New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-15
NIBLo'S THEATRE" THE ATHLETE"

In Niblo's Theatre last night, Mr. Frank Mayo be
gan short engagement, appearing in piece called
1.-THE Athlete" Later in the week Mr.. Mayo is to
act in "Nordeck' and In Davy Crockett The last
two OF these plays familiar to Mr.. Mayo's audience
for he has appeared in them many times and many
times has been welcomed In them. "The Athlete
however, is new. at least. Is with Mr.. Mayo;
and it is now offered here for the first time BY him.
This drama has been built upon the basis Of the novel
of I" Man and Wife, by wikie Collins. Mr. Daily
brought out piece that subject about twenty years
ago, when his theatre was in Twenty -fourthst. and
Miss Clara Norris acting in it Anne Sylvester, made
the first signal success OF her professional life. For
time that piece was popular, but IL presently began
to seem stale, and gradually the theme drifted into
neglect. 1t is good theme, nevertheless. and with
the generation OF play 1t ought to find favor
IL the presentation Of it now made by Mr.. Mayo
could but have the fortune to send its auditors to the
novel of Man and Wife" his enterprise certainly
would be public beneft-apart from the
pleasure that is given by his acting. For "Man
and Wife" is one Of the most interesting and OF
the most wholesome works OF fiction for mature readers
that have been written in time and 1t is not only
story Of profound humanity and of great imaginative
power but that contains extraordinary quantity
OF good thought tersely pungently expressed. The
purpose of the bookwhch also is the purpose OF the
play-was, first of all, to portray certain phases OF
human nature and Of social life, truthfuy, vet with
delicate exaggeraOn next, 10 Illustrate the disastrous
consequences OF loose STATE OF OF
and finally to show the perncious effect, upon the
character as well the body, of Athletic Sports when
carried to For these lessons there is living
need, here and nOw-especally for the last Of them.
In almost every institution of learning in this land
the Ball is object quite conspicuous as the Book;
and Mr.. Mayo will, indeed, do good work IL he con-
trives to suggest, to any considerable number Of
students and teachers, that the chief end OF education
Is not Bi-ceps
Mr. Mayo enacts Godfrey Deamayn, who is an
athlete and a scoundrel. 1t is not the chief part In
the story, and cannot be made the chief part in the
play. Anne sylvester is the chief part, and next to
her, for stage effect stand Sir Patrick Lundy Hester
Dethrldge and Bishoprggs. But Godfrey Delamayn
is good part and Mr.. Mayo fills 1t with marked
ability. His massive and graceful person and his
stawart manner suit with it, and his assumption Of
the animal concentration Is excellent and admirable
His IDEAL however, needs modification, and this should
show itself in elegance OF manner. Geofrey
Delamayn is not ruffan, in outward aspect, at any
time-tn the last scenes. Mr.. Mayo, in his first
scene with Anne, once or twice hint Of Skies
The character is monOtonous during the most part of its
porrayal-a certain fash OF meDacing insoence being
the only relief TO its burly sulenness Mr. Mayo how
ever cOirived 10 make this dense and heavy creature
effective with curious kind of Involuntary humor.
Effect indeed is the object that he has sought-and
properly too-both dramatist and actor His play
gives no adequate idea of the subtle charm Of the book
on which il is founded yet his play has theatrical
point and that is essential for the stage He makes
Godfrey for example, strike Blshopriggs, and he
makes Hshoprggs thereupon, out OF resentment and
rage produce tie letter that establishes Anne Syl-
vesers marriage with Godfrey, exactly at the cul-
mnation of Anne's stormy interview with Mrs. Glen
arm This is making free with the original, but only
by such means can action be made to epitomize mar
rative. 1t would be easier, though, to determine
what Mr. Mayo has done dr9matist If the actors
who surround him competent to the work OF
interpretation The exquisite art with which Wllkie
Collins has drawn his characters in this story would
never be surmsed by the spectators OF these per
formances. Miss Vaders has formed an absolutely
wrong ideal of Anne Sylvester-making her common
scod and O noisy termagant. The stately courtesy,
the fine intellectually and the crisp. playful, satea
hunor IF Sir Patrick disappear completely, III Tho
artificial. ineegant, hard demeanor ana locose de
livery that Mr.. Courtane seems TO think appropriate
Rishopriggs is turned into crude csrcatie by MT
Fdwin Mavo who looks as made up for Jack Bunsby
THE only performances that near the truth Were
those of Mrs. Glenarm, by Frances Graha1n ,
hester Dethridge, by Mary Levere, and Arnold, by
Hubert Sackett; and these could be improved
To the comedy elements II woud not be easy 70 90
Justice upon such stage as Nfbl0s. Inc dramauc
strokes are however, made with frmness ana force'
The revival was worthy to be made and IT has been
made in a spirit that arOuses sympathy ana shoud
Obtain favor Mr. Mayo is of the old actors now,
and more sincere one is not in public view.
This IS the full cast