The record-union., 1891-03-13
ADJUSTMENTS.

The Metropolitan Theater was filled
last night by fine audience. Miss
Marie Wainwright's company presented
Shakespeare's beautiful comedy Twelfth
Night" Miss Wainwright's Viola is a
refined and artful one; dainty heart
sick-with-love Viola, such rs approaches
exceeding near to what may be supposed
was the ideal of the great dramatSt.
Less than any other actress who has
esSayed the part does she attempt to dis
gtliSe the feminine characteristics, when
she is supposed to be cheating the senses
Of both Olivia and the Duke. While she
might with better effect, in maintenance
of the impoSture, have robed her waist to
conceal its contour, and have thus much
disguised her form, she is so rich in the
attributes the conventional demands for
the female outline that the concealment
could not have been complete. 1t must be
assumed that Shakespeare did not contem-
plate complete disguise for the character,
but pressed poetic license into dramatic
use, and by the tenderness and charm of
the Viola of his creation intended to APP
peal 10 the spectator to be as blind as he
makes the Duke, Olivia, and their house
holds. Miss Wainwright, therefore,
while assuming male disguise makes no
effort to assume the masculine bearing,
or the tones Of masculine youth. She is
irresistibly pretty as the boy, and is all
Womanly, without, however, sacrificing
any of the dramatic quality of the part.
1t was delicate, modest and charming
reading and assumption. natural to a de-
gree Of ease that almost sacrificed en-
pnaSiS in some lines, and wit i'll some
situations. The love-lorn Olivia, mel
ancholy for the least Of causes, was well
personated by Miss Blanche Walsh. 1t
was dignified-rather too much re-
served-and yet finely artistic piece of
dramatic work. It would be better with
shade more of vitality, and Miss Walsh
should certainly strengthen the tones of
her voice, since in many parts of the
theater the lines OF her reading could not
be heard. Nothing is more annoying
than failure to catch the text from the
actors lips, especially when the
lines are those of Shakespeare, in
which words are jewels too precious for
single syllable to be lost. Miss Mulden-
er's Marie was an admirable personation,
faultleSs III its proportions, and leaving
not thing wanting. Barton Hills NAL
volio was an exquisite piece of old school
work, flawless, and worthy Of the actors
reputation, though the character calls into
play but trifie of the ability of the ac-
complished artist. Mr.. OWENS Sir Toby
Belch carried old dtheater-gOerS back TO the
days of Hackett and Burton and the fine
low comedians Of the old school. 1t was
an unctiOEs and perfect Interpretation
of the fancy of Shakespeare in ere
ating the character of the royster-
ing and merry knight of the pipe
and bowl. Scarcely less genuine and ac-
curate was the Sir Andrew Aguecheek Of
Mr.. Brooke, who made the knight of
boasting and of timidity an admirable
foil to the wit and ridicule Of Sir Toby.
The remaining prominent work was the
Sebastian OF Mr.. Elsner, who made it the
gallant, generous and fearless youth the
bard intended. The support in other re-
Spects was good. Twelfth Night as
played is not what one reads in his library
Shakespeare. Ben. Teal and another have
cut it right and left III tie opening scenes,
and made the pronpt-book play to the
judgment of the modern manager.
Some parts of the comedy must be sac
riliced: it is too long for acting and there
is text that convention agrees should be
eliminated. However, Mr.. Teal has left
the gems OF the play, has not sacrificed
the story. and has withheld his hands
from the text that is read. The piece is
mounted very handsomely and elabor
ately with historic accuracy as to cos
tunes and furniture and with picturesque
scenes charming to the eye and pleasing to
the taste. True, some Of the scenes is be-
ginning to show the results of much
handling, but it is all new to the Metro
politan stage and dresses the boards Of
that theater with pleasing effect. AS a
whole the comedy was given with
such degree of excellence, was
so well staged and the characters
so artistically assumed that it is not ex-
aggeration TO say that no Shallesperean
comedy has been better given here, or so
well mounted in very many years. Miss
Wainwright and the other leading people
were thrice called out by warm applause,
testifying to the satisfaction of the audi
ence and the competency of the actors.
Twelfth Night" viii be repeated this
evening. Tomorrow night 1.-THE Hon
eymoon' with Mr.. Hill as Duke AraDza
Mr.. Omen as Jagues the Mock Duke,
Miss Wainwright as Juliana, and Miss
Walsh as Zamora. a cart that assures the
public a delightful performance.
The Ancient order of Hibernians give
a St. Patrick's Day ball at Arnory Hall
| Tuesday evening.