New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-27
THE DRAMA--MUSIC.
Mr.. CooUELIN I

NIX. COOlEIIlN IN EOl4AAotA
Last night at the Star Theatre Le JUL poionals
was produced ana Mr. coqieln represented the Bnrgo
master @The Polish Jew by NM. ErcsmannShss
rian has long been known to the English stage uhuor
the name OF "The Bells" and, as all persons w
terested IN theatrical affairs are aware, u was %
Matthias in this piece-a much better Piece ID hpsno"
than IL Is In Freneh-that Henry Living maae .no
decisive success of his career Mr.. Coquenh, 10 Jaus
by his published writings, TO have been anxious
for some time 10 force himself into comparison Win
Mr. Irving, and his assumption OF Mathlas wouu
appear TO be part Of this ill-advlsed anu iutiio
endeavor. He attempted tho character iass year ~
London and failed IIF It, and he has distinctly ana
conspIcuously failed In 1t here.
Mr.. Coquelln's lnechancal Development ana aSprcs
sion Of the part Of Matthias, last night, was lnueea
clear and consistent. He Is an Old and experienced
s,tor and he knows how to saw wood with expert
nasa and dispatch TO veteran Cruinmlos every
form OF technical achievement is readily possible no
can play Mr. PIllicoddy or he can play Hamlet ana
he Il about as interesting in the one ss in the other
The question of natural fitness Is ignored. NM
Bottoms partially was for playing the vranr Dus
ha scorned not to undertake the lover, ana he was
jealous 10 assume the lion and TO Ike the sucking
dove SO also ii is with Mr. Coquelln. nature
having most distinctly RELOCATED him 70 the neia Oh
low comedysetting her mask Of humorous cccenp'ciV
upon him. IN face voice, demeanor and temperament,
so strongly as TO leave no possible room for oouoI
about the matter-he, nevertheless, attempts such
parts az Don Caesar de Bazan aud Gringoire, WINCH
require romance elegance heros, sentiment ana pas
slon and In undertaking The Besb he even FOUNDERS
into the domain of a weird Imagination. His great
talent as an actor w Of course, carry him far; out u
was long ago noticed that tho leopard cannot change
his spots, and while Mr.. Coqnelins performance OF
Matthias was, In some few particulars, an able pece
OF execution It was, from constitutional reasons, Sd
completely deficient of subtlety OF metaphysical inter
est of personal weight and richness, VI all tao higho
attributes Of character emotion and art and 80 frangh
with moan commences, a. 70 b patty IN suOstsuee
and insignificant In effect
Mr. Coquelln embodied common man who had
committed q murder and who wished to coneeai IT,
Nothing more. When Mr.. Irving enacted this par
the observer saw q most uncommon mainland II IS
precisely because no was an uncommon man (rare IN
Imagination, fine in fibre, Superior and fascinating IN
personality that Mr.. Iyings impersonstion touched
the heart, impressed tho mind, filed the imagination
and captured and controlled human sympathy. The
difference between Mr. Irving and Mr.. Coqueiin Is
the immense and radical difference between poetry
and prose. Comparison Is 9 narrow kind Of criticism
and only useful In an Illustrative senso-but 1t Is MT.
Coqueiln who forces Il. BE was under no ohliga-
ton TO attempt q part that be cannot play,
and certainly there was need for him TO choose
character ia which Mr. Irving tstanding quito alone
In parts Of this order, has achieved bFilliancy OF
distinction such rs neither Mr. Coquen nor any other
living actor could approach When anything has
been once thoroughly and spendidly done it Is q
good plan 30 let Il alone. This public would Is soon
expect Mr. Dixey 10 rival Edwin Booth ~ Bertneco
in The FOOLS Revenge" as IL wopla expect Mr..
coquelIn to rival Henry Irving Matthias iu The
Bells and thore would be good reason In the one
case Is In the other When nature leaves poetry out
Of a mans composition, however. she usually also
leaves out Of his composition tho capacity Of knowing
that the poetry has been omitted
1t Is no answer to say that Matthias. in tho French
piece & not p6eiIcal charanter--that he Is ony
common innIeapef and Q common person. and there
fore, iS only rightly played when rs Is msds common
II he Is not poeticsl character he Is not under tho
clrcums aneea worth playing for an English audience
Tho only excuse for todchng subject so fHghfui as
murder and tho sequent remors for II In the human
conscience must DO found in an imaginative treatment
Besides, II Matthias was not poctiesl character In
the first place he has been made pOetical character
BIZ Henry Irving, and as such be has been ndelibly
imprinted upon the heart and imagination OF this
period and this people He II an ideal now-as much
an ideal as even rs Byrons Manfed-ahd
Mr. Coquelins commonplace publican viii never
be accepted as substitute for him. This
effort was an innictlon-to speak plainly, an I'M
mltigafod bore-and II was felt TO DO 50 by con-
adorable part Of the audience that assembled 10 be
hold t. As an example Of ioCuisr and vulgar craft In
dull man made cautious by the Of danger 20 his
own neck II might DO admired; In every ether point
OF view II is for this public, theatrical superiority
Tho French piece is devoid Of the supernatural eie
ment Matthias is frightened IN II by the appearance
OF Polish Jew who resembles the victim Of the muir
der, and Mr.. Coquein hereupon. with squeak like
that OF startled gander, tuinbes back into an arm
chair The bearing of Matthias, all through this scene
had tho distinction that might expect In walter
in Third ave. beer garden This probably was In
tended and would be insisted upon thoughtful art
whereas IL rank nonsense and folly for the American
| audience. The sense OF being haunted by the sound
of bells was expressed, In Mr.. Coqueins method oy
thrusting u finger into his and scratching lt as u
annoyed with excess OF earwax: there never was tne
slightest hint Of werdneSs horror ABOUT shS man
agement of the bells, and why the man snouIa ae, IN
less OF innate stupidity stomachaehe rom ofinh
| ing sour wine; no spectator could possibly imagine
tedious love scene, fer Christian ana Annote, oc
ours In the second act, and Annette sings song
| which last night had practically the erect OF nis
pelllng all interest In the main quesuon Oh the play
and giving ths situation entirey TO tnst young ialy
Tho monotony was q little relieved Dy the
sprtghtliness OF Mme Kerwich and the hearty CON
VITALITY of Jean Coqueln and NJ Dewey as Walter
and Heinrich. II It. conceivable tnat M. Con-
| slant CoQuen could ever be compeIed % witness As
| bad q performance as he gives u the Poish Jew
there might be hope OF retIfbuho upon him. and
ono might eheerfuliy Fancy him exolhming, In the
| Language OF the MikadoH.
| q Ny object all sublime
1 I shall achieve IN time,