New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-11-11
THE DRAMA-MUSIO,
REMITTANCE OF HENRY IRvrNo

honest good feeling and hearty pandits by brlis,S
and apprecative audience. The applause vh.sS
attended tho first entrance Of Poria was marked bv
chvalric and afectionate cordially which ever shouH
and docs accompany tho presence OF true fayoa
and tho subsequent greeting awarded TO shyoek VA
vcritablc tumut OF enthusiasm Occasions Of this ktn2
are made memorable in this way. When -
q noble artistic effort tho public resnor..
IA adequate than genuine and they arc long .rS
proudly cherished in tho playgoer's memory Nil
Terry, Mr. Irving and their associates seemed peasa6
with this reception They are doubtless. glad to ~
New.York again. NewYork, evidently, Is glad TO -
them.
Upon the general character OF Mr. Irvings pre.Ans.
ton OF "The Merchant OF Venice" there Is no nead -
analytic comment at this tme The subject has bssn
amply discussed upon previous occasions II Is propee
to say however that now heretofore the comedy hsa
been treated o comedy and not "a piece for
tragcdan, and has been mounted and dressed with 4
careful eye to correct detail and picturesque accsssa
ries The presentation OF tho casket scene In ful
the restoration Of ShyocEs with Antonio and TIA
aer and the restoration Of Poras words and conduoe
subsequent to the trial. together with the tender and 70
mantle Of Lorenzo and Jesscd. still promi
nent among chief beauties Of this revival. The dem
introduction Of Oriental music Of and her.
barrie strain to sgnazo the proceedings Of tho Prince
Morocco Is still to be noted attendant charm Tia
maskers Of Venice still glide in their noiseess gondolas
along her silent and gloomy canals Shyoek played
by Mr. Irving still inspires certain anxious dread ana
prompts certain painful suspense by his formidable 70.
turn the vacant bridge to the dwelling
left desoate by his fugitive daughter. Tho picture Of
hehigh court Of Venice is still made opulent imposing
and real by frescO and drapey by guards and group4
by stately ceremonies by def employment of pages
within and mob without, and by intense and pro-
found correctness OF dramatic treatment And STILL To
the pageant with golden light OF happiness the
glitterng but gentle mth Of Portia Is made to payas
haka abo r,iav-
phere OF womanlike tenderness and uns;;nted hospi'
tally In closing Of summer luxury and prtncely
wealth.
One new. and most Of the scenery has been
freshed. Beneath It all may be dscerned the instince
that completeness in the display OF subject a.
well AS in pictorial establishment. Judges who DO
not heartily like the acting Of Henry
Irvng,-who deny that he possesses dramatic genius.
and affirm that he Is clever schemer In social as well 40
theatrical art,-havc been known to place marked en-
phass upon his skill and thoroughg care In tho man.
agement the stage. No sagacous observer however.
Is mlscd by this amable, but futile subterfuge It's
easy to place an undue upon this element In ME-
Irying's work Nobody who has known him long ass
public man will doubt either his diplomatic tact, his
worldly wisdom his resoute purpose TO succeed any
more than the poetic glamour OF his intellect ana the
force of his splendid talent and discretion in the treat
mcnt OF plays But Mr.. Irving Is, nrst OK
all an actor Several OF his best successes In London
| were gained without any especial attention to stass
establishment or the adrOlt illustration OF dramatic
points The particulars in which his achievements IA
stage manager have wholly and notably surpassed those
of his predecessors and contemporares-so lar rs we
are able 10 perceiyc-are feicious melloVness ana
harmony OF in scenery and resoutc and almost
Invariably successful subOrdinaon Of details to central
purnose clearly defined and steadily pursued. There
were heroes however. before Agamcmnon. Other men
have presented plays as magnifcenty az Mr. irving mas
presented then-f not always with as fine precision or
perfection OF charm Tie shakesperean revvais mans
in London by Macrcady, by Charles kean, ana
by Samuel Phelps and those likewise made In Amenca
| Inv burton Barry, Edwin Booth, Lester Waack,
and Augustin Daily should not be forgotten That ned
had long abandoned In the British capita whch VII.
