New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-04
NITSlC AND THE DRAMA.
MARY AyDERsoN's PERFORMANCES.

MARY ANDERSON'S PERFORMANCES.
Miss Anderson has appeared as juliet, and as
Blanca. She played the former part Thursday
and the latter last night. In each she has given
surprising exhibition, alike Of inherent power and
artistic growth. When she acted Juliet here year
ago. the performance though right ideal, lovely
fl spirit aud full of tragic po wer seemed deficient in
volume Of passion, and likewise. to some extent,
deficient tdOrOughness of f0res ght as to its
artistic plan. The darker aspects OF Jufiefs expe-
rience appeared to have been reached by means OF
the imagination more than by means of the heart.
and therefore to lack cOnsummate reality; ana
there lneqpali les in the structural form OF the
work. These inequalities have mostly disappeared
and throughout Miss Anderson's pre-, ent impers"na-
tion of Juliet it is Gle rlv evident that the soul Oh
the woman, within the actress, IS arouseo auu
swayed by the spirit Of the character, and not SIM
ply affected, in intermittent manner oS '"o
exipencies Of special scenes. Deeper study. long
bIooding upon the motive of the part, ana Tue iu-
voluntary insight as to expression which is gained
IN frequent acting of it, have augmented Miss An
dprsons ideal of Juliet in warmth, in color, ana In
harmony The same passion which becomes fren-
,et terror in the potion scene, and wild and awful
vet sublime abandonment in that of the suicide is
now distinctly visible through the ardor and
ecstacy of the moo -lit confession of love, the
beautiful scene Of the balcony.
In the qualities tius indicated the personaton
will, of course continue to mature; but already 1t
has become MASSIVE and rounded image of love
and grief. The same womans heart beats in every
one Of the phases Of the experience that is por
trayed and the spectator, however critical beholds
it as Ii 70. aud forges thai 1t is art This result
surely betOkens genuine and ausmcious develop
ment. Dramatic art could never better succeed
han nd hy N, Anda ntain
ing the essential g1rlshne>s Of Juliet during the
balcony scene, and throughout the enticng, caprc-
tous eager interview with the tantalizng Nurse
rs well in marking the awakening OF the
woman's heart under the stress of overw helmng
passion. She has entirely unified the work. There
Is no disSonance anywhere visible in it. The in
tense, resolute. imaginative speech TO Fr'ar Lac
renee" Bid me leap. rather than marry Paris y
falls In the p.rfect tone of nature. from the same
lips that have been breathing out the soft.
ing murmurs and golden ranture of ntented love.
The passion in the final parting with Romeo is that
OF complete self-abandonment; and in the potion
scene there 49, in addition 10 remarkable power,
use of voice that is indescribably pathetic. We
record TINS as a noble achievement II has affected
us with surprise no less than with admiration. The
audience tn this Juliet of the largest
and most brilliant of the season, and 1t deeply
affected.
Mr. Downing presented manly and pictur-
esque Romeo. adequate in the romance but
not In the tragedy; fine at moments
In the delirium after the killing of Iybah,
but not level with the tremendous demands OF the
closing act Mr. Studley was brilliant as MercutO.
Last night another crowded house saw with
thusiastic interest Mss Andrrson's performance OF
Bianca-a work IN which here Is great tenderness
and splen, Il dramatic power. To US, at one time II
seemed .oubtful whether NJ IS Anderson would
rise TO the tragic height OF B!ancd Time has
wrought its magcal changes. We have now 10
recor with ap.rf OF Inc nbrauce of CIaT otte
Gu ,hman, and with pro ouud reverence for hat
great genias-that Miss Anderson acted Blanca, ast
night, with all OF (usnmaD's intensity and more
tuan Cushman's tenderness, aud with poetic grace
and refined pathOs entlr ~ her own. II WAS au tx
traordinarv ocr;Ornance. 1t was performance Ia
whch an aff1urnt and prodIginus force wa evenly
tempered with rare di- re1On, AID throughout
which burned the authentic and enklndiIne fire OF
genius At the end OF the four act Miss An ler.On
was three times called before the curtain with
tumultuOus applause, and a. he end OF tue tragedy
her Ga ger ami excited audience broke forth INTO
storm Of cheers.