New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-23
THE DRAMA.
COLONEL CARTER ON THE STAGE.

| delight OF a numerous assemblagc uncommony repre-
sentative OF the intellect taste, and refinement OF the
| city The story OF Colonel Carter, written by +.
| Iopknson Smith, published last year, and thou.
sands Of readers are acquainted with It, Inc charm
Of that story Is the blending OF sweetness ecccntrcy
and humor In natural character. 1t is n charm
kindred with that which long has hallowed, and will
always haow, such characters rs Parson Adams,
Uncle job Sir Roger de COverley, and Colonel New
ccmbc. It IS such charm apperains to the ideal
Of Charles Lamb Oliver Goldsmith. To know such
a man as Colonel Carter would be to possess the
privilege Of associations ut once ennobing cheer
ing and humorous. There are persons who
never see objects precisely as they are. There
IS an order OF vision to which every fact
becomes TRANSPORTED By fancy. This Indicates
the realm Of existence assigned for Colonel Carter
lie Is in no adventurer: yet he undertakes
10 live practical life in the Land OF Dreams or which
Is the same thing, dreamle in a land Of facts-and
he succeeds In doing that because, being charming
cccenriclty, he Is also true. The nsncere man who
should purs ie C0.0ncl Carriers would speedily
come to ruin. 1t Is the fortunate prer0gave OF good
ness to command the respect both OF good and evil
Human nature IS sufficiently defective but 1t has
gcnteness for what is gentle, and ii has affection for
what IS manfcstly simple, NOBLE loving and kind.
These are the epltheIs t1at would naturally be used
describe Colonel Carter and this Is the personality
that has adroy and effectively been made to animate
a play. 1t is not u tame play, neither 1t has the
pquancy OF character. 1t has sufficient Incident.
1t has plot, which though fra, Is rational interest
Ing, and coherent 1t has unObruSlve vein OF tender
sentiment 1t has Mr. Hopkinson Smiths English.
which Is fluent direct, and simple. And 1t has the
delightful attributes OF variety and humor. Above
all, IL Is absolutely pure and Notwithstanding no
obnoxious oplc and leaving no painful Impression.
TO those observers who weary Of seeing the stage
used Il sort OF dissecingable for amatOry disease
and connubal infelicity, such play comes like
breeze from the pine woods in a morning OF spring.
sir Walter Scott. who had way OF anticipating
much modern rejection, has noticed the temptation
beseIS every seeker for novelty, to become
travagant In order that nc may avoid being fite
That temptation might we'll have assailed equally
the authors If this play and the actors by whom 1t
WAS represnted The story OF a dreamer whose
dream, accidentally true might readily be sup
posed lack zes and ~ require pungent emphasis;
vet neither in the Of the piece in the
lOrmance of 1t there any tr'cc OF eAaggeration
Colonel Carters gentee poverty that seems the flower
of opuloncc his unconscious bewchment Of the
a,tonishcd AID delighted grocer who had called Tor
payment: his feudal attitude toward the negro Chad;
his railway project that looks Ike VISION ana
strangely turns 10 unexpected substance Ms pro
posterols duel that never occurs his garden spot ia
Virginia his amazing and amusing southern friends;
his beautiful chivalrous spirit toward his patient and
admirable siser-all these uno>entatiOus ingredients
Of the gentle fiction have been disposed
with grace in the acted play, and nave
boz. inlertwined with new Ingredients Of story;
and all these were Interpreted with lovely slmplcty'
Mr. f. NJ Holland. who mpersonated Colonel Carter,
ha, entered into the soul Of the character, AND made
It most humorous and lovable reality THIS Is
a character that would have been made strongly
effective by such an actor as the late Jom L. nay
mond bnt he would have made his high lights highef
and he would have sighted or altogether ignored mo
qualntne,s and the tenderness of it, Mr.. Holland IS
nd Ia gan la
ns we'll as bold and can make the condition OF per-
.onaty ~ p0tve and eiectivas the most brilliant
stroke of 1t, action. His ideal in this instance -
clearly and definitely formed. His expression OF H.
