New-York tribune., 1884-12-07
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
MR.. IRvING'S EMIT.

,:,, aroagemcut. which began on
~ovember TO- was ended Last night u mas ", aotor
:, ,our weeks, and 1t has beon prosperous " nnIart
.,v.r,a reous 20 the public and IN every WY ,hose
sna u,cces presented were with Two oN'. IN he
,,.h Inv Mr. irving and Miss Terry have been sen ~
IN ""',m oa,ios were Twelfth Night and nan
.o'o M a., lin, nresentug MrlrohD and ha"'", -,
% rr~v presenting viO,l and 0pae''" ~ M .,,
Sram, az Charles l." had single ~, one Of
occurred Ia =, Friday night, aud IL "'S 80 n,,i,os
en-. most intellectual and ace"nP ,, ,,ondauce
Wv. - neon seen in theatre Inc ~ n,'1
tDa' na'e - t,no,s four weeks, has been large me
sh'"N ,g,,ced by him have been SET upon 'ho
80 .. = careful manner and with quite "s 'nue" o'
,e.s in dresses and scenery as IL eN'i
a,,ers Mr. Irving has had the sas"cl'S :" Gun
10, sc,nic artists Of the highest "ruer, anu "
Po, ~ stage manager (Mr. H. j. Lovedayl oil ripe
.rriroe and great and peculiar talent ana energy
-, ., would be mistake 10 suppose
.., ur Ir,ipgs renown rests upon stage pictures VI
,eo naecment. To the illumination OF the pay o'
,rt devices Of treatment. he has, oi course ENo"
uchfu and thorough attention; but IL Il as an ao'oI
a., hc ba, ~ dc hi, Comment upon MS recent
,,e,,ormance OF Hamlet has already peeh a.
q, enior,,d as is perhaps de'irabie' p"'
that performance, for example, Whatever mag
trivial blemishes OF clocution or its occasional!
oue.tionahle cxpcdcnts OF stage business "oulu ANN
.utee TO show him possessed OF the unerrhs anu sp"
d tui,i,n Of genius II has OF aroused con
40 thatfor even when he walking quite IN the D'ae
,rc they are so marked and singular that they distract
.os ,,,r,ex tho general observation IL Is Rsohl'h
In though to consider what quantity oi "oFuS
people can use when they get bciogsed TO express o
most Obvious and trite idea Adverse criticism ol W.
Irvine's acting such is warranted by justice amounts
,mn to his-that his phy steal means OF expression are
9, c.r,,ip RESPECTS distinctly limited, that
his temperament face, person ana i
usl demoanor. make him unfit for some char,o''i'
and less suitable for some than for others nut no
Great actor in every sense OF that woru al" las
-s,r,,.nce of Hamlet would alone suffice 10 proue IT,
Us version of the tragedy. indeed is NOS as Wen maze
. t ,,,ht be He has restored certain essential pass
...a-.ucL ls the derious speeches OF Hamie to"ar"
The end OF Act l.. which are more otteh oml''eu IMAM
u.ed-the usually omitted parts Of Hdm'tts olalosue
with the courcrs and certain bits In the pu'
he has dropped Opheid's account OF hd"'e' uSnoNo
,nen, and the whole the first scene of the fourth act
,o,or with various lines here and there in the text OF
The different minor characters IheIe i nuVu "a
lot" that has To be cut ImperauVe,y' ou. % &
mode with absolute Judgment anu never WIZ - r' h.
Mr. Irving does no use Lhe .rons %or little points
Snes,toned o, tos but. when all is said. the
great ideal Hamlet and that his execution mas III
fs Wapoio Is the has been seen on the sa se
in our 1t was easy to see th9l nc nn fo, , "a a.
side of his character completely lhe Ioil'HSi e o
Ealgoiio his scruPulous cleanlness' ,hr,+ pre-
ai.e dcmeanor, his constitutions naDiU ,,o, o
rootine, his iDordnate seiiVomp'SSttoI3 SStI >, ,,o,ch
which nevertheless, his Judgment keeps khd OF wS1o
his sensiIveness a. human being Ms ~
ing real in all that he feels ana ' % ,'eI
Nr Irving has combined into distinct an" IOuh|t lv
sonality of which the humor is IL s0u,S ,s e euy
unconscious. His sustained preserVa,lVn 0i 'Nc I ~
especially impressive, ana hotlhS .tiG,, .,,I ~
Sseensconsiy 1 ponPous delivery the text one
notable incident in the revival OF IMenlH ~. W.;
by Miss Payne Mr. George Alexander appearing a.
