New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-17

.,.., in this Journal The part Is ac'eu oS ~" -
:. q. NOT decaimed lie makes maeeu' W.. Its
.uv .hi,f,l use Of his uncommon Voioe-noe f an.
- uch, sweet, and on the SURFACE u" ., re
s..,e, scenes while yet, in accordance ,aa.,,or
,noorx Of development Goster Is the perSoi nto evil
~ nr,; purpose only beginning TO riPon s.onor
..oa, and then permitting them 10 pe'o"V 800
"a morn significant and thrilling as the 'nan
-. a, crime and haggard and convulseo :" 49,, -.
e,,, and misery But II is less with 'i's ,,.a.so,
ce,,ence that the thoughtful auoUV' - t.b ,ha
tn.n with the actors superb iden'in'" in
no-. and his revelation Of what f,.,,,,,..
The soul OF IT, His theory Is tha' VI - hono,d
when first he presents Glos,oi, Nm, &c aone
a rnockine devil The murder Oh ni"e WITH cleo
With malice but the malice Is -, noa+ ana
WIN ""'ON' - 80 Anne there is both heart ana
IL W , -. .ho mood is still that vi hs"''ono
,,o,. u l. moi until years OF scio"'i',e a"u VI
ell ac,s engendering promoting SnU -
condition Of mental horror anu O ,, g., ,,-on
~, ,,or.on and set their seal uPo" 80 -
,o,, rA hollow eve In sha''c"" nv W N -. p
90 ,triu,nr voice, surc1arseu AZ V"'0 80 49,, -.
ON '~so ODD with noessant agony Una. nus Hs",
purpose "-'u and the demeanor and action OF
manner 70 onarcb become ruthless, direct ana
INC yvbetber upon the basis OF play SO ais
' en- episodicsl so irresomleN ueUheo, as
cursNo' . Richard the Third" this theory OF the
'-~,o,. Of its central character Is logically
.,sh,e ~ a question that each student ought 10 an
'enaO,. himself In fact the character is presented
s,I crown at the start, in Shakespeare ana then,
sSnoneb most confused middle of historical events
- ,s.cbed into action Nevertheless. in his practical
,,.otion Of II Mr. Mansfield makes his theory eN-
coedinrly effective by most novel, powerful and in
,arcstng performance. You would not note the
assumed Iapscs OF time in the unfolding OF the story
rrless your attention were directed to them. They
,rred in the actual life of Richard, but they are
cI,, oa~css nla Ou
nerccivnc, however, in Mr.. MansfelG's embodiment
that Gloser is passing through phases of experience
ma, the man changes as men do change IN human
life the integral character remaining the same in its
original FIBRE but the condition varying in accord
apce with the reaction Of conduct upon temperament
and conscience.
Mr. Mansfield arouses and indeed electriHes his
audience in the repulse of buckingham. in the moody
menace of the absent Stanley, in the denuncation Of
Hastings and in the awakening from the dream on
the night before the battle You will not often see
dramatic climax so thrilling and so spenddly wrought
his hysterical recognition Of Catesby IS after the
moment of doubt whether this be not also phantom
of that terrific dream. 1t is not much by startling
dramatic effects, however, as it is by subtle denote
ments now of the tempest and now OF the brooohg
horror in the Kings heart that Mr.. Mansfield wins
his victory Tie defect of the embodiment is an in
suficiency of incessant fiery eXpedition-of the eN
plOsve, meteOrlc queDty Wlcn aStOuhus anu udL%les
Iut 10 atone for this defect there are many rare
beauties Chief among them is imagination The
attitude and conduct of the monarch toward his throne
the internal triumph, and yet the remorseul agony
and whitening fear-in that moment OF CHASTITY lone
illness. when he knows that the innocent princes
have been murdered and that his imperial pathway Is
now indeed clear, make up one OF The
finest spectacles of dramatic illumination tha
the stage has afforded and ii is original with TINS
actor. You see the murderer's hideous eXutatioh
and then in instant, the single ray OF red hSh'
from the setting sun streams through the NOihc
window and falls upon his evil head. you sec him
shrink away in AFFECT fear, covering in the shade"
Of his throne; and the whole dusky room is seemingly
peopled with gliding spectres. This treatment Is
theatrical but IL il derOgGtorY sense theatflca
for Il perfectly COMFORTS with the great speech on con
science mot the fustian of Cbber about mutton aux
shortlived pleasure) that Shakespeare has put INC
Richards mouth: the speech that has inspired aho
that explains and tustfes. Mr.. Mansneld's lmpersoh
aton-the brilliant embodiment OF an intellectual
man. predisposed TO evil who yields TO that inherent
impulse, and thereafter, although internationally con
vuised with remorse, fights with tremendous eneIsN
against the goodness That he scorns and deeS TIL a
last he dashes himself TO pieces against the adanah
NJ eternal law