New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-27
THE DRAMA-MU,SI%
LAWRENCE BARRETT IN A NEW PLAY

LAWRENCE BARRETT IN A NEW PLAY.
In the Broadway Theatre last night in presence Of
numerous, eagerly attentive, and often kindly
responsive audience, Lawrence Barrett whose enter
prise is incessant and whose noble ambition neye,
tires, produced another new piece under the name n,
"Guido FerraniL" The performance was followed with
deep Interest and at certain telling points was rewarded
with earnest appause-Mr Barrett and Miss Gale heinz
several times recalled The play Is deity con.
sructed in five short acts and is written in a strain
of blank verse that IS always meodous often cIoquen
and sometimes fIcghted with fancfnl figures Of rarc
beauty. 1t is less tragedy, however, than a mclo.
drama-by which is meant drama OF situation. To
this ingredient everything IS moulded and sacrificed
The inevitable consequence ensues. The radical do
feet of the work is nsncerity No one in is natural
The chief part IS the wOman-Beatrice Duchess OF
Padua and Beatrice is practically insane that the
emotion aroused by her proceedings Is not sympathy
but pity Beatrice IS the young wife OF cruel,
Grabbed fcrocious. snarling, inhrm old man, whom she
lOathes. Her gaze has rested handsome youth
who loves her, and she thercupon stabs ard murders
her objectionable husband in order that she may re-
move all obstacles TO the qualification Of her passion.
This is case CT mental arrangement I'm consequences
of animal impulse You may be sorry for the woman:
you can neither respect nor admire her; and unless
you are very fond Of morbid anatomy, you cannot
llnger with pleasure upon the contemplation Of her
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS clcvery detailed; and II has
been veiy cleverly detailed in this piece.
In act Guido Ferran is informed that his father,
whom he has seen, betrayed to death by
person who has since become the Duke of Padua. and
Guido Ferrant takes oath to kill this Duke upon
reception OF a signal to be given by his Informant In
act two Guido Ferran la, become attached 10 the conrs
Il the Duke of Padua. and very much attached 10 his
beautiful wife, In act three Guido determines that he
will not murder the Duke. but will only leave dagger
and explanatory letter upon the Dukes bel, showing
that he might have killed him. and revealing his
identity. But in the meanwhile Beatrice has killed tho
D.,c, and when she appears before Guido and avows
her act-nor seeming to be aware that it Is a fearful
cr.me-thc youth Mortified and lie repels her. where
upon she summons the guard and denounces him as
the assassin Of her husband. In acts four and five
Guido endures the burden Of her guilt in order to save
her. because he loves her. but at last her love for
him conquers her frcnzcd resentment Of his GOODNESS
together with all other emotions and she vindicates
dim. The end IS death Cor both In the character
of Guido there are file elements, but he Is slow m
becoming noble. His original compact 10 do
an act OF murder aHenates respect, and his sub
sequenJ readiness to tempt the young wife deepen'
A natural aversion to rs unstable and iriat onal
personaty The fcrocty of the old Duke is felt TO be
canseess. motlyele,s and impotc, ind therefor IN
harmonious with the fabric Of willy and polite man.
In short these persons are made according to tie
necessities OF the piece and not according to nature
and therefore willie the play may temporarily interest
as a curiosity it cannot endure a substantial
creation in dramatic literature.
II was We'll set and it was acted in spirit OF great
and impressive earnestness. Mr. Barrett mper onacd
Guido FerIanti Ills bearing, in the first scene !:
full OF gal.ard grace and ardent youth; but this soon
passc, and he becomes grave stern, concentrated III
ellectla and mature II seemed not remarkable thai
the lady was dissatisfied with this solemn lover WHO
would entertain neither her person nor her Mysteries
but COLLAPSED in fine language. There is some excess
t,tba- holm n
after the murder but it here that Mr. Barrett, by
his fine expression OF horror at seeming ANGELS
iniauity touched the deepest spring OF pathos ana
poured forth the most fervid torrent oil passionate
feeling. Miss Gale exhibited surprising power ~
moments and altcrnated these suspicious deho'emeh'
with crudlty Of gesture and metalIc III
felicity OF voice that are perfectly unaccountaolc-
except upon the theory that the lady Is sui
In the period Of childhood Her bearing and utterah''
in the delicousy written loyescene in act second wee
remarkably good. Her announcement Of the mun,F
was likewise Intense and effective. But ~ M3
segueni delneao9 eF alh of sDrcr,y. To
character aud the condition being unndtd.a, 40
Gale TO impart 10 this scene OF aud temor tl3
a. pect and the emotion that make up an ii1On ~
favored his audience with very hideous and rllculo'
tavesty of Henry lrving-a great ACTOR WY, -.
near they may sometimes come 10 ms marked cen
rlcitie,. Mr. John Lane. always most con'clcnt i'
and uuarcountlble f al! the cnaract 'rs-o &c tan
count Morsnlone whose vocation II l. u OmnC
uldo Fcrrauti 20 slaughter Old Psdua. Tie co tunes
are picturesque. The lime is tie sixteenth c"niuf.
peculiar. touching wall Of music rams throu9A lh3
niece and vastly heghtens It's effect. IL hld Su'-
cess Of esteem and perhaps little more than That
Mr. Barrett has certainly been JUSTIFIED in bringing 10
forward. - ,, - "a. IA,
The authorship Of " Guido Feriant' has no, pen
disclosed. There need not have been any ne,i,auun
about t-for he is a prartised write: ana eVOI oc,
Ne recognize I'm this work play tmt We nld 70
Measure of reading several years az. ~ mihu''rP
= "A =" hp
author OF Is Oscar Wilde.