0rrino gained distinction for marked aSnlty Q. luC!
l.lf and
,wpassionate speeches. Mr.. Alexander, III various
part has been Of the most pleasing ieatHfes OF me
M irving and Miss Terry repeated their artistic
tnrss and i; dcHcent alike Of story aud of action but
doss present character, and It contains SITUATIONS I"
powerfully affect the heart The profound ana ienIs
e~nestness of Mr.. lrvings nature Is eonsIlcuousy
shown in his power to invest the character o.
sustain il before the Imagination, in per
fec. grace nobility and Pah9s Innate T6
splendid selfcOncentraton and hishOreu f ts,
well To- the pathetic remember" with which tins mem
orsbe figure passes Out o, NITuo III Trrv,s finest
success been made i'll Ophefia The great beauy Ul
- - 81 %rnken- -hcarted distracted woman. but the
wtspan is OF extraordinary loneliness ia her Og'
tnTc and the tonch of frenzy only seemed TO invest eI
visS certain spiritual radiance. The execution IS as ree
a. summer wind. noble feature OF thls rc'll d" We
Nr Howe's inpersOnation OF Lord HmHey-a mos
nsnlv tender rugged simple and exqusitely discreet
psce Of work IL seemed as il the Old knight 1i nae
corne to life out Of scotts - W9odst9cA.
sal night. performance presented The Bells. "
vAeh Mr. Irving "A. Matthias is In the tuI NlEor o.
HI, Imagination. He had great mousse anu MoS' a
fectOnate greeting OF farewell 81 - =,
Nr Alexander appeared Christian, Miss Emery a.
issfn, aud Miss Payne as S1=et certain prcty an
nporoprate by play introduced by Mr.. Alexander ano
Mts Emcry much enhanced the charm Of the picture O
tlr Young lovers In their happy Time Oi DctOthsL "I
Ir,ing " a. nSe times called before the curtain
MIR. IRvINo's CLOSING WORDS.
Al the close OF the piece Mr Irving was called before
TIE curtain and in response 10 continued cries o.
"spccch" said
IADlF, AND GENTIRMRS : would could tcll you IL
tr simplest phrase how deeply We are indebted lo Ic
n.sa OF that generous welcome whlch we receiver dur
In our first visit America. IL Is dihcnt on -ch az
oct,on as thi. 10 express what II IN ones heart WIN
on; running the risk Of seeming 700 lul
samo on the one hand or indifferent on
ths other. But this can leh {ol
that our third visit TO Ncw-Nork WheL
ins than our rs has that we have place
IN your ostcen-a place which VIII be remembered hlu
chez shcd 10y me a. LONG live. lOu Doubtless nave
bsart and hear many srangc aud odd notions ap"u
humble selves but you VIII never near 700 uc,p ~
eipressiOn of our appreciation oi The INFINITE Audh'-
wksrh have received at yuut hands ana tla icrlg r
ethoed hy dear friend and fellow worker 0f mine
frsnd who holds ~ ruViahc u sway over your hearts
Mee Ellen Terry. fChcers Ladies and gentlemen. We
ehsl once again have the pleasure and privilege o ap
pearing before you-if All bo woll-neyt March
and then actors must take IhSl
sua long farewell. 4 voice" Don't say thal'I Oi
thi. subject shall not dwell-suiicicni To the gay
the pain thereof look forward t0 our next meeting
ss,uring you that my colleagues sensible a. an
Of the courtesy the welcome and the generous gu"d Wi
whhh we have received at your hands, ana the lcIem
bsnncc Of which will ever bring happiness To- orr hrfl
E.Spectfully and gratefully thank you and say good
bye-noi goOd-bye e, but ou reror. lAppaurel