New-York tribune., 1884-11-14
THE DRAMA-MUSIC
MIR, IRVING In MICH Anop


Side BY side the currents Of happiness ana
misery, sometimes blended. more often ontra.tsd
flow on together IN the experience of human
creatures that work of art can he so dramatic
rs is the grand ard comprehensive picture Of
human life itself In deep aud thoughtful natures
n perception OF the contrasts afforded IN tha yasA
picture naturally engenders certain grave
and sweet tranquility, a certain mournfai but
noble power Of selfabnegatiou; and. where the
dramatic faculty s present. capacity TO show life
rs nature shows IL, IN all it's diversified aspects
simply as n fact and without connection. whether
upou the hopes fears. the joys or gos the gains
losses which are inevitable in the fate Of man.
kind. This >hakcspeares method-and tins
in such comedy as "Much ADO the observer
the procession Of human events very much a
he might behold the bend in q distant river; partly
in sunshine, partly In shadow; but not perceivins
either whence ID springs or whittier it nowa
The silvery waters have passed through un.
seen woods and meadows, and they will
flow through unseen fields, to empty themselves
INTO the distant unknown sea. Jnst so in Of
Shakespeares comedies; the observer feels that
the current of life which has come into view
has been steadily flowing down to this point Of
sight, and will continue to flow on long after it has
passed from the range of his vision.
In Mr.. IrviDg's treatment of the pay-in his set
ting and establishment of 1.-THE leading charac-
teTistic the practical perception Of tins truth.
The performance of "Much ADO" which was gwen
last night at the Star Theatre, is not now TO 10
viewed as a novelty in this place. and we have
but little fresh remark to bestow upon subject
that has already received careful and ample aten-
tion. Yet it cannot be amiss to reler to the intel.
ectual exaltatlon, the impresslveness, the atmOs-
phere o. cOmmingled sadness and mrth, with
WI he DIV yas disula wed he Ipb of 4
Is like a glimpse into a land Of sunshine, love and
pleasure and when at last, its happy denizens
dance away to the sound of merry music you turn
from it with smile which hardly conceals tear,
thinking that still in some happy region. far from
the troubles and of this world. their life OF
merIlment, pass on. romance, and happiness Is still
flowing on. immortal in its youth and its beauty
TO create, and to leave impressions of this kind.
has been the object Of Mr.. hvings art:
and the brilliant nplishment OF TINS object
is the secret Of his excellence and his renown
Mr. Irving appeared az Benedick, Miss Ellen Terry
as Bcatyio, Miss Wmifred Emery as Hero, Mr..
| Alexander as the Prime. Mir. Norman Forbes a.
| ldHdio and Mr.. johnson as DOgborq. Ii remains,
we think. truth that Mr.. Irving and Mss Terry
have construed Ienodick and Beatrice in an ideal
spirit making them higher and finer han they are
IN the book; and now, as before the result entirely
iustlfes the expedicnt There is no animal taint IN
the Ben, dick of Mr. Irving there is not trace of
the shrew in the Beatrice of Miss Terry. For Its
feminine charm for that indefDable something
which makes a woman the object at once OF chlyai-
| rous passion and tender respect, ii Will be re-
! membercd as long rs anything IL renem oered
on the stage of our time. Mr.. Irvings qliet rumi'
nant sagacious dr,llery PLAYING over serois
soddItv of intellectual character was exerted in
a very charming manner. In the challenge
| to Cldudio he rises to true dignity, ana no
does not make the common mistake OF
| turning the dangerous menace into tragicai Dom
hast The siIckler for scrupulous accuracy for tho
/ old line of treatment, in Behefck-wmcn maNcs
MIN dashing soldier a rafting man of-the-world,
and not over-delcate gallant-wiu' Oh
course. reject this performance. IT, neverthe'
less il one OF exalted beauty IN iheas
and of perfect precision, frmness and balance IN
execution.
MIR George Alexanders easy preservation oil the
prpccly manner the freedom from anxiety on the
subject of rank which is the essence ot sood-br'ed-
! ing, his breezy good bumor aud his simphciN IN
rho character of Don P,dro. made that performance
| genial aud right Now, az before. the boloer's
| scenes do not tisc above the conventional lever"
~tarn hnmnr-thr Dojh,ryy h,mscf. indeed. being
weak aud thin, and now. as before. the scene
of tho interrupted bridal. In the ancient
church of Massina crvstalises into Nse'
tho chief beauties of tho performance snen
a scene IL at onoc a perfect pleasure and h'o's
example in the dramatic art Tho expression "'
individual opinion upon such a subject ~ 'h'.
may not DO important We TO ho'
think it is. But whom, as in this
| case, a dramatic representation leaves people
nobler.and happier than they were before they saw
! f. surely il IL an important thug that 1t should
exist and should succeed and surely 1t rs rlght
thing that II should oe recognized with no dubious
| Oh reluctant admiration.