New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-09
THE DRAM A.
SHAKESPEARE AT DAYS THEATRE


In he charming book that Mr. DAILY distributed
among his many friends to commemorate the cen
tenary April 49, 1857 of The Tanning of the shrcw,
he made this significant statement: My motive has
been 10 nve in return for the very large share Of
popular support which have always received, an
opportunity my generation Of seeing the works
Of greatest masters in their best shape His
production q "A Midsummer Nights Dream made
on January 81, 1sso, and just now revived, would
afford conclusive evidence, if any evidence were
needed of the depth of artistic feeling and the sincerity
Of noble purpose with which his enterprise has been
so long and 70 steadily animated No presentation of
Shakespeare within the memory of the present genera
ton has surpassed this one in the attribute of deli
cate lovelineSS. The emphasis indeed, has not been
placed upon scenery. 1t is a dramatic performance
TO which the public attention is desired and auIcd;
1t Is not merely pageant. Yet the effort has been
made. and it has been made fully, invest
this fine creation of poetic fancy with attire tna'
should harmonic, absolutely and perfectly, with It's
symmetry and It's sweetness. The panorama of
Grecan scenery which, the close Of act fourth. illus
raes the voyage Of Theseus and all the implicated
characters from the woodland to Athens is spectacle
OF surprising beauty, and that soothcs the tired
senses and will long dwell in grateful remembrance. The
picture of Ttanns woodland bower first the shadows
of night steal it and then it CLOVIS with the
deepening radiance of the rising day, is surely u
perfect achievement in theatrical art-creaiing an
Illusion that charms the fancy, and sustaining it with
consummate skill. No lover of the beautiful can
look upon these scenes without delight They are
among the best things of the kind that have been
done, and they should by means be permitted to
pass unseen by any who care TO see the work OF a
great master in its best shape.
In the essential things that concern the proper
presentation of shakeSpcrean play. furthermore,
Mr. DAILY has entirely kept his faith with his audience.
The scenery is fine, but the acting is finer than the
scenery and in this revival the cast is even better
than il was IN the original production here. Theseus
then assumed by Joseph Holland, is now acted by
George Clarke. who gives the part greater authority
and more impressive brllancy. Mr. Eugene OrmOnd
proves entirely competent substitute for MI OTIS
Skinner as LySander and Lc is more adenlly m0c
impassio Toned. Frederick Bond replaces william Gil.
bert Flute. and represents IhisOc IN the lIhmOita
lurlesQne and Mr. DOnd l. UnconmOnIy strong III
the element Of unconscious humOr backed by profound
carncstness The dry and dron sincerity vi Charles
Wheatleish makes him delightfully."- comic as snug
the Joiner. lhppolyta Is made gorgeous mag. OF
IiQuant and IuXuriaut AmaLonian beauty by Miss
Adelaide Prince. and Obcron Is very handsome ana
peremptoIy IN the graceful person ana MN %gnvni
nf Isabel Irving The personal loyeine;; OF enc man
but the new Fairy Queen Is extremely proficient Wi'l
the music of the part, and this Is distinct gam Miss
iiorence Sohron gIi Gi o9SiouS ale i
wise proficient with the music-having replaced Miss
Lizzie St. oen'n c as s SSns as prcns Y
impetuous Hernia; which part formerly wa pre-
conspicuous characters of Helena Dcmetrns. Egens
and Bottom are taken now. a. they We're before, by
and Mr.. James Lewis: and all play gOcrs who saw the
production of the Dream two wears ago are aware
that those parts sustained with brilliant ability.
An obvious duty 70 the public Is fulfilled In the
cordial commentator Of this >hakcspearean revival
to thoughtful acceptance and appTeclave enjoyment.
The refining influence of such pfcscntnent sinks deep
into the mind and makes the recollection OF IL one of
the treasures of memory. Those who see the Dream
il is now done at Day's Theatre will always have
the remembrance of noble and lovely of woman
in the Helena embodied by Ada Rcian-an ideal that
she herself derived from Shakespeare and constructed
without model per>onifcation in which She stands
alone. And in their memory Of the Painful Tragedy
OF the DOleflil Death Of Pyrdmus and Thisbe, per
formed BY James Lewis. Charles Lcclcrcq, Charles
Wheateigh, Frederick Bond, George Timer and I'd
ward Wilks "a the Hard Handed Men Of Athens. they
Will have an unfaling spring OF pleasant thoughts
and happy laughter.