National Republican., 1883-04-18
ADJUSTMENTS.
MRS. LANarRY AS oALArEk.

MRS. LANaTRY AS GABArEk.
"Pypmalion and Galatoa" was offered last
evening at Ford's, with Mrs. Langtry os
Galatea and Mr.. Cooper as pygmalion. Tho
performance was interesting both in itself
and by reason that Galatea 10 the latest addi.
tion to Mrs. Langtry's list Of parts. 1t must
have been palpablo TO any one familiar
with the work Of others in the play
that Mrs, Langtry has relied upon her own
Judgment for her view Of IL. There is no trace
Of imitation in this view. She has thought
IL out for herself She ia fairly entitled to
whatever credit attaches to an original effort
The question of value as applied TO this orig.
inalty is quito apart. When that comes
TO DO considered, there is room per-
haps for doubt, and for surmise
as TO her ability to apprehond the best that is
In tho character. Her portrayal Of 1t Is sim
pie, and TO that degree In accord with Mr.
Gilborts conception. There is also Ger.
tain ingenious sweetness about IL, which
is Ia full tuno with It's simplicity. But in
both respects IL is monotonously even. Mrs
Langtry Is at her best in the very
pretty scenes given to dalatea in
the second act. In the first act she
commits tho singular error Of ungraceful'
ness. There Is no good reason why che
should depart from tho manifest design Of the
author 10 give pleasure to the eye, yet after
tho awakening Of Galatoa 70 life Mrs. Lang
iry's appearance Is anything other than at
tractive. The hair is worn with a
smooth closeness far more highly suggestive
Of feminine modern than of classic statuesque
art, and quito out Of keeping with the pallor
OF the face. The agreeable impression wrought
by the first Wow Of the figure upon the pc
destal il dispelled when the time comes for
speech. Far from looking we'll, she looks
decidedly ill--even hSggard; and GER
tain painful feeling that she is not
inwardly at ease persistently haunts
the attention Of the spectator from
this point down to that at which Galatea re-
turns TO her normal marble and Its immuta-
Bile beauty. In the last act again Mrs.
Langtry Is somehow disappointing. Her
fault hore IL rather Of omission than Of
OVERRIDING. Tho final scenes Of Galatea
are rich In opportunities for effective acting,
which Mrs. Langtry passes over. She flls
them with a kind of tenderness that has
much the flavor Of genuinenoss, but too much
[ oi Nho lhoAo 10 hu auo-
quAte expression of despair, nor any Of the
dignity Of q rudely rejected love. There Is,
in short, no such contrast of emo
tion shown as tho author evidently
intended should complete tho symmetry Of
his work. Tho whole company in this act
appeared Indifferent 10 its obvious necessities.
The final scenes woro acted In very matter.
of.fact, of.hand way,
MOTIFS.
Considering tho fact that II IL but ten months
Mrs. Langtry has been upon the stage, her acting
IL little less than remarkable To have advanced
90 well In q profession for which she had never
sludied-a profession beket with a thousand DIM
cultics, is 10 have accomplished very much In
deed. should she remain In It, there appears
very little reason 10 doubt Of her ultimate, legii.
mate, and distinguished success.
Mrs. LGngtry will essay Miss Hardcastlo in " She
sloops 10 Conquer" at the matinee to-day. Al
though the matinee was not announced until yes
night Mrs. Langtry will appear for the last time
here. an Rosalind in "As you Like It."
"oiivette" at the National was enjoyed last
evening by an audience much larger than that OF
Monday. Catherine Lewis has evidently hit tho
fancy OF Washington a. squarely as she has that
OF every other city In the union.
John L. Carncross and his famous company OF
ministries will occupy Fords opera house noxt
wosk.
Fords will bo closed for tho rest Of the week
aiter to.night