New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-05
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
MP MANSFIELD A. NERO.

,-.-
NJ, Mansfield entering upon the last week Oh MS
,orc season ut the Garden Theatre last night preseit
the character Of Nero, and again impressed ana 'i
q considerable audience This performance Is KNOW"
10 the theatrical public, and II does not require p
tcuar description. It's value to the spectator IL W.
fidelity with which 1t conveys poetical iue'' VI
famous historical person. The Roman Emperor 1'',O
T. usually paintod ~ monster: but he appears 10
have been a picturesque monster and as SUCH nc
represented by Mr. Mansfield. An oDssr'c' WV
interested in Roman history may derive rom ' mn,
depreciation the benefit Of practical Kho"ieoso'
performance, however. is not gwen lor vnc pup -,
disseminating historical information. MI Mihsneu'
whose mind apparently runs toward e''c,' :,
probably chose Nero because the charac''r - vi, ~
prodlcous p0wer and variety. The opportunity '"a.
il affords for sudden transitions from scnuous o
rapacy TO an icy, Internal humor Is naturais emp
ING 10 an actor. Brilliant dramatic points may DC Dc,
derived from def Of that opportunity - 80
creature who Is endowed With fasualous '",''' D'
opcnt sensuous temperamcnt and both poetcal sehS.
btv and facnlty and who thercupon cohiin',S a''o,
ties with the bland nonchalance OF unconscious pa
tpdo becomes I'm n certain grim, sarronic manner
image Of drolcry and while he makes you S"" :,
also makes you laugh. Mr.. Mansheia lnp''
Nero I'm that spirit and produced aterhaoS q" -
Of horror and Of hysterca mrth lie mu' h'"e,' :,
a great emphasis upon the artistic el'mehV /" -'
character and in that way he pailiated tiie no'''
hlioritv ~ his impersOnatIon by enforcing II rs III
ide,I ~ baleful beauty. IL is not, however, uiu
+, rover ram he. a sympathetic embodiment a r'iihan
is n rufan: and he Is equally 50 ""ouI'
ARRIVED IN foul rags or festooned WIN rosc'' NV
CROFT master Of drama seldom portrayed monster
when he did do 50 he commonly suggested NJ ieSV wv
striving and cropping Of humanity mt us hearI III
Mr. sullivan's tragedy and In Mr. Manshed's present
,. Tho cboroctor NJ Nerr, has been drawn ntrin-
coIlv and absolutely nhuman Tho viper Is aesthetic
I'm, he IA n viper The hcnd has sublime aspects-
but he Is a fend II Mr.. Mansfield mas eHpecue"'
nv such pcrs0naOn this. 20 deepen ms hoid upon
tho affection Of his time he must have ignored aRe
his knowledge Of human nature ana every pi''cuc"i
lesson In the recorded experience Of the stage. Inc
nroctcnl result that was possible an exhibition
f nm actors power. and resources and that mas pee
brilliantly accomplished The tragedy consists OF
sores 90 dramatic pctures.-epSCdical vet sufficiently
seauent-IluStatve Of the last DAYS Of crdel. ruth
loss continental tyant Like all such narrow and In
,cn,ate parsons this Nero IS follower after selfish
sensual enjoyment. The tragedy shows him ending
woman by whom he Is loved FOR every man. however
base aud bad. is loved bv somcthngl. and pursuing
woman by whom he Is lOathed and ID ends with
violent death for all of them. In each one OF the
situations Of luxury and Of horror. Mr.. Mansfield nam
talned m Intensity Of dlaboca sel1shness combined
with "A bland unconSclousncss Of iuiGuty ana
made continuously piquant by flashes OF uneN-
pcctcd and most prepoetcrons humor. AS an eA'
hibton OF depravity this embodiment was more IMAM
Odous lt was terrible. Az a manifestation of dramatic
art II is extraordinary beyond ANYTHING that has been
seen since Booths P"scara and drvng's Dutosc The
surroundings Of It impart living sense Of the vo-
lnptuous grandeur Of the life Of ancient Rome the feel
Ing that It leaves l. much the same that Won derive
from that remarkable poem peacOcks "War|-ong OF
Dnas Mawr7 which has long been the high water mark
Il expression for simply svagery.
In a word. this embodiment belongs m the tradition
Il. mi
icsiaon OF Internal pul,sance and eliterng malsnty
lccame temporarily Triumphant by the indOmable
individuality Of genius. Mr.. Mansfield. nero, has
that sort 81 victory within his grasp. IL IS htful
and II +, tranItory hut while II lasts it Is real III
order. however. to make it more secure. he must
add one eemcnt-he must fully hberate the tempest.
During tvo-thirds Of the WAY tho very hneness of
his method somewhat impaired It's effect The time
was taken too slowly. The subtety and the light
and shade seemed In There xns abundance Of
power, but passion other than what WIS nailei'
Words about the conscious ecstasy Of poetic rapture
cannot De trusted 10 move the human heart. That
rapture means much to those who Know ts meaning
Out 10 most persons 1t has 10 significance. In the
uimcnt oi the death Of his love Mr. Mans
Held made Nero great. and all that followed Till the
exit into the DARKNESS superb. There were hun
,r,l delicate beauties the deneaton not the Least
~ which was the sustained air Of carnal vitality ana
sensual abandonment. curtousy touched Win peucai
charm But Of prcpulsve and overwhelming passion
there was lttlc The need Of II Is all the greater since
The piece Is not very firmly knitted II Is piece
al.o that requires NOR. eabomte scenic display than
could be given I'm the Camden Theatre. Tile characters
II Cla1, and Actc should DC represented by actresses
II far greater physical power and fur mon assured
tragic method than possessed by Miss Cameron and
MIS-, Sprgue. Mr.. Mansfield WAS loudly appiauded
and va, called ont after the fourth curtain and after
the 18th. Nero VIII BE- repeated 10 night.