New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-02
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA,
MARY ANDERsONs GREAT TRIUMPH.
SECOND EVENING OF THE CINCINNATI DRAMATIC
FESTIVAL.

iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNEl
CINCINNATI May LIT did not require two per-
fornlances to demonstrate that the Music Hall ID
unsuitable for dramatic representations. Imagine
" The Hunchback" acted at one end of the Madi-
son Square Garden before an audience of 900 per.
sons at the other end, and you have substantially
the idea of what Is In progress here tonight With
spygasses aud eartrumpets this sort Of entertain-
ment might be thoroughly enjoyable; under the
circumstances which actually exist, 1t affords but
fearful Joy, for sometimes you are afraid that you
won't hear and sometimes that you will. II
drama were simply spectacle this would DO an OK.
ceent place for it, but it happens that the art of
acting is dependent on facial expression and
language.
Tony Lumpkn remarks, not without aptness, chat
the inside of letter is the Of the correspond.
ence. The Cincinnati presentation OF Julius
Cesar" and of THE Hunchback," if made on Q
well-proportioned stage, in a theatre Of moderate
size, and Invested of superfuous accessories would
be delightful. As it is, the observer who keeps his
senses amid all this racket and turmoil-of which
General NOyes is not only the president but likely
to prove the chief artistic result while recognizing
the noble public spirit and the splendid exertions
of ali concerned in the festival-must regret that
these forces have not been governed and applied In
more appropriate manner. Though the receipts
should be forty millions, that would not alter the
fact. Bigness is not true success When Mr..
Crummes first saw his wife she was standing on
her head on the top of pole, surrounded with fire.
works, Our American demonstrations OF
whatever kind, too frequently partake OF this
order of display; and he Is no true
friend to his cOuntrymen nor sautary commentor
on public affairs, who commends instead OF endoavs
orng to modify that bombastic tendency
to which is a defect of the Amer
lean character, and which is conspicuously
illustrated III the Cincinnati Dramatic
festival When it becomes essential, in record
ing a dramatic event. to inform the reader
that $4,000 has been expended for lumber.
aud $4,000 for paint; that 172 persons have
been at work for twelve weeks upon the prep
aratons, and that 1000 yards of canvas
have been used for the scenery, We are certainly
drifting far away from consideration of the essen-
tial purpose of the stage, whose end both at the
first and now was and is to hold, t'were the mir.
ror up to nature" And nature does not mean the
real tubs of Mr.. Crummles the living and reluc-
tant goats of julius C@sars Lupercal procession.
However an ant-sympathetlc view of the
proceedings of kindly and high-spirited persons
need not be urged to the limit of asDerity. Nothing
in easier than to censure otherpeope whereas it re-
qulres both courage and judgment to praise them.
In the performance of "The Hunch-
back" there has been, for such as
could ana hear it, true and great pleasure. You
do not need to be told the piece is rare example
of power. The faculty sometimes possessed
by man, to understand and sympathize with
wOmans heart; how seldom this power
is manifested in dramatic literature the
observer SEES when considering how few the dra-
matte herOines are in comparison with the dramatic
heroes. Shakespeare's men are greater than his
women, and most of the women of most other dra-
mol Rut MIL
Is full of womans nature, and the
HunchbacEs noble tenderness and fine
att ude toward her are thoroughly true. lovely
and pathetic. 1t could be wished that her amiabe
Clifford were, for lover less sagaciOus as to bar.
gains and less readily solicitous about his door,
plate in moments of grief and disaster.
Still, there vital experience or
passion and misery in the somewhat stited lines OF
d" The Hunchback," and this will always make
potent play IN the hands of fine actors. The piece
has not here been treated tonight as q spec
tace, but the stress is thrown upon the
acting Mary Anderson as Julia, John
Mccullough as Master Walter, Lawrence Barrett as
Clifford, Kate Forsyth as Helen, and N. c. Goodwin
as Modus are the chief names in the cast
Miss Anderson was welcomed by the great audi.
ence with a far resouuding tumult OF
gladness. Your readers know her gracious and
lovely figure; her thoughtful, gentle presence;
her eager sensitive countenance her regal vet
delicate dignity upon the stage. The stately and
sweet image of woman and queen, she stood
here tonight in garden of roses
| the oveest flower of them all. and
not one heart in all this vast assemblage that did
not beat with pride and joy in the success of the
brave and true American girl. Her performance Of
Julia Is no new thing. need not again describe its
proprety of ideal, its gradual growth in dramatic
| development, its freedom from conventional
points its deep tenderness and its final magnificent
burst of eloquent passion. Her voice bore wonder
fully well the great strain to which it was subjected.
She has never acted the part with greater abandon
ment of self, or richer variety of treatment,
and never under such trying circumstances. Just
after her first entrance part of drop came crash
ing to the stage in front of hey, and after Julia had
| tainted in act second another drop,
| and the wrong one, came down
| behind instead of before her. so that she
had to rise and falter from the stage. Her adroit
presence of mind in these emergencies. however.
matched the need of the occasion. After the third
curtain fell large banner of flowers
depending from green standard was
borne to her across the footlighis
inscribed Americas PRIDE" and was the
signal for wild and continued uproar of delight.
| This night belonged exclusively to Mary Anderson
| and always will be memorable in her career
Mccullough acted tho Hunchbaos with
fire and dignity, and the somber romantic tone thai
BELTS this man of and of mystery, and at the
exit in act fourth gave of the happiest touches
of his art. In Barretts lover there was the grave
| tenderness and sweet-thoughed affection OF
middle age, rather than the ardor Of srst love. Mr.
| Goodwin and Miss Forsythe had special recalls. The
audience II less numerous than the first night Is
| more elegant Many fair faces there are. and II IS
clear enough that the beauty and the chvalry OF ne
| Queen City has specially assembled TO honor tho
| youthful Queen. W. W.
! THE BOSTON MUSICAL FESTIVAL
| tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRBuNE.l
RpSToN MAY ST trieunial festival OF