New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-25
THE DRAMA---MUSIC.
JEFFERSON AND FLORENCE IN 1.-THE HEIR
tTJAIV-

"A
Mr.. jefferson in tho character of Dr. Pangloss ana
Mr. Florence in that of Zeliel Homcspun This play
dates back TO 1897, period In which seduious
Difference convcnonality prevailed in the theatre,
As 10 the treatment Of all domestic subjects and al
though the younger Colmsn wrote in more flexible
STYLE than was possessed by any other dramast OF the
time excepting sheridan, he Influenced to this ex-
tent by contemporary usage, that often when he be-
came serious he also became artificial and stlted Tic
sentimental part of The Heir at Law" is tre in plan
and hard in expression. Furthermore that portion OF
II which, in the character of Dr. Pangoss satrzes the
INDECENT mcrcenary and dsrcputable private TUTORS
who constituted distinct and rather pcrnicious class
Of social Inmbngs in Comans day, has lost its direct
point for the present through the disappearance OF
the peculiar type Of imposture against which Its irony
was directed. DR.. Pangloss, nevertheless, remS'hs
absractly humorous parsonage: and when as IN this
case he is embodied by actor like Mr. Jefferson WHO
can eucdate his buoyant animal spirits, his gay au-
dacty hi. inveterae good naae, his nlmblc craft MS
iocular sportveness, his shrewd knowledge OF char-
actcr and Of society," and his scholarIiKe quah,hes''
he becomes a delightful presence for his mehdacty
disappears in the sunshine Of his humor' his faults
seem venal and we entertain him much as we do tho
infinitely and more disreputabe character OF
Falstafr. knowing him to be vagabond, but hndihs
him a charming companion, for all that ms Is one
great relief to the hollow and metallic sentmentany OF
the piece. Persons like Henry Morland, caroline
Dormer and Mr. stcadfast would be tircsome In actual
Genroy. to the noble army OF the bores ana tiey
are insipd on the stage but the association OF the
sprghtly and jocosc Pangoss with these drab-tlhuen
and prcacy people irradiates even their constitutional
platude with sparkle of mirtl. Ihey shihe' III
spite Of themselves.
Colmans humOr is exceedingly infectious AID pene-
trating In that quality he original and ahuent'
A. we look along the line Of the British dramatlss for
the last hundred years shall find no parallel to MS
felicity in the OF comic inversion and etuiveke' III
We come to Gilbert Though he was tedious enough
while deferred to that theatrical sentlmchtel'y
which was the fashion Of his day land against which
Goldsmith, in She stoops to Conquer was the hrst
to strkel he could sometimes escape from 1t; ana
when he did he was brilliant. In The Heir al Law"
lie has not only illumined it by the contrast Of Dr.
Pangloss but By the unctuous humor and irresistible
comic force of the character OF Danei Do"idS'
Lord Duberv situations in play, in order I'd
be truly comca-to be invested with the enduring
quality of true humor-must result from such conducs
a, I, the natural and spontaneous expression OF 0oino
character The idea OF the comic parvenu IS ancient
II did not originate with COlman. Ills apphcation
# il. however was novel and his treatment OF It
taking fast hold Of the elemental springs of mirh-
! i a, fresh TO day il was hundred years ago
French minds indeed, and such as suoscrOc 10 fie"0n
notions would object that the means employed W
elicit character and awaken mirh are not scenthcaN
and phoorraphCaly correct and that they are yolcnt
! Crcum,tanc they would say. do not 50 ial ou'
that a allow chandler is made lord The Chrl TOPPER
~lv expcdient they would add is forced e1pediene.
Perhaps it is But English art sees with the eyes
# the Imagination. and in dramatic matters IL likes
to use color aid emphasis Daniel DOWNS As Loru
Duberly is all the droler for being retired utlio"
chandler ignorant greasy, conventional. blunt,
sturdy honest ridiculous person. who thinks he has
observed how lords act. and who intends to put MS
| gained knowledge into thorough use We shall never
again see him acted he was acted by Burton OF
ly that great actor William Rufus Blake, or even by
! John Gilbert (vhO Of rather too cholcnc teM-
,cramer. and too fine a texture for such an oily ana
stupidy complacent per,onage). But whenever ana
! however he is acted he Will be recognized as an
emenal type Of absurd human nature made ludicrous
by comic circumstances. and he VIII give rch ana
deep amusement.
