New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-06
THE DRAMA---MUSIC,
MR.. IRVING AS LOUIS XI.

glad TO seize the first opportunity Of doing soD She
was acquainted with human nature. Few persons
| can long endure to behold tho success of Others
There are signs in various directions that admira-
ton of Mr.. Irving would expire if it could but tho
opportunity seems to be slow in coming. The re-
nowned actor has now appeared as Matthias Charles
/. and Louis XII, and as long as he continues to
give such performances - he has hitherto given,
admiration, assuredly, must bear its impotence.
Recognition of such brilliant efforts is a manifest
duty. 1t ought, likewise to be heartfelt pleasure
This is q wide world. There is room in il for every
body Andhuman life is not so richly blessed with
the refining and ennObling influences of intellect
and genius that any of them can wisely be spared
Last night Mr.. Irving appeared as Louis XII, and
was welcomed by of the most brilliant and
appreciatiye assemblies Of the year. His fame il
great, in this particular part and it soon became
evident that his fame is deserved. 1t one of
those exceptional performances that may justly be
called great 1t far surpassed that Of Charles Keau
in the same character. 1t was appalling in its truth
and its power.
The character of LOuis YI comes to out of his
tory, and it was long ago immOrtalized by Scott in
his novel of Quentin Durward" The play comes
to u.s. by the pen of Mr. BOucicault out of the stage
literature of France and when Charles Kean was
here, in 1865, it was made familiar throughout this
country The character is hateful and the play is
sombre but the hateful character exerts the SIMS
ter fascination of potent and triumphant evil, and
the sombre play is fraught with absorbing interest,
because of the gsly vitality Of this hideOus char
acter. Since, however, Louis al is rcpugnant (bo-
cause mankind will soon hate what they fear,
the part can never have permanent success, and
indeed il is only endurable when splcndidly shown
AS it is at present.
1t would appear to be Mr.. Iryng's method, first TO
conceive and assume the temperament of character
and then to allow the various attributes OF that
character 20 crystalline around that temperament
and take from it their color and direction. He in-
dictated the emperamcnt of Louis II. as that of hui
morous GRIM and bitter sadness, and with this no
cOlored every attribute of the part. This COURSE
warranted 10 less by knowledge OF human nature
than by the facts of hstOry,-is both wise In policy
and subtle in art for by this means the character
is elevated and brought within the range of human
feeling-a feeling difficult to define bat one that
wOuld pity if it dared The attributes
of Louis NJ authority, suspicion, craft Jealousy,
bigOtry cold intellect, sardOnic pleasantly and
supcr,ttiOus fear He likewise act with malig-
nifty, ferociy aud fury. These qualities, however,
are blent with imperial dignity beautiful and
polished Spccousness, consumuiate worldly tact,
and the hi7trionic faculty of being all thingsto all
men," 1t would be difficult to imagine character
more obnoxious less susceptible of the inveS-
tltuTc or even lcaTIui lIc dCtot nv
can cast halo of romance over such baleful COM
pound as this must possess, in high degree, both
Imagination and passionate sensibility.
Mr. Irving has not failed TO consider that Loai'
Wis born in the purple y {; that he has long ex-
ercscd the habit of command; that he is old and
Ill; that his mind is haunted ma
raised and terrified by superstition that
his memory is loaded with horrors, and his con-
science couodcd with rcmorse, and, though malign
and terrible, yet he is, nevertheless king and q
man. These things he makes to be felt, and by
means Of these he lifts the character and invests 1t
with an atmosphere of awe. You are not drawn
toward him. indeed, by tho compassion that his
pathos inspires at two or three points in the WON
derful performance of Matthias. The voice of Mr..
Irving when, as Matthias, he recognizes piece of
the Jews gold and murmurs with such a world of
bleak anguish mot for them! for NE, for me-, will
not surely. soon be forgotten by those who once
have heard it. The utter misery of this fOrlorn
| wretch when in his lonely chamber, at midnight,
aud half stupeied with wine, he tries tOdancc, and
to sing gay song keeping time TO the dying music OF
distant jewellers was sight too sad for tears So,
too in the courtroom, the desperate and broken
mans mechanical reiteration OF his single poor and
useless dcfcaCC--" Il dream, a dream, dream,
dreaul had IN effect of dramatic misery most APP
pnIling aud lalnentable. These effects when
when they were passing There no such human
moments ~ these in the PRESERVATION of LOuis NJ.
Yet by suggesting the spiritual isolation and per-
sonal wrctchedness of this King in association with
his prodigiOus abilities his humOr, his piety, and
his grand scf-pose in the wdo aud turbulent
political arena which he plays his part, tho
actor has most adroity contriyed to give to hun u
sad and lonely as we'll Il baeful magniiiceEce;
q O that, while he never ceases to be dreadful,
equally he never ceases to charm.
The strangeness and the ccccutricities Of Mr..
Irving adjust themselves to this character III his
performance of IT, precisely they did in his as
sumption of Matthias. The execution matches tho
ideal The part is full of abrupt transformation
weakness 10 strength; from fear to frenzy from
deadly impacube resolution to pious and coutrlto
humility; from the easy mood Of hypOcritical hui
nor to the sudden, hideOuS JOY of triumphant
malice and this long fever of craft and wickcdnesS
! and pain is rounded ut last with frightened aud
frlghtful death All along the line of the part,
curdmgly, are excellent opportunities for this
tors uccsSant vitality and complex method-and
especially for that picturesque mystery Of manner
through which hiS magnetism plays, like the light
ming in the cloud. The wan face, the dark and
smkcu eyes, the thick black eyebrows, the lower
ing, cvanc smile the rapid yet stealhy mOve-
Iaeuts-al these characteristics of hng Louis Mr..
Irving has caught, TO absolute perfection. His roy
atty Is innatc-rrecisely it was in CharI,s L.
and though this is a monarch who cares
| little for the mere shows of sovereignty.
! and can uubcnd and be familiar and
even jocosc, for purpose, he remains
amonprch, in every instant OF his being, by virtue
of that indcinablc but undenablo majesty Of
! character which makes certain men the Supporters
of their race Ills peculiar locomoton and his still
| more peculiar clocuiio0 harmonic with the part
| and hcishtcn its wcirdncss. The courage of
| Raphael, who could paint black iron bars across
! his beautiful group of the Angel releasing st.
! Peter from Prison. did not surpasS that of Mir.
| l. ~