irving arose occupy It, and 1t had been condefaoy
neglected hero for long period anteoedent 10 hS ar
rival In America lie was fortunate when he entered
upon IT, no less than wise II Ia field In which several
~ the old leaders of tho stage have laborcd with tca
ond lherallty and honor Mr. irving has done spenua
thlnga IN carrying good work In this respect but"
IA not upon hls staging" of plays, either whohy VI
mainly that hs title to ienown should be supposed 70
| test Nnrh morn has bran claimed for hih aato ths
| than he h,s evrf claimed for hmselfl
n IA IA Nh nrnr that Mr. irving ought nfs ~ all ana
moat af ALL 10 30 considered A such va think HIN ens
nf tho most remarkable men ~ this aga AMI W many
ne, in,4 naan npnn ha acting familiar 10 the i'a'"s
o h, journal we have stated the reasons that l"s'ly
tha opinon Last Aea,on Mr. irving soi before 'ha pun
lo HIS performances ~ Mlihtis IN "lha Hollis 'h""
me f,rsL Iouis NJ, 81 yoek Lesurqn's Dubes'' Dort
eour Bfn,diek and OF kngene arm ann h"h
ard ne ThId Several of these pending thedl''"'u'e"
new efforts arc to bo repeated ANA t'o h's' hs
rears hls head II Shvock Persons who nave seoh w 's
character Edwin Forrest dusayus v brooke. james"
Wallaok H. |. Davenport Broglmll DAWSON L]"ronos
Rarrott and Edwin Booth are not likely 10 DO ''"'s
nnreJ by tho representation of It that Ia given ny VIZ
irving IIs performance no Doubt Il tfuth'u I" "'""'
and noxlblc. often spcndidy potent IN e'eou'o"'
Yet we are not impressed that this IA ono Oh tue cn"
tors IN which he stands alone lilo presents ihueeu
and symmetrical Identity lie makes SAyoo"
tho ncaruationat first specious then obvious W.
rcrrod malirn,ty. lie depicts Jow who mates ms
vct,m for being Christian but more for being ioe'o
us,ry lie shows "A monster,-and yet ne speou'p p,0
seryss ln him the strain OF human nature ma"'"s Wv"
r,sontfl OF inluries logical. feryent ana shooo !" nv
| own Justification; domestic In his haotsi teh"soo
Lost love- and that In tone OF passion ANA .re' t"'"
vary o,,r and pio And he before us. IN the IN
dubioblo form and color of nature. hugo anu hofra
,vne of implacable revenge Nothing couli dc mo''
significant OF u perfect comprehension OF S"y''o".
nature and nothing could be finer rs dramatic a'
than Mr. Irvings cold woish glare ana his demcaho'
az ndomitablo purpose In confronting the merchant :"
,,o Cour, But the manifestation OF tremendous emo
,io,al mower that Is possible in Shyoc more parcu-
larl, In the street Mr. Irving does not accomplish
and In fact, does not even attempt Inc ieHehu VI
Edmund Kean. In this character-a presence ne'eo"
lurld and terribles not reanzed an" thi' o'c'""'"
ing personalty is What In Shyiock seems even hio''
essential. ,., I'M
Itmay sound like hcresy to say 1t. but truly ~ u"
omit 70 understand what tho spectator really gains VIZ
he secs shylock acted at his very best There 3D.
sure a high view OF the character. This was e"l"'".
propoundod, for example. by the Gcrm" ct',O' ~.
r,va, o, Ueine-Indwig Borne. It makes @y'ek 'h'
austere and majestic representative OF a"rons0
outraged nation turning at upon the oppre'sor' auu
resenting In one terrific act of just retributon oe,
OF iniignity But this theory of ShB'ocs Is o. "uOo
| authenticity, and 1t IL not, apparently th' 'n.
pursied Ivy Mr. Irving whose Jew is an oD"o
character-oruel malignant, hateiuI 80 a.
part does not and cannot call forth "n''
Gpes, and best in the actors nature. Those charac
in which Mr. Irving Is distincttvey superb ~