New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-30
THE DRAMA.
MR. JEFFERsoN-MR GrLBERT-MRs. DREW.

MR. JEFTERSON-MR. GILBERT-MRS. DREW.
The temperance Of Mr.. Jefferson, which wac msas
last night at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, would lons
have succd TO draw crowd Of Interested spectator
into that place. OF all the comedians now befbts
the public, Mr.. Jefferson Is the most delightful he
never weares his audience 1t Is impossible for him
10 appear without giving pleasure. There Is not only
beautiful refinement In his acting, that endeass
to good taste ami cornmends II to good judgment
but there Is lovely and exalted spirit back Of II,
and dused through IT, that makes its influence potent
to thrill the heart well to impress the mind
Mr. Jefferson Is imaginative and poetic actor and
that H. the secret OF his charm and the explanation a
his yermanencc. lie has had many mitaors-em-
ulstvo persons who seem TO have thought that the
assumption OF domestic manner, q fondness for
children, dogs, and guns, the merry, careless air q
tattcrcd drifting vagab0nd, would place them pro
siscly on his level actor Everybody acquainted
with the theatre Is aware - these agricultural saints
these benevolent rustics these bengnant farmers and
celestial country deacoDs. But somehow tho copies
| of a great original do not last Tho stage farmers
bring with them the smell Of the barnyard The
bucollc benefactors literal and prosy and ins!pid
Other actors or less clumsily copy the form
they cannot acquire and transmit the spirit. There
but one Jefferson
But II the re~entrance OF this eminent favorite was
sufficient by Itself TO arouse the public enthusiasm
what shall be said OF the Cooperation OF three such
actors Mr. Jefferson, Mr.. John Gilbert and Mrs.
John Drcwl The play was The Rivals with Mr.
Jefferson as Acres Mr.. Gilbert as Sir Anthony Alb
solute, and Mrs Drew as Mrs. Malaprop. The house
was filed in every part and with such an audience ~
rarely has been seen and the manifestation OF pop
uar delight spontaneous and sympathetic In the
| highest degree. Every spectator must have known
that to see these three perfect actors in ono cast
most valuable privilege. Certainly that Is the truth
| Such a combination can very seldom be seen. In
John Gilbert the present generation admres the very
best embodiment Of Sir Anthony Absolute that pos
sble to be found, TO be effected. An sc'or
naturally at his frees and highest point OF expressive
when there is certain correspondence between ~
own temperament and that Of the part he plays. n;
Gilbert, dlgnfed, authoritative, decorous' SEVERE ~
warm-hearted and kindly Is precisely OF that cholera
quality which distinguishes Sir Anthony AosolufA
The part, Of course, is reminiscent OF Sir sampson
Legend-as all of sheridan's writings TO some extent
are Fl the mood and style Of Congrcve, whom, how
ever he greatly excelled In plots and In DriIisncy;
but the part is much more refined and lovaoie. lou
feel that Sir Anthony Notwithstanding his mpetuous
disposition, his amorous turbulence, and his merry VOL
ubity, is kind old fellow az heart MI Giioes
Will always be remembered for his wonderful truth
to nature in this character The costume has tho rcn
tone Of An old painting The refinement which per-
yades the figure Is that OF old lace and court en-
broidcry The demeanor IS the perfection Oh
ceremonous haughtiness. The manners are eiaooraus
and gracefully formal, yet masierfu ana domihan''
The countenance is suffused with nrmhess
self complacent sapience and bland severity. ITO
voice. rich in quality and various In tone, Always
that Of command-tempered nevertheless with Mica
sense of convenilonalty The text Is spoken WIN
beautiful precision and always perfect slgnincancc.
Mrs Drew-born and bred in the same old school OF
acting and saturated with the stately, elaborate AMI
finely finished style OF a period not YET SO lar r"'
moved from eighteenth century stage traditions as 70
lose all trace Of their nfuence-played MIS- Maaproo
in spirit entirely ha monious with that Oh Mr.
Gilbert as Sir Anthony and the scenes In which thess
two characters implicated were altogether PER-
feet and delightful. Mrs. Drew tmparts 10 MN
Malaprop that quality of being formidable which 10
so essential to her. The part Is artisticaily over
dressed, but the effect OF wealth and station Is
strictly preserved. The department Is elaborac anu
decorous and It ought to be, excessive The text
spoken with beautiful, unconscious grace. I'M
errols Of orthodoxy made with superb cafnest-
ness The performance is absolutely sincere, and IN
this way Il is withheld from extravaganza and farce
There could no, be appropriate o. more comic
touch than that OF the mist axe about the loveetter-
which this bridng old dame hides In her bosons
with a shipper and blush. Often, as Mrs Drew and
Mr. Gilbert carried their scenes OF profuse courtesy
and artificial dialogue, the theatre resounded with
joyous laughter.
Mr. Jefferson's alterations of The Rivals and hs
original treatment Of Acres have been more than oncs
minutciy described in this place. lie has lmWp'fa
the play by cutting out julia and reducing rakland
lie has blended two OF the into one ID
order to obtain immediate and sharp contrast Do
lenge and his comic cowarGice and repidacn when
he begins realize the imminent danger of the duel
and has added here and there few bits Of humorous
phraseoogy, always in strict harmony with the splrs
of sherIdan's own mirth He drops The iist curtain
upon Sir Anthonys chOlero exit after his iepulse Of
his son; the second upon the rueiui message 1s ns
and the third upon tag OF his own composuOi.
bright, pleasing and Characteristic. Acres Is MACS
an amlable end ovable sort Of fellow. invested Win
especially emblematic OF laughabe vanity and conf;
cowardIce These traits are all IN the part a sh hI
dan drew tOnly Mr. Jefferson has dsepenc nd MEN I'm
R morc sympathetic athletic and amusing than eyer
abltuo readers d Of this journal however
sufficiently well acquainted with the views that haVo
always been held by The Tribune with reference 10 10
dllate upon them now. One remark may perhaps l
advanageously be added The play going public q
player Mr. Constant CoquclIn-who has Just ended an
engagement OF three weeks at palmers Theatre ant
to whom nature did not give the electric spark o.
genius and who therefore remains upon the level
of medlocriiy In Mr. Jefferson the same public sees
an accomplished dramatic artist whose acting IS
irradIated with the divine fire, and who Is therefore
able always to capyate sympathy as well As 10 win
admiration. This kind of actor Is Of great i'm
portance to mankind and the distinction between tho
Two classes is one that cannot be forgotten when In
telligent Judgment endeavors to form estimate OF
individual worth and rank In the world OF ART
"A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM
An English version of shakespeae's fairy spectacle,
A Midsummer Nights Dream was gwen az tho
Star Theatre last night in tho presence OF large
and friendly audience. From a scenic point Of view