New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-07
THE DRAMA.
MIR. IRVING AS SHYLOCK.

the tagedlans, ana made 10 0vershad0w all the other
characterin the piece Several parts were then cut out
others shortened, the comedy element was much
depressed and the play limited four acts and ended
with the Trial Scene The justification OF this pro-
ceedng necessity The tragedian, II he uses this
piece at all, must use it star piece company OF
| comedians capable of playing 1t pure comedy has
seldom existed and certainly could not in
country be rallied round tragic actor to star him in
! Shyock On the other hand, played by incompetent
performers as pure comedy, it would be tiOlerabe
BORE and therefore, practically, useless to the stage
In shakespeares time it appears to have been treated
comedy with ShylOck eccentric character part
PLAYED by Bmbage, who a red wig
and false nose In Queen Anne's time Lord Lansdownes
wretched peryersion OF the original accepted, with
DOgget as Soc who wore the red wig and turned tho
Jew into farce Mackin took up the jew In 174l and
astonshed generation by showing what could be done
with the part as Shakespeare wrote It, Edmund
Kean came latter and surpassed hlnn stage
history since then teens with fine Shylocks-Henderson
Cook old Booth Macready, old Wallack g. " Brooke, j.
W. Walack, jr Edwin Booth, +. L. Davenport DawisOn,
and Bandman, for eXample-but The Merchant OF
Venice itself has scarcely been treated In thor
Oughy artistic and right manner IL IS absolute comedy
consistent and harmonious in Tone but for little excess
OF emphasis the part OF ShyiDck, and exceedingly
beautiful alike in its contrasts of character the Invention
of its and the poetry Of its language IL ought al
ways TO be played comedy, and played with but the
slightest condensation Of the text. The most complete
.
made in time made by Edwin Booth at the Win
ter Garden Theatre, IN 1867.
Last night at the Star Theatre public had an Oppor
tunty OF seeing what Mr. Irving has done with this good
old play in his London Lyeeum revival ofit which Is now
reproduced in New-Yor1. To taste and Judgment his
work commends itself as right in spirit fine in scholar
shin and magnificent In execution The play was given
I'm five acts and was treated throughout as
comedy. The scenery was sufficiently cor
rect and beautiful All the scenery that Mr. Irving
has displayed heTcshOud be mentioned as remarkable for
harmony of composition and for dark and rich mellow
ness OF color hgy tributary Illusion and very pleas
ing to the eyes For "The Merchant OF Venice several
Of the SETS COURSE bright and gays butas hitherto
the more dusky and sOmbre pictures proved the mora
effective. Mr. Ivings company, likewise, was Tor the
first time shown its strength. Mr. Terriss gave the
best Basapi0 that has ever been seen on our stage
handsome, manly. noble ardent thoughtful and gay
strong and picturesque performance OF inc Fr"Se ~
Morocco notable for and discreet delivery OF
difficult text, was given by Mr. t. Mead Antonio was
made dgnhed and earnest by Mr.. T. Wenman who Is also
notable AS iudcous and polished speaker keenly sensi-
bic of the delicate shades Of meaning in the text inc
address Of the Duke Of Venice could not DO better done
than was by the Mr. Howe whose dignity ana
feeling I'm this character graced by suggestions OF rpe
experience wisdom aud humor, made this one OF tho
best representations Of the night and certainly the best
Duke that we can call to mind Miss Mlward gentle
andpleasing in JeSSco.
