New-York tribune., 1891-04-23
THE DRAMA.
DALY's THEATRE-A TRIPLE BILL.

Last night, at Daly's Theatre-whcre the engagement
OF Miss Rosina Vokcs proceeding in merrimen and
prOsperty-an important change of bill effected,
and in the presence Of numerous and well lIpleascd
audience three pieces presented, two Of which
new, and all Of which are pleasant.
Frederick Lematre." by Mr.. Clyde Fitch, is a brief
sketch, in one act, which embodes suggestive Incl
dent and contains lesson in acting. Printed accounts
OF this piece had inspired anticipation that it woud
dramatically display strong under the spell
OF a romantic Illusion. followed by pathetic awaken
ing, and such purpose may have mingled with its
authors thoughts. ID has not however been we'll
developed, and in this respect the work IS weak Ten
derness Of feeling smOothness In the Of ordinary
mechanism. and simplicity OF language its merits;
and it carries a good and sensible moral. While not
distinctive with the elements OF originality and
strength It shows a mind that is sensitive 10 the
pathetic contrasts IN human experience and one that
is possessed IL not OF the OF action certainly
Of the sense Of what is dramatic In the
aspects OF character. Mr.. Fitch has selected
the French actor Frederick Lemsitre as an
exceptionally effective type Of picturesque eccentrlcity,
and he has portrayed his ideal of that Of genius
under the spell OF passion for a young woman whose
complete lack Of fine intelligence and essential charm
ought at to berate him from the evanescent
thraldOm Of her superficial fascination.
The experience Is one that might happen 10
man OF middle agc-presumng him to be Of a romantic
disposition ultra susceptible and free Of heart. BY
lmputDR III 10 Frederick LcIndlue tnc lHposcf
upon the actor the necessity Of assuming Of the
most extraordinary dramatic figures Of the Just
ended. Frederick Lematre, who came In with this
century and died in 1876 was fifty years ago, the
wonder and delight of Paris the dramatic cynOsure
Of Europe the prodigy Of his day In the dramatic art.
No such being had preceded him, and TO this hour he
remains unique. He touched the extremes Of the
sublime and the eroesque and the verirable in
carnatiOn Of the insanity of genius. His range was
from GennarO to MephstOpheles lie the original
Don Caesar, Robert Macare, Kean and Ruy Bias. lie
had no impedment. no Limitation, speciality.
Victor Hugo, who spoke at his funeral, described him
in one golden sentence: lie has been the people
robust pathetic. tempetuous, enchantinghe has been
the Tragedy and Comedy both" A difficult task is
set for the actor who IS asked to such An
identity that, and to show what he felt when he
loved and in what way his spirit brooked the NOR
hcatiOn of dsenchantment-f that, indeed, he meant
The experience, however, apart from bizarre per-
sonalitJ, might prove merely inslpid The man who
simply thinks that he is In love and then thss
love in vain-like Mr.. Moore in Charlotte Bronte's
novel Of Shirley-impresses most people as a bore.
1t Is character reactng on passion that creates
dramatic effect and therefore doubt, the choice Of
Lematre was as wrse certainly it was bold. only
the author has proved absolutely unequal 10 the task
that he prescribed for himself. The piece affords no
indication that Mr.. Fitch has cOmprehended the trc-
mendous about whom he was writing. All that
it indicates is the purpose Of presenting eccentrtcy.
1t might just as well have been called George Vanden
| hoh or T. b. RObers-both istinguished actors and
both teachers-fOr all the relevancy there is Of its
contents to It's title.
young woman has frequently attended the theatre
! and seen fine actor He has noticed her presence
and fallen in love with her face She wants 10 act.
she goes to his house and asks his advice. lie is
tonisled and delighted lie states dramatic situation
modification Of one that has been used scores Of times
and will be found beautifully used in the old play OF
| - ITo not Tho trp II do
and falls lie then acts for her and cndeavOrs by the
superiority of his own trained decately to apprso
her of her ineiclency. Size the point and, al
though the has illustrated the possible misery 0f
the married state she announces that she will 90 homo
marry Francois The actor finally scatters roses
before her states that they all leave him and that
lie is alone-a fact for which, considering what Ounce
| the woman is, he evinces no adequate gratitude
Old observers of the drama will naturally think of
many plays-from Doctor Robin" TO David Gar
| rcL"- which, at angle or another, this theme
has been viewed or limited They will not fail to oD
serve though that Mr. Fitch has cOnriyed 10 invest
il with an air OF novelty by making the emotional
| states and relations Of the man and the woman
| nuctuate nhamOnously amid fixed conditions Of cir
| cumstance In this respect the piece is momentary
interesting. Mr.. Felix Morris could not possibly I'M
pesonate Frederick Lemaltre, he had the part
10 mpersonae but he enters sympathetically and at
times ably into the character OF the eccentric elderly
| gentleman who bears the great Frenchman's name.
An actor without passion and without power could not
even suggest Lematre; and it is presumabe That Mr.
| Felix Morris does not expect to be viewed as tle
realization Of his renowned original in this instance
lie IS the Lemaitre of Mr. Ftchs manuscripts cross
between a second old and first low comedlan,-
and that sufiices. lie gets laugh lie does not get
a fear His acting i'm the imagined scene OF domesuc
infecy,-as the husband who finds that MS VIE mas
deserted him and away with another man'-waS 10
tbe last degree conventional and il scarcely one
whit more touching than the Intentionally tame IN
terpreaton of the same theme by the aspant OF MISS
Emily Bancker. Frederick LeInatre' IS neat COM
position and pleasant in its general effect MoTe tah
| that cannot nationally be said for it.
Mr.. Jerome's Oneact play OF BARBARA" athoush
more complex and although provided with much more
Of human nature and of bright dialogue, scarcely con-
veyed more definite impression of dramatic substance
The dulness OF the lover is Overdrawn, and so is the
acerbty OF the young lady Of his love; but BARBARA
is perfect and Miss ROsina NOkes made her DELICIOUS
Barbara Is mlllner and alone In tile world, but ior
LILLE and Ernest--who are her friends. Barbara and
Ernest are really brother and sister, but they DO not
| know it, Barbara could inherit fortune That would
otherwise come to Ernest. II she were only to make
herself known at certain important uncture But she
nrefers that Ernest shall the money and marry
| Iuie-and so she keeps her secret The little play
shows how Barbara made the pickering young lovers
come 10 knowledge Of their hearts, and how she sacr
feed fortune for their comfort. Miss VOkes, az the
climax of this piece produced tnSV & Uesc % Si % wbc5
the auditor smiles through tears ohe mas not sru.A
a trner note than this Mr. Ferdinand G4ttsehak & Is 70
10 ramemhered with special admiration for his actng
~ the servant In the first piece and the old man IN tn9
| second These light sketchy parts are dlmcuIt 10 III
I'm a wav that makes them seem substantial; me PIT
~ fTnamce was closed with the farce OF The Tinted
Vcnus y adapted from Mr.. Anstey's story Dy hr' IL a.
Wilde-a piece that aims at oroaH iuh anu se'"'''' W
the mark.