National Republican., 1883-04-17
THE THEATERs.
MRS. LANerRY AT FoRp's.


MRS. LANGTRY AT FoRpe.
Whatever diversity Of opinion as to Mrs,
Langtry's ability may have been carried away
from last evenings performance Of &c An Un-
equal Match" sense Of having been gen.
orally very we'll entertained must have re-
NAMED paramount with tho people who
constituted the audience. The pretty little
comedy-one Of the brightest, simplest, and
most wholesome in the catalogue Of modern
English plays--was in the main well acted.
There was a noticeable lack Of interest on
the part Of the gentlemen who represented old
Grazebroos and Botcherby; and two Of the
ladies seemed indifferent to the small yet in
terosting characters they had to assume. But
tho characters that (after Hestor) are most in
theeyes Of the pootator-Arnclif, Blenkin-
sop, Hebblethwaite, and Mrs. Montressor-
were played with care and fitness that call
for unusual commendation. Leaving out
slipshod mood into which tho Arnclife per-
mittod himsels- to drop in the last act,
tho work Of these Ave may be rated
as among the best and most faith
full comedy portraitures the stage of
this country has seen for many season. II
made an admirable setting for the central
point Of interest, which indeed was we'll in
need of 1t. But with IL th ere breathed an air
Of actuality which at times filled the scene
with an almost perfect illusion. Mrs. Lang
try has moments Of genuine power. They are
notprotracted moments,nord do they occur with
any great frequency But here and there q
touch of real magnetism lights up her work,
and the truth Of tho author shines through
II. 1t Is singular that these touches occur In
tho simpler and more homoly passages, In
those scenes upon which most actresses
would expend their bost forces-the scenes
where feeling runs, highest In the
lines, and spirited action was evidently in
tended, Mrs. Langtry becomes almost pain.
fully artificial. Her gestures lose tho grace
that is their greatest charm her voice, which
Is thin and mono too musical, rises in pitch
without growing In volume, and her cnuncia-
tion drags' TO the very verge Of
drawling-and unequal drawling, at that
Whether or not she has a natural adaptability
to the profession she has chosen, nobody
could say upon the evidences offered by her
work last evening. Hester Grazebrook
Is one of those parts Of which it is
said that they play themselves, It
is pretty. 1t Is engaging, II carries the
sympathy and friendly interest Of an audi
ence with it from beginning to ending, It
confronts the actress with no difficult
demands for dramatic force nor with
any troublesome subtleties. II simply
needs that whoever essays IL DO On.
dowed with personal oomeliness . com.
parative ease Of bearing, faculty Of
ingenious expression, little fre, and that
knowledge OF the world which enables It's
possessor to carry the air and manner Of o
lady. Mrs. Langtry meets all Of these needs,
excepting as to FIRE. comely sho is, with q
thorough English meaning to the word-not
graceful In carriage but presenting
flowing harmony ofline and curve that not
even painful diminution OF tho waist has
been able to destroy. She has moreover a
charming felicity in those delicate little
scenes where the tenderness Of low
ing maiden or the affection OF
q wife is to be pictured, There
is world OF quiet earnestness in her
manner OF look and speech in the passage
where Hester tells Botcherby Of the love
o wifo should bear her husbands; aud
in tho scenss with Sir Harry in the second
act, she touches as true and sweet q chord as
ever vibrated across the footlights of a
theater TO the heart OF listener. And
when in tho final act the development
Of Hester's character has reached
the stage of cultured ladyship, she
pictures 1t with n rare grace. Her Hester Il
really lady, whose manners are not to bJ
robbed Of their indehnable charm by even thu
occasional angularity Of her gestures 1t Is IL
this act, when the character has gradually
unfolded into flower, that tho value o
the whole work manifests itself. Mrs
Langtry is not finished artist--per
haps not an artist at all, in any
high understanding Of that sadly misuset
title. OF that II will be time to say NOR,
after she has been seen in other parts. II
this part, she acts like lady, playing at act
ing. She seems to be the most capable o
amateurs.
The audience gave her rather tentativ,
sort of reception upon her first entrance; bu
she was called before the curtain at the clos,
Of the first act and In the last act was favored
with a recall in open scene. So was Mis-
Hodson (Hebblethwaite).
A special Langtry matinee will be given to
morrow Wednesday, at 2 o'clock, wheI
"she stoops to Conquer" will be presented
Mrs. Langtry appearing as Miss Hardcastle.
NATIONAL THEATER.
Miss Catherine Lewis opened a weeks en-
gagement at the National theater last even
ing supported by her own comic opera com
pany. Miss Lewis appeared as oliv ette 4
Audran's familiar work. Her impersopatiol