New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-30
THE DRAMA.
1.-THE HUNCHBACK.n

lively curiosity and with many marks OF Interest By
an audience Of the best quality, for refinement ana
intelligence, that this capital can furnish. The time
has been when "The IIunchbach7 was viewed as
classic. That time began sixty years ago, when the
comedy was first made known here, and presented
with Mrs. Sharpe, Mrs. Barnes and Fanny Kemblc
successfully, In the character OF Its heroine From
that time during q period Of at least one geheraton
that piece occupied place OF the first emnencc IN
nubllc esteem. Within the last thirty years. although
T. has served the ambitious purpose OF several beauu
fail and brilliant womcn-notably OF Kate Bateman'
Adelaide Nelson, Ala Cavendish and Mary Anderson
IL has gradually declined In publicity and FADED out
NJ fashion: so that the old view OF IL may De said
TO have passed away with the generation by winch
II was entertained. A drastic method Of theatrical
comment upon social life, and of theatrical admonuon
os to morality and conduct, has taken the place OK
tho centler system of such writer's Sheridan knowles
ond Rulwer and Douglas Jcrrold and the contemporary
dramatic monitor portrays manners ana ceieoraoes
virtue by such as showing the almost success
a., endeavor Of a polished BLACKBOARD to seducc his
vifo,s mother This is only one among many cufren'
denotements that times have changed.
", .ho norod of The Hume hback" Notwithstanding
al tie dancierces dramatic art could still deal WIN
tho ouspcious aspects Of human nature ana sociai
ufe and Il does not seem then 10 nave peen ooi'
s,dcred true that all are centious ana all "omen
frou In that comedy the observer sees the iniage
OF 4 pure girl in the freshness ana the glory Oh her
celestial as any human experience can e-oi Hef
act ,ove Nomentarily she Is bewildered and De-
c,,,od nv the dazzling pleasures OF SUDDEN Social
success and popularity, and tcmporarly-haVihg ocen
NAMED into maynard action and hhblui eh'anseneH'
she IS convulsed with grief and proe' anu pas"on
In a conflict between love and duty out NJ INC ''"
her integrity OF character and her stability OF pfih
cinle assert themselves, and she STANDS ior,h lns
,,o, y, that tncarnate excellence which Is all tnat
rotooms human life from meanness, sterihty, ana
the blight OF the commonplace-a hopie "o"'""'
All simple and tritc, no doubt, alike IN suD!ec'
and treatment No canthaIiles IN the driusNt' NJ
absnthe on the rim OF the beaker The appeal OF Inc
Uunchbacks IS 10 elemental instincts of good taste ana
GOOD feeling It's blank may be antiquaed ana
4iacia. It's erisodes Of ayfulncss with Modus and
Uelon are doubtless, little inslpld; It's pot Is
slender. but II Is a play that shows me dranauc
ability-the talent TO evolve dramatic eNeeIs noh
rational and coherent treatment Of characters ana l
cidents that are essentially true and aDsou'eS SIMPLE
and 10 do that In a romantic method OF poetry 'lu
not I'm the hard, commonplace method OF ph"oerapinc
prose The contemporary public may not care par
tlcularIy for this piece, may view 1t rather as a
shadowy relic than verable substance yet surrey
II il well that the present generation shOuio soe'
times have an opportunity o seeing the comedeS thas
II, oreiathers admired and enjoyed and even IL there
were nothing but the historical element In Mr. Days
revival Of The Hunchback' the revival would still
be important.
