New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-19
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
MISS FoRTEscUE AS "GRETCHEN."

| MISS FORTESCUE AS "GRETCHEN."
! A numerous and brilliant company filed the
Lyceum Theatre last night and greeted the English
actress Miss Fortescue. in Mr. W. S. Gnberrs play
This piece Is published hui IL was never
before acted 1t is comprised in four acts and is written
In blank The leading idea OF II has been derived
from Goethes Faust. and scene OF 1.-THE colloquy
betwxt Mcphtao and Martha IN act second-is a para
phrnse OF the tenth Of Goelhes groat dramatic
poom Mr. Gilbert sought to disentangle the love-
story OF Margaret from philosophy metaphysics and
witchcraft AMI to tell It In simple dramatic manner
such should make 1t tributary 10 pathetic effect HIS
language is mostly original and he has diversified the
by slightly changing the identity and relations OF
the characters. aud by few new incidents or the
conduct of the action.
fdaSis has been q soldier, but. In consequence OF
beloved womans perdly toward him. has left the world
and become "A monk. condition OF soul and OF circuT
powerfully treated, years by George
Macdonald, IN hts poem Of" without and Within" But
Fasvs is hamperoi by his presy and vestments,
and he invOes EARTH heaveL and hell tc release him.
and TO him life Mephsto thereupol appears,
presently reveals to him. IN yson the beautiful
sta Gretchen This spectacle sUcss 10 enthra
Fgusus, and under NephiStOs guidanco he repu1ates
the Church aud set' forth to this unknown beauty
GO0ried, young soldier friend to Fd"s'us and unde-
clared lover to Grefcn meets them, near Gretchens
cottage and makes to her. begs his cOmrade
Faustus gretchen and shield her from all
HARM and then to the wars-n mos accommodate
ing spirit MephisO takes Martha. the aunt and protector
gretchen. OF the way. and Fa,SS after reporse-
fully warning the girl against hnsei-wins her heart
ann works her run being priest, he cannot wed
her. and she would regard II saeriloge TO wed him.
Goifried returning IN triumph from the battlefield
learns what has occurred, assas fdusus, and woulu
kill him hut that Gretchen nterposes save her err
and this being done expires broken hearted with
senae OF rrvats ain and public disgrace.
It VIII that the plot Is not thcned ~
the etpeliont OF changing Goethe's Valentine from
brother 10 lover by the omission OF his slaughter.
Mcphi0 the close, left covering before cruchS-
the implication being that he ia baed, and that Fau"s
will be saved by patiOn OF his 'n. Obviously tho Old
story is much weakened; but Mr.. Gilbert has raised
Gretce into great prom nence by depressing all around
her, and no makes typo and image Of all that man
most values 10 woman-oveliness Furthermore. In
the scene Of tho explanation between FdrHus ana
gretchen, In rhe OF GOtntrfs discovery or MS
friends inamy. and in tho closing scene OF GTctheS
life he has written with the power OF .ltense feeling
His perception OF Meptso is noCably fne, like sisa for
he makes him cold, quiet Intellectual, pitiless, but
perfectly scOher, image OF vital maignty,
dreadful to think OF while not repulsve to see. One
speech allotted to Mtphiso possesses uncommon point:
bat oh, Just heaven
Is the hsht fair when when t ms Jnir ' enemy
May trahc Sith me il ms emu IN ~, - if' ns
And cheat damnation' So IL comes 10 pass
gather fools blind ooIs. and only fools
for, The bat ONO
To show. triumph at the Reckoning"
Tho word OF promise 80 10 the stage seItluS OF
"Gretcnen" has been faithfully tept 70 the Lyceum
Theatre No one could wish for a more delicate and
fned picture-so soft in color. dreamKe in compo-
sition, tranquil IN light than that o. the vision of
Gretchen. in this that Miss Fortescue WAS first
revealed. she 10 a beautiful wOman-tail seodor, sym
metrical, graceful having oval face, large, dark,
mournful eyes, and the unmstakaOc air Of innate
nemen poets sensioity. 1he theory of this scene
Is while EduSttS beholds IN VOiOn, tie woman
whom destined that his destructive love shall win
Gretchen SECS dream, the man whom sne is TO love
and who is to become her lover and her doom. Tho
actress does speak; but In the startled eager iond
cnressinR vet wondering and shrinking gaze that she
turned ck upon this OF Impending rate there
was a revelation OF sweet womanhood equally with sub
tie and adequate facilities OF dramatic art When she
did speak voice found to be sweet, sympathetic
and musical to uncommon degree she has strange
habit OF marking the sounds with undue en-
phasis and this associated with that queer propensity
for rapid and almost cOnlncr pay OF the
eyelids which Ia peculiar e. some women
az was a notable custom With Laura Keenel. produce
the effect artIfce realism. her facial play
her demeanor spsodily found to DO 'ntroed
by clear intellectual purpose aud guided ny definite
sense DO represented she shows an
ingenious temperament combined Win formid-
able force OF character, but she Is winning
rather than commanding actress, and Is
possesseG of moro grace thar power IL his ideal OF
Gretchen Mr.. Gilbert has combined the highest aud
sweetest atribaes OF the feminine nature Willie In bis
portrature OF her experience no mas suggested the Ut
most OF rapture and misery that woman can
feel An actress capable OF playing such u
part perfectly wel-Of perfectly representing
woman's love ana her affect misery when
that love is ruined-would be capable OF paying auy
thing surprising that the scene OF the sepuf.t-
ton FaUSts, the foot OF the cross, when Crcchen
reuounccs priest, proved overwhelming 10 NJ SO
Fortescues powers. The scene Itself trenches upon
dangerous ground The great sincerity Of tho |
actress the volume or her emo.io.'
and the impetuosity OF her speech. |
at once yred reprOach and gave IL syura hec
Miss FOrtescua eXcels. h'wNve. IN What ny |
be mood of artless sentiment. and In
gentle Her fresses flarked ~ original |
plavrH too much with dovers ana her |
performance ind-ed many marks or ner-
yOus emharrass ment. The Sane feelipg Affected |
hr associates .otaby Mr. Fred Jerry. whose ideal OF
FatSts was nevertheless to be manly ana instinct
DhistO indicated fund OF grim humOr quieE OF
sarcasm, and fine dramatic proficiency. In drynrss
and subtle ualgnity his PERI rmance WAS reminiscent
of the style q Charles kear Martha admirably |
played By Kate HOdsnn whose resonant Vol bold actOn
humor make her nVaI.Ols ac ress IN
the line eccentric Mr Ca Tlea OvertOn en-
tlrely pleased the audeuc3 by his spirited
delivery the ne5rty ard trtial speeches
of GouJ1ed The Market Place a sceuo Jf considerable
splendor was hailed with great sat sfac ION, and
Miss FOrtescue tines csed before the |
curtain The play "Gretchen" Is some1hat too |
trail poetcal please tie America audience
any length OF time hut Miss FortHscne WIZ bee ne
q favore. She is shortly to appe r ~ FrOu Frcn'
"a DAUGHTER or IRELAND"