Mr.. Irving presents good Sbyt0ek HIS IDEAL Is right
and his execution full Of subtle touches OF art Douglas
Jerrod said Of Edmund Keen that his Shyock made you
think OF "a chapter out Of the Book OF Genesis Iho
Jew may be presented as acting from personal coveto
ness and hatred he may be presented a. acting rom
this motive ngled with high and stern religious
fanatic.m The latter view exalts the character and
therefore Is the right one. Antonio, in shyocks
mind has outraged ShyocLs nation and religion az well
"a Shgocls self The Jew, in pursuing Antonio to tho
torture and the DEATH il feeding his ancient grudge but
Likewise he agengng the wrongs OF his sacred people,
He thinks himself the vice gerent OF Divine justice anu
he has an oath in heaven" This, apparently was E-
mund Kcans theory the character and this Is the ideal
reasscrtcd by Henry Irving. His mental grasp tho
| mart IL perfect HIS expression OF austerity OF
yindctyo agnty of the sulen resentment that broods
over long hoardcd wrongs, wonderfully nne-oackod
by great weight of intellect and by fierce, hot-booded
nyctcIae purpose. His denoement OF ShyIocEs domes-
tic affections which equally profound passionate ana
pathetic was clear and rmgespecally in the frantic
amenation over his fugitive daughter, and the heart
! broken words about Lean and the turquoise ring
His usage in each performance Is to stud the WORK
with indications Of the physical - well az the mehuu
pecuaritic OF the whom he has undertaken 10 en
body King LOuiss trick of strokng his Whered cheek'
with the ends his fingers Is example OF this sort OF
embellishments 1t Is the province OF actor to give
body TO the soul which an author has created ana
| put upon paper and this mechanism Mr..
Iryngs recognition Of that province He may readily
carry this establishment excess aud we are inclined
/
drama His shylock profuscly tinted in this way,
and thereby made little prosy. ideals think ought
always to shown I'm the light Of poetry and never In tho
Hight of common life. Mr.. Irying's occasional staccato
| eIocution was also against him In the level
speaking OF shyoc For the rayng of the nfuriae Jew,
I'm the street scene, hc found deficient In overwhe-
ting physical force but he wrought up this scene wltha
controlled intensity passion that was painfully tragic
He reached his summit and climax in No tears but OF
nv shedding" and aftcrward in tho cold. determined.
hosh cruelty OF purpose that annateS AY'ock III tho
Trial Scene. His Come, prepare, was spoken with SUI
perb effect Such single achievements rs these naSpack-
ward and rradllo whole performance with the lustre
OF mind lst as the ca-lightning iuuuiuaes summer
evening sky BY these the observer looks into an actors
thought and dsccrns what is known and meant by hIf
Mr. Iryngs ideal Is ruer than his execution Of But
his Shylock We repeat, is good one We have seen It
cquacd and sometimes surpassedi and 1t Is not re
corded here a. one of his works that are essentially
! uulauc lis exit from the Trial Scene IN its grand
Hcbrac dignity, wds apex Of perfect pathos. The
great audience made the house resound here with its
sponancou, plaIit- and would have recalled him upon
! the sccnc-but very wisely. he would not return.
The public gain In this representation consists IN
having a beautiful play well acted in every one OF it,
characters The chief honOrs of the performance were
accordcd-and righfuy accorded-to Miss Ellen Terry
as POrtd. The comedy OF this actress Is delicious Hee
is perfect music. Her clear bell-lke elocutloh
| moro than a rcflcShmcnt-it is luxury Her simple
manner always large and adequate with nothing puny
or ncng about IT, Il OF the greatest beauties OF the
art which Il MI deity COnccals Her embodiment OF u
womans loneliness, such IN P0rtd should be al once
passion Was fclicitos beyond the reach of descriptive
phrases During most part of the comedy she was ar
! rayed in a robe OF what seemed howng gold. In tAo
Trial sccnc she wore scarlet velvet Hey delivery OF lo
Mercy speech was of the few perfectly nodniate
and entirely beautiful pieces OF eIoquence tnt VIII uTU
forever I'm memory. Her sweet and sparkling 10y -f
I'm the business about the ring aud IN her exit can ohy
he called cXuu,o Better comedy has not IN our llnlo
| been seen The house rang with applause ana nlss
| Terry had many aud deserved recalls. Her F"t'a WIZ
| the perfect success OF this OCCASION
lIiRY ANDERSON and THE PRINCE.
| From Jtdy tLOndOn)
| She came; she trod our English land;
| from philiaS hand