1t /, T. be observed. the analysis Of this comedy
that according to Colman's intention the Essential
persons in it all. at heart humane Inc PEI
yasive spirit Of the piece is kindly. Old Do"las
restricted his proper place in life. Is worthy man.
! Dick Dowlas. intoxicated by vanity and prosperity,
has really harm in him. and he turns out Wel AZ
the last Even Dr. Pangloss although OF the species
Of rogue that sub,,ts by artfully playing upon the
weakness Of human vauity-is genial and amiable :;
he is a laughing philosopher: he gives good counsel
he hurts nobody ne is bat mild type Of sinner-and
the satirical censurc that Is bestowed upon HIM s
neither mcrcilc-s bitter. Panross IN MIX Alley,
spinning his brains for subsistence. might be eA'
pectcd to prove inscriptions but the morazer can
/ imagine Panrl0SS. II ne were Only Udnc cc'uiV ~
permanent good fortune. leading life Of bameleS'
Incidence aud p!quant ecCentrcty. From this point
Of view Mr. jefferson has formed his ideal If the char
act.r and. indeed his treatment OF tie whole piece
shows an active practical sympathy with this gentle
view Of the subject lie sets before his audience a
truthful picture of old English manners tens them,
| I'm rapid and CHEEKY action, C0man's quaint story
in which there is malice and no bitterness, Out
| i'm which simple virtue proves superior T. tcInpts-
[ ton a,d integrity proves strong amid vicissiudes-
and leaving their minds, at the last,
N amused conviction that indeed. Nature hath irsnei
strange fellows in her time Ills performance Is
full of vitality and mental sparkle, ard OF a
hum0r that l., delciou>y quaint and droll Or. Pan
gloss. a, embodied by Jefferson. j. man who always
The comical aspect Of things and can make you
see it with him. and all the while can be completely
self possessed and grave without once becomin-
slow heavy There is air of candOr, of ingenious
simplicity, OF dcmurc propricy, about the whole EN-
bOdment, that i ncNprc>sbly funny There Is no
effort and no distortion. The entire structure OF The
representation ungles with life. and the expression Of
tin dcmeanor. movement, facial play, intonation and
lu,incs,-s clNar and crisp, with that absolute pre-
cson and beautiful finish Tor which all the acting o
Jefferson remarkable. lie j, the only comedian
now left. excepting John :. Clarke. Charles Fisher
j. H. s,oddart and Charles Wheatlcsh. who knows al
the traditional cmbell shments that have gone TO IN:
making If this part upon the stasc-cmbeishments
lilly typlncd by the banhnote business with Zekic
llomcspun, device. however, which perhaps sus
gcsis u greater degree of moral obqn4y IN DR.. Fan
gloss than intended by the author Ii IA
exceedingly comcal, though and II serves Its pur
pose. Mr.. Jefferson has had the character of Pan
gloss IN his rpcitory for almost forty years lie first
acted il In this city a. long aEO a. l-J1, AT Laura
kccne's Theatre when that beautiful woman herself
played Ccch. and Duberly was represented by Oh,
nmrntcd Burnett. 1t takes the play soer long Wa.
back, Ia hc thinking about this old piece and the cast
that II has had upon the American stage. The Heir
dt Law Was great ttNorltc ia Boston over thirty
years ago. when William Warren IN his prime and
could play DR.. IanglO>, with the best of them Iula
bennett Barrow could play Ciccly In way that n
later actrc>, has cAccllcd. owens IS PangoS, Vii
never be forgotten. Ii iaNOrite part with JOIN
Blougham. And the grOtc,quc fun of John = CaTAe II
this drOl character to been recognized on bOsa side.
OF the Atlantic.
In Mr. Jctcrson's representation OF DR. Pan-loss III,
predominant beauty i, spontaneous aud perfectly grace
LMl Identification vIlh lhe Dart. The lcLl..LN OF %,