New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-12
portrs,turs Of comic wrangie between pair Of rust


iovers-ths young farmer. Bsios. and bic swssshsa4
the forced and needless introduction oftbl
element dssscrstss the majesty o. the play; Ts:r:
eYsrsnsous adjunct and strange that 20 wiss
drsms,ist Mr. wills did no: suppress: :: from n: css
authors should DOT have guarded against tho pelene
dramatic Of monotony 10 0iamdians procssdinS
10 tho prologue. BY upuious svoidsnee
Of repetition There Is either some :sns poverty O. u.
vention or an inadvertence OF Innsmens 10 at'. ~.
again.
But no severity OF critical analysis can detect many
serious defects In the play Of "Claudian" The wor@
and integrity OF tho nature Of AIntdG-who. OF course
ought bs fautlsss beroine-'sem. indeed, h's'e
dubious 10 Wow ready transit from tried snA
proved. and faithful and accepted lover to the aunn8
but utterly unknown Otaudan Yet 1t Is to be remems
bered that Alpda becomes tho victim OF supernstufS
snchantmsnI Her infatuAtion not guilty ono. aua
utterly passes away ct last She 10 In sort OF nuo
frenzy during It's northumberland Miss Mary Eiss'
lakes delicate, artistic suggestion OF this condition
tho crownng beauty Of her acting. The fair-nincs4
observer the play will adopt the obvious theory upoa
which It's authors have constructed It. The imasinaaea
must DO allo we'd its Iicsnso It At nrst pre-
postarous that moral government OF the
universe would permit . human being to walk shn
Sord for centuries difusing ahicton anh ruin npoA
innocent persons all along his track But IL NUS NJ
no forgotten the devxstators OF tho human ra'
the Neros, the At.ss, the Napoleon Bonapar'os-"svs
been permitted, with quite . colossal lDeraiity -
ravass the world for considerable periods OF time The
records past clearly show that wnas 70 mAn h"
self now seems prodigal. even wanton' waste %
human lives ha, nesn quite compaSs Win sss FRA
theory about him promised - unfegnsdly lzn'assc
No %sn can .nS e S S .sao fate no
desIrs to good but be able TO act upon ME de-
and cruelty tho natural outcome Of bad no. be has
done q sssregous murder Ifs must efplsso aaas
crime oy inc oSssu H.. BY az act ce
sublime self sacrifice The whole scheme i viseons
suss and IL may Justly oaim TO bs accspsd tor ia
structure, tested by tho prosac standAru Oh iAc.
its lofty and beautiful meaning "nen IaaS'a -
poem
Evil IN in tho world. 10 infltrated through every par
tcls Of It, and seemingly Ia In tho world Ia orderthas
goodness may have something over wnich 10 pre's's
that nobleaess human character may no de'eiopeds
and that the whole of the moral universe may %
redeemed from what otherwise would % insvIaoe ths
ua ne monotony OF abject patuds. In order 10 maks
the performance OF Ciadian great performance shs
actor must show by the use OF TRANSPARENCY In MS ar"
that the nature OF CT dian inherently grand aud no
ble that mis- bad life has been dreadful outrage upon
himself - we'll impous and awful denanoe OF Ms
Maker and that soul Is worth the remshdou GUS
that must be paid saving It, The present writer nss
.esn Mr. Wilson Barrett four times In tho character
Claud,an and cash time has been impressed with tue
unerring intuition aud tue superb artistic teciv WIN
which he con eys this essential moaning OF ths part
mon which the whole structure OF the tragedy u"
there ia In his presence 10 his voice, 10 hs
ena AMI stately dsmsanor that shows this ideA
N be IN fill possession OF him-body aud soul ms ~
the intrinsic worth Of the performance ahd oy 'n'A
ought to be measured and estimated not 30 "ucn "
It's executive ability as by It's inaCa.vs hs setos
techncal art as by what IL proves OF ms lnuvuus
dramatic nature The world Is no. mucn acaor wncse
inHuence does not raiiate beyond the limit ~uch CIR
numscrbss the feet OF stic proficiency eau mp rt
Of
help nor comfort-tO other human Sou. ino,o
ace Wilson Barrett a. Clatdan. ana who somprrnena
1Ss WORK are made higher pursr and better for hes
experience of &c; and thus result suppies sur" e,..is
rsIv TINS far it Il. work OF sold aud sterling vsuc
The In which It Is deficient are % cord
On the rava9ed face aud figure such as cannot os p
mays MIN ali the more mystical aud pathetic because en-
twjned with an Immortality or youth ln.s ao," -
sesmingly, deficient In genuine apOreoiasiou " vs.
supernatural aud In really profound Kno"'euS' ~
sorrow ,.. =, uu...
