New-York tribune., 1885-03-27
MR. IRVING and MISS TERRY.

More than half the time Of Mr.. Irving's fare-
well engagement at the Star Theatre gone. Only eleven
performances remain to be given by the Lyceum Com.
pany and from one Of these-next Monday-Mr. Irving
will be absent That night he is to speak at Harvard
University, where he will give discourse on the dra
matte art. At each Of the other performances he will
appear. The farewell night is April A. when The Mer.
chant of Venice" will be enacted and Mr. Irving and
Miss Terry will say Good Bye to the American publio
The banquet in honor Of Mr. Irving will be given at Del
monicos Monday evening, April Q, and On the DAY
following he will embark aboard the Arizona, for
England. The Lyceum Company will embark aboard the
City Of Chicago, April o. and viii end the most
brilliant and impressive chapters In the history OF tha
stage.
Since the farewell engagement began on March O. Mr.
Irving has given eighteen performances. The
plays that have been presented are "Euxeus
Aram,' much ADO" "The Merchant o. venic.v
Twelfth Night" Louis xI" Charles l. "The Lyons
Mail" and Hamlet" Mr. Irving has been seen in nina
characters and Miss Ellen Tory has been in six.
much ADO" "The Merchant" and Tho Bells" Csatur-
day night will I'LL out tho present week The intention
to repeat Eugene Aram has, unhappy, been discard
cd No fresh feature will bo given. The last week DO
devoted repetition and there win be eight perfsru
crowded into It Mr.. Irving's place in Twelfth
Night" which is assigned for Monday will be taken by
Mr. Harbury, who then will present Malrolo There s
to be extra matinee Wednesday devoted to "Ths
Merchant Of Venice; and at the matinee ON Saturday
lrfluB OHco Hlorc appear as LOUIS Al cthof
plays to be repeated " Much Ado" Tuesday and
Friday, "The Bells" Wednesday, and Charles l." on
Thursday.
Last night there great crowd at the Star Theatre,
to see Mr. Irving Hamlet and Miss Terry Opho
la Much has already been said here on this subject,
and there moments when 1t IL further
ment on the Prince OF Denmark might
well be spared. Yet for this occasion
also there is thought that should bs
uttered. Mr. Irvings embodiment Of Hamlet has been
for the last time the American stage work 20
beautiful and so admirable should not be dismissed with
silence Opinion would naturally be divided at first,
to Mr. Irvngs performance OF the Dane but thoughtful
Judgment ustrecognizo its essential greatness Hamlet
is not largely dramatic part. Its substance Is suffer
ing rather than action. The movement shown s the
movement OF emotions in the human soul Hamlet Is
constantly acted upOn but he Is person who scarcely
acts at yet his existence is feverish tumut OF
incessan change-a rapid succession OF the waves OF
passion and misery that break at last upon the silent
shore of death Tho part, accordingly, when shown
upon the stage, requires, IN peculiar sense,
impersonatlon dramatic treatment the individuality
OF an actor, the investlture OF art. Hdmtet TO
on the stage as a statuesque and declamatory
figure. The literature Of the part tends 70
among representative sufferers OF tragedy The af.
yocote OF Henry Irvings acting would, probably-and
naturaly-seect MdLtids aud Eugene Ard,n rs, taken
together the result in art that establishes the actors
genius and clearly and brilliantly dlseoses and Illus
4
without these works his Hamlet alone would have been
the sufficient manifestation and triumphant evidence Of
the truth, the power the reality, and the SURPRISING
charm OF his acting Neither OF these parts can be fuy
expressed by posing by defamation. Each requires
spiendor imagination great stress OF intellect deep
feeling cOpOus and incessant physical vitality anu a.
most boundess wealth and variety OF dramatic treat
ment They exact In brief the soul aud body OF the
actor all that he is ana all that he can DO Is TINS sort
OF an exgency that calls out Mr. Irvngs strength and
exhibits beauty OF his art He cannot excel IN dec
lamatiOn. Ho will often disappoint the ear IN MS de-
livery OF blank OF any sort OF measured IAN
guage He does not his results through th0t me-
dium, and the Judges who insist upon measuring his ORA
matte the declamatory standard necessarily drift
away from the purpose OF his playing misunderstand
actor and lose the pleasure tnat otherwise tney
might enjoy. Mr. Irving is impersonator Place hln
character which Is entirely In print ana ne wl per
| hans make no more than conventional impression.
Place character that admits OF being nled In ny
actor and he will makeas he dld In Eugene ArdN
and does in Haatet-the Impression OF e1traord
1 nary and thrilling dramatic genius
Miss Terrys conquest of the American public has been
made in comedy Her Bedtrice her Portid her Letifa
Hdrdy-these sparkling works have e1erted an almost
infinite charm but the riches Of her deep nature
wholly cOmprehended through these disclosures It
regal power with woman like sweetness and IL needed
Ohed fully display her erimagnation and her extraor
dnary pathos. In 0phelia Miss Terry stands alone.
No other that played the part in our time.
has been comparable with her. IL Is not that she has
either added TO the attributes the character ele
waited those that IL possesses Her triumphant success 10
Ophefd Is her simple Xpression-through state or a.
most but entirely, completed mental arrangement
OF the most exquisite spiritual lOveness that seems pos
| sibe any mortal crea Her largo and splendid
dramatic manner great artistic beauty I'm this work
but the inherent glory OF t consists In her wonderful
mOduati0n of the element OF pathetic lunacy Her per-
f0rmance last night, received with prodigous ea'
| thusiasm-never more entirely deserved.