New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-06
THE DRAMA---MUSIC.
Mr.. MANSFIELD AS BARON CHEvRIAL.

MR.. MANSFIELD AS BARON CHEVRIAL.
No modification appears TO be essential OF the views
that have several times been expressed In this Journal
respecting the play Of "A Partisan Romance 1t 10
vile in Its subject and 1t is impudent in its pretence OF
moral meaning 1t relates almost exclusively to as
poets OF character and Of social life that arc foul and
loathsome. 1t depicts reprobates and simpetons, 1t
draws hldeOus picture Of corruption, and 1t seeks u
justify this portrayal Of depravlty BY the stale pre-
tence that the true way which art should advocate
virtue is the delineaton Of all that horrible In vice.
AS often as it recurs accordingly, it ought to be re-
ceved with word of protest against the wrong prn'
ciple upon which It's fabric has been reared. such
works may be saluary in precept, by reason of what
they each but they are degrading in spirit and ID
fuence by reason Of what they show.
The method Of teaching BY Of
the "frghtful example, may serve the purpose
OF the lecturer on temperance, bit it Is incompatible
with the conditions Of dramatic art. 1t oiends the
instinct Of decency and it is distinctly in revolt against
the law OF good taste. No doubt the Baron Chevral
exists-but does the common sewer; and there II
Just much reason for presenting tile there IL
for presenting the other. This filthy old beast is
represented dying suddenly, OF paralysis, when the
feast is az its height and powerful and thrilling
dramatic effect is created by this eXpedclt. But no
heart is touched by the spectacle and pity is ex.
cited by it, such persons are mere carbon whether
IN life or in plays and nobody wants TO see them or TO
hear OF them. The only good thing about the Baron
Chevrial is that he dies, and II lie would only die
In the first act instead Of the fourth he would make
That good thing still better English dramatic lltera-
tre and art from shakespeare TO southerne has often
been srragned for its excess Of horrors but it
mained for the modern French dramatists to
pass the worst monstrosties Of the old English stage
and to populate the realm OF art with whining
courtcans and Wondering echcrs, and by mere fidelity
10 the foulness Of fact substitute in the mind Of
the spectator the sickness Of disgust for the rapture
Of delight.
Mr.. Mansfield, who was welcomed last night
at the Madison Square Theatre with enthusiastic cor
diality by numerous audience and who eXertcd his
powers with astonishing force and superb skill,
embodcs this hateful personality with sckenng
truth. He has seen, studied and thoroughly COM
pretended this kind VI mana reptile unhappily but
too common in every great city Of the world. 10
has selected the attributes Of many and has fixed
them into one. lie sets before you a senile satyr,
without heart or cOnsccnce-the rotten incarnation
Of half mbecile sensuality and wholly cruel and s0r-
did selnshncss guided by the soul Of civil intelligence
and clothed with the mantle Of bland courtesy. lilo
makes this TTsIy and noXious thing a wreck Of
superficial elegance. Ills face il hard crafty and
wrinkled; his hair is thin, his Jaws loose and
tremulous his Limbs frail his hands trembe, his
eyes are bearcd, but his shattered figure Is perfectly
drcs ed and his manners always those Of the sue
ce,Sful man Of worldly affairs The ideal Is abso-
lucly true. and it j. embodied and expressed with .
sinister and horrible fidelity To crown all, and %
make the impcrSonation potential, the actor has In
vested this odious wretch with the attributes 4
cynical humOr and inyeterare and uncon1lera-
bic audacity. The monster chuckles The abandoned
villain meets his fate with a smile. \ lie Of Internal
depravty is rounded with a death " helllsh com.
posure. The acting OF Mr.. Mansfield at the climax ot
this piece /, great acting, aud 10 is felt to be In
that single scene is the justification OF the whole efors
If justification there can be for anything vile Mr..
Mansfield no doubt, thinks there Is, Tor he has been
playing the part for than seven years, ana he has
gained great admiration his performance Of IT, over
half the world He repeatedly cheered last night,
and he has g-iined another laurel.
But these are wrcath, that wher. You cannot
reign in the heart Of humanity except b. love You may
admire what they hate, bat they viii not DE true TO IT.
After seeing Mr.. Mansfield as Baron Cheyrla you No.
member a wonderful piece Of acting, but you are DIS
gustcd and depressed with Of the possible
dcpravity Of human nature, and Of the dreadful wick.
edness with which you are enyirOned. IN JchyI and
Hyde, black It IL the actor awaAens sympathy be-
cause he portrays struggle between good and evil
In Cheyral he paint, unmitcateG putreiacOn Of tho
human heart aud the result is CONSERVATION aud dis
gust IL Is splendid manifestation OF
IS r-onal power and artistic skill. and there 10
stops Not until THIS fine actor arrays
the forces Of human sympathy under the banner Of his
art Will he hold hi, sceptre with sure grasp Many
actor has tried h, eXpermen; before. but It's fruits
have been those apple, Of the dead sea that turn
- ashes the lips. The representatives Of demons
forgotten.
Among the monsters Il fiction there are some whose
vilcncs, is cNtenuated even momentarlg eunobled
by an admiXture Of something ,upernN-a colossal
power OF maligItv, Internal spleud,r Of evil Tho
archangel ruined gives at least pathetic suggestion Il
thu glory from which he fell But no art can dignity
creature who trade, man, misfortune and trahc> IN
woman's weakness or dIlonor. who lives or dies
merely for carual pleasure. such A being i on no
level Of the beasts that perish This Baron Chevr1aI
hi, been : the worst. and all that even
genius can do with hn /, To- make MN study IN moral
cAtrcSCeucc. TIL, j. what Mr.. Mansfield las DONE
pom the detail Of his cLu,Nlmcit. admiration oie1
pa,cs entire deli slt. Tile prelude touches 70 the
iual catastrophe are made IN 4 wonderfully subtle
uted creatures frame. the quick CLEAN u ahtCpltoIy
triumph. the horrd clutch OF lust. with when no
climax Of act second i attained lwlth IN. "o' We
shall SEE. of the finest strokes ~ dramatic
art that never errs nor faltcrS throughout this long
and painful and most cNactne ordeal Of performance.
The arm.sweep, with which the trmpter SEEMED "
rncirc cand secure his victim In the moment Of iempac
ton j. another drnOtemcn ol this pc">saut ART, Ana
there comes instant toward the close 81 the haPhee
whcn 10y sudden Inspiration ana >Hert p'rsydt
power the actor Hts the part well l.h 10 the rNl ID.
that ruined old cynic IN Irnii 'onf great p"u OK
The Vision Of sin Mr. Mansfield well deserved tho
acclamaton with which the theatre r'ounded aitcr
this effort and the four recalls Win winch MS hearers
evnced their feeling
The company mclndes such experienced actors "a
Mr., Brutoic and Mr.. larldn'. and Il AIS" computes
MIS- Adcea Measor Miss .IohnStono-Bcnnett and Nr.
John e. Bnclstone. The latter gave a clever per-
formance Of the anguid rirandel Miss Plows,pa
who has beauty and >en>ihlAty, II not mu'h >hi,.
Iu indeed there is little or nothing IN TINS p.,''
aside from Chevrtal. The occasion vas WhoIn w.
MansfcldS and he bore away all lis hohofs' IL i
very remarkable performance.
MP IIoppFPS FARCE WITH MUSIC.