A already promised. the foremost attribute Oh wilson
Barretrs acting simplicity aud yetitis note easy either
IN dene its distinctive or TO specify s ona
Every successful actor necessarily possesses
aivdua faculties aud qualities which have Accompanies
his success THIS tragedian has developeo'-p"''" W
| natural growth In congenia direcuon' al" parry
nnder the influence OF etic paganism 7h'''e"' "
Iondon-aonR the line Of physical sensuousness 10
dramatic ART This apparently. Is what he representa-
and I'm this he exoes. Possessed OF robust ymnet-
rca, commanding figure, strong Roman heah' aeep
toned ncsIve penetrating voice. an inveteras power
of will the unconscious sepolse and slow dehoera'e-
ness OF robust strength, an impetuous spirit strongly
tending to the enjoyment OF exuberant lie, yet curoei
nv that sense OF beauty which revos at extrayagncs
and excess and refined by human gentleness hs Is
type and model OF those attributes which are admFSos
I'D Greek aud Roman art and he brings 10 tue psoesoa
of the stage every equipment sh ~ncn rns ,,nset and
tina person Atty the moment ne steppcd upon
The scens AZ once aud fully expane not alone bis sue.
| IN
In all other atoms tie IS an u'cons OF tue ros
volt against asoetcism. and excessive intellectually
arr and As such he is a refreshment and delight 10
multitude Of tho v0tarIe, OF the stage
The defect In Wilson Barretrs method OF acting AZ
disclosed in this performance, tnge OF hchrymoss
monotony alike of delivery and demeanor. combined
with tendency to preach. Happily. this defect nos
radical and the actor discard L. lie Will do 40
he cares great future. He ought 10 nave IONS 50
long ago. When actor does not possess e1trAoriI-
nary mobility OF countenance aud extraordlnary he
bty in the carriage OF che body it would seem to "
wise for him TO supply this lack by much aud striking
diversity Of action by and various voc .lsm aai
by all possible brillianoy of style. wilson barres
would animate and illumiue the structure OF MS ur%
matte art by curbIng his propensity toward the a'uhp
ton OF pretty attitudes OF physical display anu oy mod
Grating his artificial procvity TO exhorta'on In tue
actual nature of the man-which he reveals at every
turn AMI which Is that OF hearty, g1od Yellow and
thoroughly trained, pictorial. CONSCIENTIOUS. hney III
telligent, ina snative. ana deeply Impressive aston
there obviously 40 more OF 'h's dlacuG rn.
ality than there 10 OF pioty 10 a sewou prihe lug
habit of strlking hue attitudes can DO understood. ~
IA not woman only whom nature makes 90 Os roma OF hs
Pompaiour waist Within judiclous limit the use OF
attitude 4. classical ami II Is rgnt The error Is Tue ex-
cess But why tho erpedont OF penslve didacci'!n
should hayo been adopted remains mystery. III ~
not. nor IL cannot como 10 good
nights perfor has proved Tor the American
nublc that Wilson Barrels reputation as An actor
genuine reputation. The acceptance accorded 10
Wilson Barrett has been gwen spontancousis'
| nf dram
achavamentthe tribute of no and earnest pub
lilo heart to man OF superior aud remarkaOe talent"
and shining professional deeds. He Is no longer
.tranger The voice America blends with tue voice
| of England to honor his worth aud 10 augment us
| benohcent rcnowu. =. ..-.. - , AL. Fat. 10.
Ar Inc close OF the play Mr. Barrett AMI Miss Easase
ware sumnoue before the curtain asain ahu AKA" su
,ber. were loud calls for speech MI Barrett saiu
few words OF knowled1ment lie nal sons 10 th's