alike facial vocal and locomotive IS vigorous. Ito
has the excellent quality of artistic repoe lie holds
every point with unerIng instinct. just long enough
for it to be taken. lie undue emphasis. lie
steadily imper,onates He Ia, the precious, the in
valuable resources Of fine mind and good heart
without which no actor will enduTe-and he possesses
in his own temperament, the charm Of whimsical
droery that is thiny yelled by sweet. grave, demure
composurc. In Colonel Carter he has found a part
that awakenS hi, full sympathy and calls all his fac
mites into Ills success was complete and
brilliant. The Colonel. with his remarkable black
coat that could De- adjusted for all occasions oy lu-
dicou> manipulation Of tue buttons his frayed waist
bands. hi, shining trousers, his White walstcoat, MS
uncon>ciouSly foiorn poverty apd his unquenchablo
spirit Of hope aud low, and honor. is no longer
Holland has made him living man.
\ slender thread Of 4 love-story IS woven into tho
fabric by the eXPedent OF providing Colonel Carter
with female ward, ard causing him 10 fall In love
with her. Elderly men. IL is assumed do sometimes
feel that wound, ana when they feel ii they suher.
The slrl, Of course, bestOws her affections upon a.
YOUTH VINO woes her; and the C0lonels apprehension
of the true state of the matter affords HIM moment
of that celestial magnanmity which, IN all such
cases, j. supposed TO anOId the sufferer an adequate
consolation. May cannot mate with December. Iech-
ncay. tie SUSPENSION Of The lo!elnerest during Two
~cshicd 10y me ehlenIl TO HnseF upon ueta'i,; Inc
that is mpcrili,d and redeemed.
rms ? ay has been provided with setting alto
scene, oi Virginia life spacious and beautiful
Mr. Palmer i, not reluctant - embclllsh with lavish
wa, wise to believe m this llay and To mount 1t in
superb manner. The romantic aspect OF american
% AlubnmnS and Colonel Carter -, Cartersvle i,
IN suspicious pclude - the emancipation Of TIE
American theatre from the mdeous iacuhu, OF muck
and mbeciliS that las Ieen laid dpon 1t by tho,s
r-tifcrous theatrical t'adorstat of lOcu>t> -,
who treat the adnlinl>t.atIon OF the drama as II il
were sor; of trahhc in pickles ami nightmare aud
has almost crushed ont all the true lie Of The stage
In the casting OF plays Mr. Palmer was always
actors has again been justified in this pre'entment:
Mr.. Charlie, /. liarrl, presented the faithful
character the Coonel; ana Mr. laTlsS expression
Of the humorous attributes, ne wisdom, and the
highest degree faithful to nature AMI finished am.
superb n, art. The sudden conn exit of Chad. at the
Of any especial of his master should DO
noted rs a capital stroke of humor .
The N1lly. patient. tolerant f1u Is most agreaDly
presented by Mr.. Parry mOie and with unexpected
carncstness and authoritative weight Ann Carter The
Mis-, Nancy OF the story. l. assigned To Adelaide
Rowe widow Of the late George fawceu Rowe, ID
whom the audience recognized 4 player OF marked
refinement Of method and suitably elegant poe and
grace OF dcme:nor.
The east I'm full should be recorded
Colonel George Fairfax Catcr.....-.E. VI. Holland
T.. B. Ftfpltrlck............-.M Maurice Ba,fyhl
Wills Morgan $3.50. T.. NJ bel
Judge l. h. keroot Iys sander Thompson
Major Thomas {. lancy ........--t hhrles w butrr
chad Charles L. Harris
i. \. klutchcn heun. + IN
Mr.. Window Walu,h
NdOlphinc Kramer Nir baftett
Mr.. ErcyStOnc r; - Aoees