New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-28
THE DRAMA-NUsrd.
ONION sofIARE-EEEISN BARRY.

~ #st UNION SQuAKEr-HBkksH 1ad81s1E "a
Evsrybody wishes suecess 70 tho nsw untcn sqsazf
Theatre and oil thestrissl readers vtil learn VIZ
satisfaction thss thc oDening Of IT sAs sceempltAs6
last night under asspicioH conditions u INDEED
besuttil house. The sudtqifum Il Decorated IN whlse
and gold and even IN smoky old London 1t has ben
found that nothing wears better than that combnauoa
Of colofs or In the long rum gives ors delight 10 s
eye pansilsd Getting wouid have been pceter thaa
painted one, because paintings are pssesdcsy loss
when you mast Ie down on yoss back in order 70 ioOk
mp AZ them but tho painted cctiing 10 sis ease mag
piacent All shout the place there ass signs Of Il
sq,aiy oruiert sud fastidious TASTE the epfos ana
safssg Of the public have boon considered. md thh
Is o theatre that 10 viii DO plcasure aud not 4
peril 10 vtsit Tho ssago likewise, was vet via
objects Of beauty and but that tbs furniture seemed
modsm for the play Of Tue Ladies' Batils r %.
Duel dc Amours) called on this occasion Tonsaaa
ssratagsms the composition Of ths scehssy
might be termed perfect Tho sudlenos va
NUMEROUS, and It fncludsd many rsconS
Of the best drxmstc knowledge and tcdgmsss,
70 was, fnytkcrmore, . critical aldIsnce-in the tx
sense Of being kindly though wisely spprso;stivs Al
it was pleased ~
Miss Eelsn Barry, who opened the new house sn
its now season IN tho character Of tbs Counfce
DAutrevsi 10 m actress of IN oldfzsbioned school
the gay and eiancing school Of high comedy She b
possessed Of nne intelligence and dIsansnishst
and ne goodness Of her heart Shines sweety shrousA
everything that abe says and does She proves eeuE
to one Of tho stensst tests that BE applied 10
professor OF the art Of acdng-shs can manage
solilcquy 30 as TO mako n natural and 10 invest u
with variety, pqusncy and iisessant sincerity. shs
has the expert art Of fencing With words, and she can
carry that thrceoid process Of mental expression
facial play and personal movement which results m
perfectly distinct harmonious and impressive action.
- d ri0hf and
snd-exeepf that she now and then incsutioufy
ventures Upon the caressing, wheeling, matsrnh
manner, which, for her, has hrcons dan gcrous-aoe
method Is nvssfabie brilliant, alurfng and sxhilarat
Ing, rs comedy method ought 10 be- IN sentiment she
apparently weak and In passion artificial; although
Is impossble b divine what Depths Of feeling might
be sounded, and might give hack their echoes u
pethos, tn the nature Of such voman II 10 were sub!
jeoted 10 the ordeal Of really great dramatic char
actor. The region that Scribe opens for an artist IL
very much thas of the fsstoored and gay gsrands
and shepherd SWANS and lasses Of tho Dresden china
There are, indeed, few moments Of suspense In the
womans stratago, when love Is oontendipg with craft
and power 10 shield its precious IDOL from the monaco
of peril and the hideous spectre Of death bus mostly
ono hears the silver laughter OF happy hearts. and sees
youth and hope and pleasure pslting each other with
roses II is much to say of Mss Helen Barry that She
seemed entirely appropriate IS the central figure in
that combat OF the flowers. Miss Barry Is unique
actress rather than surprising one. She has not the
intellectual power that Is felt In the presence Of
Gensvisye Ward she has not the passionate, ersttcs
wayward genius that flashed forth IN tho acting Of Ada
Cavendish Yet she makes ono think Of
both these players; and she carries mer,-
DRY back to the tines Of Laura
Keeno and Mrs Hoey. 1t wiz be especially interest.
ing 10 observe the progress of this enterprise at the
new Union Square Theatre. ami to note whstheg ths
taste for that hne, airy, elegant dashns style has
after al, subsisted in tho public mind Il ts long
since 1t was tried.
Miss Barry 70 heavily freighted vita weak and
repellent players. With the exception Of Charles
Glenney, her company is poor Ths Countess has 10
esttls With another woman for her lovers east, and
the Other woman, in this css, is nero piece Of
pratuing millinery. The Countess has 10 contend
with q formidable crafty, specioas funct,onsry fon
her lovers rescue. and the funetonasy, IN
this case is marvel Of coarss and Iumpish ibreedi
ing and inaptitude Her ioyer hrnsef preserved
tho aspect Of an awkward body worked with wires
to initiate the late Charles Thrne Mr.. Glenney en5
acted De Grignon, and his gAiy enusve ana cons
Esiiy sincere assum ption Of hat inveterate Ire
radiated The plece with humtr and was the soils
achIevcnaent eonDanionzbIs 9TH -Niss 1arfy,l own
thoroughly sound feputebe ant charming enbodfScns
Of high-comedy character. Thee was much applause
there were several ala, tbeF< many baskets OF
flowers II Is q good beginning