New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-01
THE LONDON THEATRES.
The DULL SEASON-ENGLISH ACTORS THAT
ARE BOOKED FOR AMEldCA-THE KEN
DALS-MR IRVING AND MISS TERRY.

tai is that of Mr.. Edward Terry, as the
upsy lawyer, in Sweet Lavender The crisp
manner, the brilliant humor the artess pathos the
fidelity of life, manners and character, that mark
this impersonation, have vtalized play that is
pleasing rather than potent, and have suhhced 10
carry it for nearly two years. ST ct Lavender
has passed its 5OOth representation az Terry's
Theatre. Mr.. Edward Terry has made his mark as
an eccentric comedian, and it is a mark that will
last. Your play-goers have but a faint idea OF
the mirth and tenderness that may be got out OF
this character of Dick Phenyl-comic and pa
thetic type of the bitterness Of human experience
when shaped by warped and blighted nature !
until they have seen it played by Mr. Terry. In
the other London theatFes that open aside
from Aunt jack at the Court Theatre-nothng
of moment is visible In Aunt jack the ever
green and irrepressble spirit of Mrs. John WOOD
diffuses a delicious vivacty, and this Is matched
| by the whimsical drolery of MIR. Arthur Oecil'
At the Adelph Theatre Mr.. William TerrisS VINO
is again to visit America, next autumn, appears
nightly as Captain MolyneuX in Inc
Shaughraun.7 Mr.. Terriss, accompanied by Miss
Jessie Miward goes to Hiblo'S Garden on October
= appearing in melo-drama. Mr.. and Mrs. kendai,
it is stated here viii appear at the Lyceum
Theatre, Ncw-Yorll on the same night. ME-
| Charles Wyndham is also booked for America, ana
so is Mr.. Wilson Barrett. The English stage WILL
therefore, be we'll represented in New-fork.
The most important of these visitors are the
Kendas. Mr.. Kendall is comedian IN
the school that was represented, ana
led by the late Lester Wallack; hut
neither Mr. Kendall, nor any other lisht-comcdy
actor of this period, is comparable with Mr..
Wallac1 That light is extnguished, and we are
not likely to see it relumed. The fact Is not
without significance, howeyer-as marking o radl-
cal change in the complexion OF theatrical lie
that Mr.. Wyndham takes the place OF MIR. Sothern
and that Mr.. Kendall takes the place Oh Mr.
Wallack You will see in Alr Kendall an actor
of spirit, refinement, grace and polish In Airs'
Kendall you will see woman OF acute senslDIllty
and fine intellect, proficient alike IN Iepose ana
/ in action, an artist to the nh@ef-
tips and beyond question the best
romantic and sentimental actess Of her
time She is the sister OF Robertson the dramatlst
She was the original 'Ialatea Her long career
has been sgnaiized by many brilliant achieve
ments You have heard already about the lafe-
we'll dinner to Mr.. and Mrs. Kendall at which
Mr.. Chamberlain presided. and You have been told
that Mr.. Irving not present. lie could not
we'll have taken part in testimonial to lady
and gentleman who have long been conspicuous
among the opponents OF his style. This Is to state
the case mildly The London theatrical camp IS
divided into many parties and these parties are
not held together by the ties of affection. lou
would look a long time without finding either Mr..
and Mrs Kendall or Mr.. John Hare in the party
of Mr. Irving. The greatest actor ON the English
stage is a man of broad mind, but he Is also
nan of absolute and implicit sncerity and that
think, is the reason why he was not present at
the dinner of compliment to Mr.. and Mrs. Kendall.
Mr. Irving left London Immediately after the
close OF his season, which ended on June 20. and
went TO the seaside with his two sons lie passed
some time at Ramsgate, devotinS himself partly
10 the bows and partly To study of the character
that he is to assume in the announced revival oil
The Dead Heart" presently to he effected at
the Lyceum Theatre-when it has been rcopened
for the new season. Miss Ellen Terry went to
Germany TO Join her daughter, Miss Edith Wardell,
at a place near Bayreuth- where these two, to-
cether with either friends, have passed the better
| part of the summer. Mr. Irving Is
| now in Paris making studies for the mounting
! of The Dead Heart which as you know.
tells a tragica story of the French Revolution
and the Reign OF Terror. Many years ago this
piece was popular the American stage when
/ Edwin Adams acted the chief part in it, Mr.
| Irving will dress it in Il correct and picturesque
manner. Miss Terry has the chief woman part.
and her young son, who has finally adopted the
stage as profession, will also appear IN II.
! Preparations for the production OF this play have
been going on at the Lyceum for many weeks
Macbeth" was acted to crowded houses to the
! last-and it richly deserved them AS pro-
duction it was marked by thoughtful and tasteful
care ample scholarship, and remarkable splehdof.
The imagination and feeling shown in the tleat-
ment of it were of the highest and finest quality
As performance, while in some points
hitn1 coll "A
prol,und and subtle comprehension Of the spirit
and meaning of the tragedy, and far more power
and felicity Of execution than the cabled crit
icsms had led Inc to expect. Those criticisms
in fact misstated abe essential points altogether
I saw the repre- sentation, and observed 1t very
carefully on four successive nights, and was
deeply impressed by its tremendous groundsWeH
| of emotion and by its fidelity, in the main, U
! SHAKESPEARE Mr.. Irving lacked the marital eIe-
ment and Miss Terry lacked the element OF
cruelty-which is alleged TO be indspensaoie
The man would have made no havoc IN the neld
| of war and the woman would have shrunK Iroin
murder-as in fact, Lady Macbeth, at one pom"
does But. Oh the other hand, the preucstlhatlon
TO crime the memorable necessity OF murder uhder
which these end driven creatures act in the tfag
edy. was expressed with absolute uu'n'
| while the pathos of their misery was haue
impressiyely clear. Mr.. Irving expended suo,le
and admirable art upon his deLneation oil the
workings of 4Iacbeth's spirit. The philosophical
treatment of this type of human nature coulu
never fail 10 impress competent student Vi
Shakespeare and Of life. Miss Terry embodied
Lady Macbeth much according to the definition OF
the mart that Mrs. Siddons wrote-but never lui-
filled If you could have picture OF Miss Terry 5
face. AS it looked when the haunted queen Is
covering in momentary terror and frenzy, at the
close of the banquet scene in Macbeth you
would have one of the most startling and beauti-
ful incarnations of woman nature that ever you
looked on. The more | reflect upon this perform
ance the more Lam astOnished at the unapprecia-
tive gbes and ponderous platitudeS that have been
| - o..,inst II In another letter I hone TO be