New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-24
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
RE.ENTRANCE OF MRS. LANGTRY.

REMITTANCE OF MRS. LANGTRY.
Last night. at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. Nre.
Langtry reappsared In New-York after IN absence
of nearly five months. and impersonsted Galatoa, -
in Mr.. Gilberts fanciful and lovely little comedy Of
"Pygmalion and Galatea, land, Of course. she was
welcomed with attention and kindness The night
was cold and ret, succeeding day Of storm, ii
fact one of the ksakest and most forbidding nghtd
of the season: yet the house was completely filed
with spectators, and the audience was duly repre-.
sentative Of the mind and fashion of tho town. Mrs.
Langtry's remittance here. accordingly, while UNI
accompanied by the excitement which attended her
original advent. was accomplished with plsasurabl
and auspcious success The circumstances OF her,
return, indeed, are moro favorable, than those Of
her first appearance, to o just estimate OF her
talents as an actress. When fret Mrs. Langtry
came here she aroused interest as Q novelty, as
curiosity as the reputed possessor OF extraordinary
beauty, as q bold, ambitious, perhaps audacious.
amateur. In each point of view she has been wide
" contemplated and abundantly discussed. 1t u
only as an actress that she now engages attention.;
and hereafter it will only be by professional
achievements that she will hold place in the pub
lie regard.
Her acting last night in Galatea made 1t evident
that che has profted by experience. The imperso-I
nation had greater mental repose at hlgh pitch OF
excitement than was evnced in either OF her prsvi-
ous efforts. II circumstances has not been en-
trely subdued at least the actress has learned how
measurably to conceal it, Her attitudes were grace
full; her movements were smpD and free; her ges-
lures were no longer too numerous; her eIocution
was earnest. intelligent variable, and generally
melodious-but for q sing song cadence In the pas
sionate speeches. Her handsome, spacious ngure'
well suited to antique drapery, was impressiVey
displayed, and bore with 1t an authentic dignity'
And her execution of the part while denciene Ia 'no
afiiuent power of passion and OF pathos, ana not
evenly sustained, clearly seen to be inteihgeh'
in purpose, and, as to the lighter elements OIL INC
characteristics righteousness, its unconscious play
fulness its mystifed perpleIty and Its pretty ana
child-like dependence-entirely adequate and
charming Mrs Langtry's ideal of Galatea is proba-
bly, as distinct and correct as any ideal OF poetic
abstraction can be that is formed without poetic
intuition. So far as we can judge, from the
" close dcnotements" of her acting, this ladys
nature is not remarkable for either An excess OF
human tenderness or much capacity OF poeticai I'M
pulse She neglected in Galatea all that she seems
TO have perceived in it. and she did this with q
felicity of dramatic expression at all times credit
able and at several points delightful. VI the her.
ONES intense. concentrated, unselhsh love- now
ever. she conveyed but distant and dim sugges-
ton: and of the forlorn pathos of that herolnes
condition when isolated from all the world, and
rejected by the blind Pygmaon, she gave no idea at
all. We must not, however. be astonshed at TINS;
for if the true and deep feeling be not IN the hearo
it will never shine out of the eyes, Mrs. Langry Is
an actress for glittering comedy-for Characters
that sparkle with waywardness, pungency' MS
chief animal spirits drollery dash aud SATIRE one
eau be ingenious, demure, petulant strong capri
cious fiery and fascinating; but she Is distincl'y
lnharmonious with tragicai emotions. Her per-
formance of Gaatea accordingly, while plainly
Indicative of valuable growth in mechanical pro-
fciency. does not possess permanent worth IL Is
bv no means failure It's sweetness, its playful
ness and its investiture of physical beauty would
sufice TO make it popular. But, by reason OF spr-
final variance between the character and the
actress. il is incomplete. fragmentary and inade-
puate. There was, for example, lack OF tragcal
illustration at the climax Of act second, and 10 tne
parting with Pygmalion. there was such deficiency
of ardar and intensity, not to say OF pahec acoD'
that the scene became almost crude
Mrs. Langtry docs not pose as the statue until
ust before the moment when 1t is viv6ed, but uses
a sort of duplicate figure. This mars the illusion.
Also she displays her own hair. This device
which, indeed, has been used by all the representa-
tives of Galaea except Miss Andersonhas tine enece
Of lowering the ideal OF GGtdted, anu only ics'ouS
her opportunities by increasing her likeness TO tho
rest of the world. You may as we'll bury your
roses in snow as apply realism OF treatment TO
purely ideal subject. Mrs. Laugtry's Galafea Is
surprisingly good, considering that the part Is little
suited to her aud scarcely arouses her latent hre or
,vcn her mental enthusiasm. 1t will, in some ways
please but it will not last There were two recalls
for the actress last night, after the irst curtain
fell. and her equivoke scene with Chry'o'
went with spirit and was heartily liked
and applauded. The serious points, now
ever. passed in silence. Mrs. Langtry's absolute
,uecess or her absolute failure, in Gaiatea, would
not shake our faith in positive aptitude ana naturat
faculties for the art of acting She is learning not
alone the resources of her art but the nature ana
limitations of her own powers, and she steaduy aa-
vances The cast of the play was judclous ana tue
general performance excellent Ia effect. Miss raej,
iIson acted Cyaisod IN finely appreclauve anu
forcible manner and Mr. Cooper, Mr. Datoh III.
J. G. Taylor and Miss Hodson were no less orillian'
than correct The full cast Is here:
Pygmalon an Athenian sculptor -. Frank X Cooper
a soldier. $1,000
patron
Agesimos Chrysoss slave plose
Mmos, Pygmalons slave. ..I ;, LAY sau
Cynlaca, PygmaliOns WHO
Daphne Chiysos VIE h,.y 1870
PygmaIions sister. Sarah iascenos
Galatea, animated statue. .-Sirs- Lsnsey