New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-21
THE DRAMA.
STAR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


Mr. Robert Downing assuming for the first time In
New York the character of spartac in Dr. Birds we'll
known tragedy OF The Gladiator appeared last hght
at the Star Theatre and welcomed with Kindness ny
An assebage that crowded tho houso in every part Tho
tragedy Of The Gladiator long ago accepted rs
ceent for Its telling situations sonorous dcton ana hgh
heroic sentiment Any performance Of 1t being reason
ably smooth could fail to please an average audience
Mr. Downing enacted ypartaeus In thoroughly earnest
and ofte mpassoned as to keep the FAVOR Oh
his auditors and to deserve considerable measure vi
thoughtful commenation His embodiment however, is,
at this period in his career, deficient In hoarL IN
maginaton and In weight Of character. The observer
Is glad to young actor acquit himself so wen oi
task so exacng but not really impressed by the per-
Torrance.
There are few wise words spoken by Hamlet To the
Piaver which it seems desirable should be commended to
Mr. Downings attention. His delivery OF tho tek' OF
Spartacus almost an incessant below and' rs MS
voice Is hard and his information monoonous this srenu
Qua md pess vocal effort became at last ~ panfui 10
IN. actor "a to the audience At tho end OF the Aroma
.osne Mr. Downing was almost exhausted-and so was
the moro thoughtful part OF his audience II would not
be unwise furthermore. for this young actor TO con-
slider the subject of facial expression. He uses
hts eyes with good effect, but the rest
of his countenance remains changeless as block OF
point with uncommon neatness and enecI ana OF being
ST sas ana s a
and skipping step allowed to deiract from the mass
iyeness tho herculean repose which are ~ inc
basis OF The Giadiators nature. Mr. Downing may not
have Edwin FOrrest-as whose successor ne pr pre-
sumes TO announce himsebu he has certainly seen tho
late John Mccullough as sparfac, lot ne mas oontvoa
10 reproduce that peculiar rising infection OF nteogaory
which Mccullough employed in this and other
aud which, with him, was re,nih'scs nv
Downings performance has not yct passed
beyond the stage OF imitation Ii Ia strong u Is earnest;
IL Is conscientios Is praiseworthy; but IL Is nnrpe'
An OF sincerity and resolution invests " thosgn'
aud its future may prove to be one of value and re,
nown creditabe effort is all that can DO recorded
now. Il, -..... - NJ
Mr. Downing had the cooperative assistance OF mr..
Henry Ayeny as the BROTHER Miss Mttens %iies a. ,e
| ViN and Mr.. William MudoOn as the FDhtng Gone
Almost everybody Oh the stage screened i,, ama
| Yelled so that the appalling racket OF tune,ess
voices suggested rather congress OF Kilkenny cats tn
anything in the likeness OF the pany days OF Rome Inc
fall OF "a set piece In the first act was receiVeu py
the two actors upon the stsgc with equal presence OF
mind and muscle. Mr. Downing had frequent plaudlts
and at times called before the curtain and loudly
cheered He will find in that passage from Hamlet
phrase which describes the class OF people whose rap
lures he thus evoked 1t Is not wise to fall into the De
fusion that Ia great actor because ne mas pie
person and speaks with big voice.