National Republican., 1884-03-05
ADJUSTMENTS.
THE NATtoNAL-nESRY IRVING.


THE Bells" was first presented, with Mr.
Irving in his original part of Matthias, and
upon him all eyes were centcred during its
continuance. Strictly speaking, "rhe Boils'
is melodrama, but it might be we'll, and per-
haps properly too called q physiological
drama As the piece has not been given
in this country for over ten years,
we shall take tho liberty Of rehearsing brief
outline of its plot and situations On Christ
mas eve, 1918, Matthias, an Alsatian landlord,
presided over little iun, whore ho had inado
from year to year barely enough to keep body
and soul together. a Polish jew appeared
and indiscroetly displayed considerable
sum Of money, which aroused tho greed
of tho landlord, increased thousand
fold by his pressing necessities. After
tho jew had left tho inn Matthias,
armed with All AK, followed him, the falling
snow completely obliteratng all traces of his
footsteps. The murder was committed, tho
body of the jew thrown into y lime.kiln,
and there every trace of it was lost. The
next day a bloody cloak and cap were dis
covered but here all clcws as to the
cause Of tho Jews death came to an
end, and the hunt for tho assassin
was abandoned. All this is supposed
to have happened anterior to tho opening Of
the play, and when the curtain rises We dis
cover that the landlord had prospcred in some
way unaccountable to his neighbors, and was
ono of the wealthiest in the village. To all
outward appearances he enjoys tho respect of
his townsmon, indeed they have elected him
their burgomastor, and he seems to
be well.to.do man of the world.
1t Ia tIntt ttO1,ta &c
his dark deed hover over and about
him on every side. lIo hears tho jng-
ling of the Jews sledge bells ringing in his
ears-his every thought seems to focus on
the murder. Remorse in its most terrible
and dreadful form was his constant compan-
ion. In the opening scene we learn that
Matthias is about to give the hand of his
daughter Annette to Christian, an officer of
the "gendarmes" in charge Of the district,
having reasoned that such an alliance would
be the best mode of averting suspicion, as
we'll as protection. He has been away
to procure refreshment for the nuptials
and while on his journey has learned of q
mesmerist who had the power Of compelling
subjects under his control to confess any
secret crimo which they might have COM
mtted. The mesmcrist had asked Matthias
to consent to q trial, but this he had re-
pulsed with considerable rudeness, and upon
his entrance to tho inn his agitation was
increased upon hearing Hans and
Walter discussing the murder of the Jew,
which had taken place fifteen years before.
He becomes seriously i'll, but insists that
tho marriage take place. In tho presence of
the festivities he again hears the ghostly
bells of the jews sledge, and rushes madly
into the midst of the dance to drown his
conscience. After drinking heavily he re-
tires alone to room in the
upper story, where his incohorent raw
ings will be unheard by those under
his roof Falling into deep sleep, he
dreams that he is on trial for murder, and
while defying tho prosecution TO prove that
he had committed the crime the mesmerist
is summoned, and under his influence he
confesses all, and 10 condemned to be hanged.
The strain has been too much. He becomes
insensible, and the friends, being alarmed at
his non-appearance, burst into the room.
Matthias jumps from the bed, with the
horrible nightmare in possession of
his brain, and, thinking that the
hangman has come for his victim, exclaims,
"Take the rope from my neck" and expires.
| This is the ground work of character out of
which Mr.. Irving has brought forth great
creation. 1t was u wonderful performance.
viewed from an intellectual standpoint, and
carried the art of realism with greater COM
pleteness than We have ever witnessed
on the stage before. This concep.
| tion Of Matthias is thoughtful
study, and lacks perhaps a certain inspira-
tional force, but it 10 one where every action,
every word has been considered and carefully
placed SO as TO produce the most profound
impression upon the spectator. His perform
ance, in word told story OF horror with
tremendous dramatic force and vitality, and
veiled it with subtle refinement and imag-
cry. The same perfection ofstage management
noted Monday night was equally noticeable
last evening. The stage picture of the
Polish Jew in his sleigh, amid the falling
snow, with tho murderer creeping up behind
him, and the second vision of the trial, with
its wonderful management of light effects,
are pictures, once seen, never to be forgotten.
"The Bellies Strategem," which followed
"The Bells" formed most excellent contrast
picture Mrs. Cowley's comedy is q super
fetal structure, presenting rather shallow
views of society and etchings rather than
robustly painted characters in colors. Mr..
Irving has cleverly condensed tho original
five acts into two, wherein the two principal
characters are brought more prominently
forward, but candor compels us to say that
viewed in any other light than reflection
of tho time and manner of the beginning
of the century, "rhe Bellies Strategem" is
an unsatisfactory work Mr.. Irving's
Dorincourt was tho picture of rather ell
derly but courtly goutleman-an aged gal
liant is better term which it is perhaps
superhuous for us to add was evidently not
intended by the author. The actors peculiar
walk and his eccentricites of enunciaton
were brought into stronger prominence than
in either Louis XI" or "The Bellies"
They were not ridiculous. hr. Irving 10 too
great au artist to ever be that; but
they were inappropriate. His simulations
of insanity, however, had some delicious bits
of drolery, but, as a whole, his playing in the
comedy gave us some idea Of the fatigue con
sequent upon his work in "The Bells" Miss
Terry mado her first appearance in tho after
piece as Lctitia Hardy, most bewitching
impersonation and her attempt to play tho
hoyden was by far the most brilliant portion
4 III EAI NaaHa aaE