of The
general typo from the scrnfnous vice of the
French. Finally 1t has special interest here,
where Mrs Frances lIodg'on Burnett has taken her
abode, and where she has many warm personal
friends in addition to the admirers OF her talents
/ who abound everywhere. The company that viii
Interpret - ESmeraldl - would OF themselves suffice
to strike the attention, the Madison square Theatre
having In Its characteristic way spared to
attain perfection. Miss Russell Is the same pretty
and picturesque lady who created the title role In
New York aud the others are too well known to fame
to need an Introduction. The attendance this week
should show that the charming authoress and
urilhalsI, hhllke prophet Is not without honor In
her own city.
The musicale at st. Eli2abeth's on Friday
evening" under the joint direction of Miss Addie Pros
peri and Professor 4. W. Weber, most enjoyable
affair, and the best entertainment of the Kind thus
this winter. An orchestra of fifteen pieces played
delightful music, and the rest at the programme
carried ont by the following ladies' and gentlemen:
Miss BERTHE Crawford, Professor just A. Weber, Miss
Fannie Stuart, Mr.. q. b. Ward, Miss Saie Westhorps
Miss Minnie Crawford, Miss Critic Wood, Professor
Robert C. Rernays, and Mr. Robert r.. Stevens.
The young people Of New Jersey avenue
and vicinity propose repetition, on Monday even
ing, February %, at MCCauIey's Hall, No. 2O0
Pennsylvania avenue east for the benefit of the AS
ISOLATED Charities, Of the opera - II Hrlgaudero, -
successfully given the Other evening at the resi-
dence Of Mrs. Peters. besides other attractions,
they will exhibit Mrs Jarley's world renowned wax
works, replete with new figures, imported for the
occasion, AS the cause Is good one, and the excel
lence Of the performance is already assured be-
/ speak a crowded house
Mrs Langtry's Washington engagement
begins April 10.