Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-01-07
THf DRAM a.

Juscpn Proctor IN " MOS OF the W Gods"
Tho appearance Of that veteran actor,
Joseph Proctor, in Fulton opera house
was theatrical event, the merit of which
was doubtless inadequatoly considered by
many of our theatTe-gOers, as IL required
the Ol lest of them to recall the presenta
tiOn in Lancaster of that once Familiarity
known drama, "Nck oC the Woods" in
which Mr.. Proctor was greeted by n
packed gallery aud well hllod parquet
circle Saturday evening. Tho eminent
| actor has for moro than half cen.
tury made his name known and his ability
| recognized in comedy, melodrama aud
| tragedy, either as this support of well
known tragediaus or as u star. This may
be his farewell tour, but the fine form and
the well.traiued tones that shared the
! plaudits of admiTiug thrOugs twenty five
| years ago with the foremost actors Of the
| land, are SIN at the age of sixty seven
splendid IN their preservation. They we're
seen with cOnSummate effectiveness in
" Nick of the Woods" aud applauded
| with uuStinted enthusiasm The dramatic
! strength and literary merit this drama pos
| sesSes long ago elevated 1t To u high PIN
| naCle in popular estimation, since II has
much Of the power and the beauty which
| distinguish the creations of the old mas
! ters, and sufficient tsnebroslty to assign II
above the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that now
! gush their brief existence on the stage.
| The character which Mr.. Proctor assumes
is peculiarly impressive and to those who
SEQ its representation for the first time,
it Is exceedingly captivating. The weird
mystery that attaches to IL aud the man.
iacal characteristics which blend with the
nOblor attributes OF a rational parsonage
constitute basis for the dramatist' =
| creation almost superior to any upon
| which Cooper has reared his entertaining
characters, to one or two of which the
Jij5sRdiR0sdy is analogous IN several elo-
ments. 1t will be understood then
| though 1t should not require reminding
that the wild antics aud murderous eX
plOits that mark our present border plays
are quite absent moro weapons and more
use of them are seen IN " Romeo and Ju
llet.' The long experience OF Mr.. Proc
tor in this role has enabled
him to enrich its ImpersOnatiOn with
the choicest features of real dramatic art
In less competent hands the Jlb5eHdiROsd,
would be most revolving character 4; IL
Mr.. Proctor's ho is admired, feared and
wondered at a man whom terrible mis-
fortune has Crazsd, whom II deep thirst
for revenge has madduned, and yet one II
whom dwell the teuderest sympathy aDt
solicitation for the safety and comfort o
those who are in trlbulatiOn near him
Mr. Proctor invests the part with grea
interest, the intensity of which is mark
edly augmented by commanding figure
and iull, nicely mOduated aud resonant
tones which no usss with the most artistic
aptitude. Sti!l these essential qualities
are but secondary to the real reason VIII,
he renders the rOlo 30 true success. II
his consideration of the character, Mr.
Proctor has reached u comprehension o.
it which permits delineation o
moro than its exterior phases. He pOr
trays with admirable nsturalness th
functions of the perverted passions of the
man, and presents psychological study
Z full Of speculation, degenerated intellectual
, power and bestial acGrimony, yet influences
by kindness aud the recollection OF happie
, days. To be satisfactory in such tasl
needs talent, II not genius, aud Mr. Proc
tor had talent a generation ago, Tn
support was generally acceptable. Mis-
= Annie Il Proctor, daughter of the actor
, as Telie Doe, was attractiyely pcturesqu
! and agreeably efficient her acting ha
q much delicaOy and.is intelligent and earn
est. Mrs. Proctor as Mrs. Bruce, wa
very amusing in that preposterous part
and Mr.. A. Carlton, as Cot. Bruce wa
quite natural, q most ecessary point /
which Mr.. Edward n. Hoyt lacks as Rolan
. |! Forester.
n Alfred Bunn's delightful comediettt
b "My Neighbours Wife" was given as a
J., aiterpiece, to the great amusement OF III
Q audience.