New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-01

4. nothing harsher than merry teazc ana Ia tue Soo
ouy after the arbor she drops all Epp@nVy s'"
CLOVIS into tender and loving womanheod A lnoFe 'ss
cinating personality than this BeoHsct coulu h0 10
wished: and Miss Terry's method OF expressing !" -
marked Is hitherto with plant, eortess power ana ao
eOlate simplicity
Unless we mistake their dr In these representations
Mr. Irving and Miss Terry have chosenpary Win con
scious des and partly under the stress OF nexoIaoe
tenperamcntal cOnditlonsto transhgre rather Juan AZ
orally 10 interpret the conception Of shakespeare As I"
Beued,ck and Beatrice Mr. Irving presentsa higher and
finer character than understand BeNedek to De IN
shalxcsneare's page: and Miss Terry presents more
lovely ard tender than the BeGee Of the comedy
MI Howe expressed with rich, unconscious huInor
the strenuous and pompOus asninity OF Dog6ef1y ana
MI presented the prncey Don Pedr0 IN such
semblsnce OF manly and courty grace as Is seldom SEEM
while the gentle Hero swcetly and quietly assumed
by Miss Nilwsrd and CLAUDIO was earnestly and neSty
acted ny Mr.. Lyndel
IL his dressing and stagc-serting OF Much Ado" MI
Irving has pected the cid authorities on the subject
fol0wng indeed, the precedent of MacTeady, ny whom
this piece was sumptuOusly revived IN LOndou ri Drny
LANE in ls43 The last IL which the Italians were
involved while they were under the dominion OF Span'
occurredrr I52g-as historical readers are aware-and
Charles V. OF Spain made trlunphA Gu
try into Messina in 1870 which time ana
circumstance the comedy relates Dress shapes OF 'ne
period OF Henry VIII. of England and Francis L. OF
IL Europe are its suitable nvestture. on the occasion
Of Macreadys revival its male characters were esseu
in closetting parcoored suits, with short TUNES M
Waack dressed the play in much the same manner, IN
his first reproduction Of it, what IL now the star
stage ia 1869; and Edwin Booth IN 1873 al boo'A
Theatre. followed this good example
Much AGO en:several times quite as well set
upon the American stage is set by Mr irving
II reference dresses and TO construction OF
scenes The superiority of Nj. Irvings mounting OF II
consists in the coorng and of the scenery ana IN
studOusly minute attention TO MINOR setan-nolhlng
being omitted within reason that can heighten Illusion
OF deepen effect of II difficult OF course 20
keep the exactly iudieOus line in these matters anu
stage-nountng may easily he carried too far The act
ing is more important than the trappings
that surround il. Much of the scenery haoltua4ly
used on the American stage however is too obviously
"scenerv and il msy be said 20 smell Of pant IN
England stanfed and Telmamong Others, have painted
stage scenery ana particular attention has been gwen
there 10 mellowness Of color, and 70 due
stimulation Of the effects OF time ana
climate upon architecture. Mr. Irving IL must
be remembered. has lived and laborei where he cono
have the counsel Of such artists Alma Tadema' and
such scholars as Panchk. He tells nothing that we
did not know before only he practically eniorces Ms
lesson reminding Of the right way by jealousy VI
suingit.
And what b! true Of much American stage scenery is
equally time OF mach American actuE-t Is Il 700 oDF
osy acting 90; the wires not concealed UnHef tue
instructive influence OF Nj Hvlngs performances 9re'
numbers Of persons have made 10 understand IIs
tb which vet is NOT new truth 10 any h4a.tua think
or pou this subject From the completeness OF the rep
,.-qnfstiou of Much Ado last night whether viewed
"a ,,re up perfor1nance this u the chief deduci0.e
lesson.