New-York tribune., 1884-01-15
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
,r p,vN,oNr, AS GENERAL LDfBFR.


welcome and refreshing presence upon the stage ior
che reason that he creates hs effects by genuine /
.,o,tapeons hnmor rather than intricate and com
Iox mechanism His great animal spirits, his /
brovapt vitality, his grOtesque locomoton MS
focial composure, his flexible, cheering. unctnouS /
oce his keen sense of eccentric character ana the
,rerrn. precision with which he can assume IT. the
symmetrical absurdty of his raiment. and the IN
cessaut energy and sparkle of his droil demeanor
combine to make him delightfully."- humorous WINE |
of course his ample experience has given him the |
absolute and perfect control of all tic stage ex- |
,odient, that are influential to intensity ana |
b rnen the effect of humorous expression. Ihat an
actor so richly qualified and 80 thoroughly equipped
sboud obtain a character through when TO
exert his admirable powers and his refreshing charm
isa fact to bc noted with some emphasis because II
Is eauauv auspicious to the public and to himself
In General Linber Mr. Raymond possesses part that
will soon become as well known and as popular as
Colom,I SIes and one that ought to prove fully as
,,munerative: and by means of this part he VIII
di.fuse a vast amount of innocent pleasure, and IN
cideutav nav help 70 ahatc certain political abuses
and absurdities wh ar now disgrace 10 Alierl-
can society.
The character of General Ljpbsr.-as already
stated in this columns the central hgure II 91i
ID. Llovd's play entitled For Congress, wlich |
was brought out last Thursday night at the Four
throughout the present week In making TINS part
A. How'd has we tn TX added q permanent per-
souare TO the dentities that are destined 10 last
upon the American stage and TINS Is DO colDinoi
achievement In his play, if it be abstractly FeWeu
as an effort comedy, he has been less succcssiu
for the general reason that, IN the drawing oI 'le
characters the use of incidents and the conduct OF
the story he has not conforned TO the Iac'S %
bpman nature and of the actual life that ny sor'
of i,nplication he assumes to reflect The observer
for exarnple if a foreigner who should accept
this work as a perfectly accurate sehDiah'e Vi
American society would assuredly mOiDe mistaken
impressions Such domestic arrangements ~ tuoso
of the ooIey family, which admit Oh al SORTS Vi IN
4rps;on are of course permissible in a play when
takes the license of farce; but since th'S l'i''iy'
,rocisely rs sketched by Mr. Lloyd. Is not possible
in acfual American life it should not be regarded as
Yenycsentative; and. indeed. it has not been eX-
ulicitlv put forward in that sense. M. LIoyuS
main object obviously was To create comic char-
acter and 10 satrze of the grotesque features
of American politics. Upon this object he mas oe-
sto1rcd his strength To the background of Amcri-
can life he has gwen but little attention. The char
acter Of General LimJer-an eXaggeratlon to some
extent but an exaggeration of a type which really
xi.tsis draw, with great vigor, with rich humor,
with a deep and satisfying enjoyment oil the SUD
iect and upon the chicauery and the spre'd-'asie
boulLast of the American political convention the
authors shafts of satire. halimcrry, a-Scorniul.
and always winged with Keen knowledge and good
SENSE are launched with ease. abundance ana ln-
variable effect Nothing could be more opposite OF
more amusing as highly favored bat legitimate
satire. than GuaGl Lia5.rs account of the speeches
that H. has delivered to the Germans and the lrSh
in order 10 catch the votes of those classes; and
when IFooHcy mentions the wisdom and ability
which he supposes essential TO statesman and
General Linbr grayely inquiries whether he has
known many Congressmen. the pungent meaning
thus drolly conveyed is only too painfully clear
This part of the wOrk,-the swinging round OF the
convention" by LinJtr's stentorian eloquerce. the
distribution Of the flour the banners with their hor-
rible cariraturcs and garug Inscriptions the amaze
,,rnt of p Ho0IieBat sight of his own portrait upon
one Of tli, Sc works of art the six hundred drinks
for the Independent voters, the" champagne on
ice0 for Z" the boys LiDb9's instructions to the
sneakers the breathle,, anxiety as 20 glorious oId
Chuuk-a-luuk" when that county waYeTs IN the
balauce-s done with admirable ability; and II
keeps the audience in gale Of laughter For
Congress is called political satire ~; and GER
family its roundne,, and it~ trcnchaut force a. a
work of dramatic art would have been more COM
uletelv preserved had nothing else than satire been
atteuptrd The serious domestic part, the love
story. and the intrigue of the rascal who lneddles
with the lovers are, IN their present structure,
dead weight upon the PLAY
overlooked Mr Uool,y is a rich couutlyman who
has retired from business. lie Is absent minded,
and he devotes himself To the culture of roses. He
has n sister who is ambitious and romantic lie has
a handsome daughter who Is a little sentimental,
and who is betrothed. He has son who has en-
bezzled some money and whose crime Is known 70
a treacherous friend. Gt1Gd LimbT selects Hr.
UoolLey as a candidate for Congress- and procures
his nomination; and General LiabT then rescucs
IL. Inc clu Ot
false frend-who has tried 10 marry the daughter
and swIudle the father by means of his hold upon
the reputation of the SON General Timber further
more having discovered an old sweetheart under
the guisc of a female champion Of woman suffrage,
and addressed TO her lovc-letter which is appro-
priated TO herselfby Mr. UOoleys romanic sister be-
comes implicated in of warfare between
these ladies. But all euds happily-Mr. UooHky
voting for his rival, and thus making tie vote, and
General Timber being phghted TO his new-iound
sweetheart. and himself nominated for Congress.
These postulates indicate fabric of story which
might have been made entirely rational and invested
with romantic as well as comic interest. The ma
terials are sound. 1t is the treatment of them, in
serious moods. that needs reinforcement of skill.
Nevertheless For Congress is fresh, piquant,
cogent tcrse piece of dramatic writing and IN ITS
farce-elements entirely delightful. The conven-
tion-scene is positive novelty; and the scene III
winch General Lim5u endeay0rs 10 recover ms love
letter is breezy with character and with glee
ful perplexity and variety. NT Raymond has made
unequivocal hit General Timber, and he is
ing the part with brilliant animation and lu-
dlcrous effect. MIR. CullngtOn succeeds admirably,
also, as the vacant candidate, ~ OOiiey who cannot
sleep for his love of the dear people but lies
awake all night, "rollm round in his bed and
savin' bless EN-" deeply seated contempt for
politicians and for the vulgar methods by which
.s.I l.r1..- al