New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-06
THE LONDON STAGE.
MP LAWRENCE BARRETT-THE IRONMAS-
7 AAIL,s,S IIIE AIRE-

English audience ut the Lyceum Theatre on SatAl-
day last If Mr.. Irving had let Mr. Barrett MS
audience as well as his theatre. the reception gwen
10 the American could not have been more rlehdly'
The audience however had little in common with
the usual frst-night audience at the Lyceum except
that the critics of the press were there IN ioroe anu
pretty strong delegations from the MustIo anu
literary world Society. OF the merely Iashiohiolo
sort had zone ont of town. Parliament is not sit
ting. and the Easter HOLIDAYS empty the west Ina
Of London. The stalls and boxes which IL other
circumstances would have been filed by Londoners,
were occupied in good part BY Americans so that
the greeting to Mr.. Barrett became TO some extent
personal But all parts Of the house and every sec
ton of the audience joined IN the applause when
welcomed him when he made his appearance.
The general impression male by Mr.. Lawrence
Rarrett NAV perhaps be summed up in the statement
that he is an interesting" actor. He Is credited
with plenty of intelligence. good method abund-
ant knowledge OF stage resources, and sutlclent
physical means to express what he concelves. MS
voice is thought pleasing though neither strong nor
of great compass and you hear almost no compliant
whatever of that terrible thing known in England
as the American accent His presence has gTacei
his bearing is that of man of the world; MS lace
and figure are prepossesslng. What is wanting 10
him is in the first place. temperament III Is, De-
eve the present mode in America and perhaps else
where TO speak of the influence exerted by empera-
ment as magnetic or electric once heard an en-
thusiastfc politician describe his political idol lot
the moment as a magnetic statesman. Well, Mr..
Lawrence Barrett is not felt to be magnetic actor
The force he has appears to be mainly force of "a
nervous kind. he is too nervous, and on the hrst
night this word was applicable to him in another
sense for no man ever went through long evening
in state of more lasting and at times almost over
powerlng apprehension. 1t was even more visible
when he came ont to bow his thanks to the audience
than when he playing his part TINS 1t Is Whlch
makes 1t difficult, and even 50 unfair to form
decisive opinion OF Mr. Lawrence Barretts merits
from this single performance.
Making all allowance Tor that, the feeling OF his
frst-night public was that the exhibition Of Mr.
Lawrence Bsrrett's technical knowledge occupied
most Of their attention He had no power to rouse
deep feeling or to express deep feeling A curious
comparison might be established on this if not on
other points between M Lawrence Barrett and
Miss Mary Anderson. But that wouid be unproht-
able. Allowance must also be made on account ot
the play, which everybody hero agrees in thinking
an extremely poor play. " 10 says much Tor MI
Lawrence Barretts acting remarks Mr Clement
Scott that it could sustain the interest oi,) un-
satisfactory and clumsy dramatic work The
same critic certainly one of the most competent on
the gish press, goes considerably beyond his
ance me halls As an unexpected and pleasant SIR
prise Mr. Scott describes Mr. Barrett as belong
ing TO the order of tragediaus that is most welcome
sinking his own individually ia his work and re-
levIng tragedy from It's funrreal gloom and mourn
ing / should hardly have thought it the business
of a tragodau to make tragedy less tragic. but that
may pass. Mr.. Scott goes 50 far as to insist that
Mr. Barrett possesses this very attribute of magnet
ism which others failed to discover IN him. 1t Is
easier TO agree with the critic when he depicts the
actor as bright In manner and natural in expression
who can be solemn without being wearsome, and
earnest without pedautry.
An English version by Mr. Pinero Of W. Georges
Ohnets LIE Naitre De FORCES" was produced last
night at the ST. Jamcs's Theatre by Messrs Hare
and Kendall. In the French original this IL one of
the most effective Of recent plays; remarkable for
its dramatic rapidity of oVcmout for constructive
merit, for telling Dialogue. SIR. P.nero has wisely
abstained from any large attempt 10 =" adapt the
play lie very moicstly described his work as CON
fined to an effort to interpret NJ Ohuets French to
an English public Yet the play in English is dis
tiuctly inferior TO the play in French. 1t is not IN
the power of any ny,h Translator 20 reproduce in
English the hghtness and ease Of tine French dia-
ogue 1t might be possible to preserve, 50 far as it
exists the social tone Of ths original bat tins Is
what Mr.. Pinero fails to do. The shades of distiuc-
ton may be nice but they are unmstlkab,e. w.
Ohnets gentlemen talk ike gentlemen; Mr.. Pnero's
do not fIa has tried at fines o. keep % h. authors
text with the odd result Of rendering word tor word
into Eng sh French idion, which VIII not admit
of chs mechanical hand ing; bJ5 the IIl ty Of the
speaker &c not TO be indicated by these rude means.
At times Mr. Pinero seeks to improve on his author,
or rather | suppose 10 make clearer TO an English
audience what was already clear 10 French appre-
heus.on The ouperluous pains taken oy the D"c Nc
BGgpy to Impress on the uInd Of H. fbtiP7e H.f-
bay that ne can only champion his wife AT the risk
of Oeiu- killed in duel is an example Mr. PinarO
might easily have learned that French gentlemen
who mean 20 fight can make it understood without
bullying each other.
Claiye de- Beaupr6 the heroine Of The Iron
master ia tine orlGnaishe Is CLGre de BeGalieu, at
the opening Of the drama is in love with and en-
gagcd to her cousin the Due d8 Bgay. absent in It.
Peter. burg and anxi0u,ly expected nj the Chateau
de Beaupr6 Philippe Derjity the ironmaster, is IN
love with Claire AMI has in a vague sort Of way,
through his friend the notary Barh|H, proposed for
her to the NIrq.tys d. Bsaapr5 Ciares mother, who
SCOTS n the alliance. Ia these circumstances new,
comes that the De Beduprs, have lost ava English
lawsuit, wItLwhich QotsaIl Ciaircsfortune. Bactla
arlthe same time ha- TO tell the NarI1i5e that d.
BHypy Is In Paris, has ruined himself at play had
his debts Of honor paid by old I01'at million
naire paryenu and rs the price of this service has
engaged himself 10 marry Ahelas N0atiaefs
daughter CL1ire hears of her lovers deserion from
ILeaajs herself. while the MoUlinets are making
call ut the chateau, near which the father has
bourlt an estate She bears the blow sto.cally,
send, lor Philippe and then and there, not knowing
her fortune IS gone. accents bis old proposal The
Duc de B'igag arrives, Claire presents Philippe to
him Is her betrothed and the curtain falls on tie
FIRST act In the second Ciare Is married, betrays to
her husband her repugnauce 10 him. Is taxed by
hm with sill loving In bitpy. answers, " Well,
what IF Ia'" and 10 scene of intense passion tine
TWO part. agreeing % live under TIE same roO- but