That sncacious manager, however, has not invited
the public to look upon n relquary The performance
was one II frequent grace ana OF singular oea"N'
Miss Rchan has entered into the experience oi 'una
with profound sympathy. Her presentment OF thae
heroine In her ingenious girih0od and anna her
rnro, Surroundings was effected I'm a mood OF buoyant
cnict, ard frank sweetness, without any mht VI
that demur, ROBUSTNESS in which she Is an adep-
bnt which here would be 50 entirely mappopfiaNs
The skil with which she invested artiesshess WIN
niouoncy WIS at the same time, conspicuousy Obvious
Her assumption OF the artificial fine lady eViceo 'ie
same kind OF subtle ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS inc aru'
6c,allty was made 10 be superficial, and the pure
soul OF the unspoiled girl WAS shown through II Us
,rrouch n Transparency. Character Is developer
rnndly and mind IS matured quickly under the sVreS
OF deep feeling. Miss Rehans portrayal OF JUN, u
the tempest that preceies the signing OF 'e ihais,
contract end In the stiffness that follows H. WIS iu
o, aue conference.-the depth and strength OF
woman,s heart thoroughly aroused. Her treat
mont OF the incident OF the Torn
Letter showed once again that deep tenderness
which Is one OF the potential charms OF her .'"ieil
mcnt--a tenderness which WAS not mat oi Pihlu'
nournful reverie but that OF despans passion her
ratrican bearing her mute grief her chahAe sweet
ness in the tremulous assertion OF sefre'pecI ana
above all her lovely Kindness ana trust duins mat
,xoctip- scene with Clifford. when the discaTed O'a
hos hccone the rcvcrntial servant, were completely
in harmony with the character OF Jula ana WIN '''
purpo,e OF the play. In modulation and summary
Miss Rehan's Interpretation OF that scene VIII
become perfect through repetition IN ts
element of sincerity IL well nigh surpassed
rrcrcdent In the almost frenzcd ao'' o'
ment OF passionate protest with which the o''neus
culm,notcs her dcmeanor magnificent, VIII" hef
delivery of the exhortaon TO Master Nai'er-oopou''
ruent pas sonate, tcmpestuous. get aiti"h'
strained and guided away from blatant eNcesS-"'S ~
once triumph OF cocutionary art ara Il i'ie eN'ul
Of sustained mpersOnation. II knowledge oi "''
heart be n matter Of consequence to the observer "
Ne here Is an opportunity for study oi 'ha' suDIe"
Tho autbor ~ "Tne Hunchback7 has shown deep
and wise oppreciaton OF his theme and In Miss Aua
Echa, tte beauty of his delicate Work mas iou""
truo Interpreter. The principal deleoN VI Wv
hodimcnt-naney. occasional mperiec'"'N ol "''O"
ton occasional turrics OF manner occas'"''
cess OF gesticuaon, and few OMISSIONS u 49,,
words-y.rc evidently due 10 great excitement 'lSs
poho, has nevo- before played part that requires
rch volume md such variety OF steadily accumui'"e
emotion AS are required by julia, ana sue n"' ~
befor, shown such almost uncontrolE'oe ie'""s' %"
v,,s many mes recalled upon the scene, anna se"uS
enthusiasm. ,,,., and tom
aorncss mr., richly sutfused with romance fesO'A.
deforrui,y ard q bitter experience consequent upO"
hove isolated and somewhat embittered that lmag a"
and sensitlv. Gentleman. and he can he dangerous 90
stern lie lives wholly In his love LOT Ms u'"e'
who. until the last, only knows him as Su.'u,".
There is quality of patient affection In Una. ,na'
ncter which makes It deeply sympatheue'
part that above all, requires Intrinsic authority ~
nc,or Mr. George Clarke was not qut' coN'i'''"s IN
~, f.,ber. lint he struck the note OF romance iuh
and true and his picturesque presence and Ms e''u
action impaired abundant animation to every Sen. a..
which he appeared. Mr. Arthur Bourcher a"'ps PIT.
filed expectation by his fluent and poh'heu enO
mont OF Clifford. The part. indeed, IS COM ~,
but 1t requires weight OF character ana hop's - =,
meanor-the involuntary Refinement anu s"f :, I,,,,
uornor ,,,ra,t,,nI,g 10 a genteman-and II admits
-, or,or n not Of passion Mr.. Bourchier cay
- -, a.. many rcnuirement OF Il. Mr.. erosion