The morning call., 1893-09-17

King of France, and with the lapse of time
conviction has become fixed In the minds
of those who saw these now dead and gone
actors in the part that poor Sheridan, who
sleeps his last sleep beneath the sky OF
Australia, was the best Of them all.
One reason. perhaps, why such a multi
tudInous audience assembled at the Grand
last evening was to judge between Sheridan
and Irving and to find whether the latter
by his superior skill in the analytical por-
trayal of this difficult role would compel
US to the icanoclastic act of dIsplacng
from his pedestel the hIstrionic ideal be-
fore whose memory we have 60 long
bowed and put in his place the actor from
beyond the seas.
1t is we'll understood that comparisons
in art are not true canons of criticism. but
they are made on every occasion, despite
the manifest Injustice of such a way to ar
rive at conclusions, which must neces-
sarily be incorrect Every actor must be
judged by himself. He Is not supposed to
initiate any contemporary, but studying
from sound premises, to evolve as per-
fectly as may be the historical or other
character he undertakes to present.
MIR. irving Is sui generis In his working
out of the French King. We have seen
nothing like his Interpretation of one of
whom it may be said. as Pope described
DdCDU, lHdb H6 was kUc WlScSt, RI6HseSl
and meanest" of all the Kings who ruled
in France. With all Louis mesnnesses,
cruelties ana generally hateful character,
Irving does not forget that he is King.
and that he was born In the purple; that
he was ambitious, and that in his ambi-
tion he recreated France by suppressing ali
the petty pUtentates. tie most formidable
of which was the Burgundian Duke. and
merging their little powers into ono grand
nation. He did TO France what the Kaiser
William and Bismarck did in cur own day
to Germany. In his physical treatment
of this remarkable man-Old, i'll, super
stitious. dreading death, which made him
exhibit submission to the priests of the
church as we'll as to his physician. jacques
| COltler, but with mind clear enough to
grasp and control all the political
questions that concerned his country
Irving proved himself a genius, or
most aboriOus student, which, as some
one remarks. is another name for genius.
His sudden transitions were marvellous.
! With the tOttering gait OF age, with a wan
face, sunken eyes, and with death marked
| in every feature. he would flash out by
| turns in sudden fits of rage, religious en-
| thusiasm. jocoSeness. The part is foil Of
| abrupt transitions.
Mr.. William Terriss distinguished him.
! self as the Due de Nemours. His manly
| figure, vrile action and clear ringing voice
caught the audience by storm. He has
| never Deen seen 10 SOcn an advantage In
any part he has played during this engage
ment. His youthful vtgor made a Splen-
| did foil to the feebieness and waning
physical energy of the King. The scene in
the throneroom, when he meets Louis as
the En- mbassador from his cousin and his
! foe, Charles the Bold, was replete with
all the taking qualities of what
may be called heroic acting, and
| again in the glade scene, when the news
of the Dukes defeat and death in a battle
| with the Swiss is brought TO Louis while
| he is temporiZing with De Nem0urs and his
| Burgundians concerning lie treaty with
Charles. 1t may be looked for that the
! future of Mr.. Terriss will be as one of the
greatest actors of tho English stage. With
such physique and mental equl pment as
nature has gifted him. there can be no OBJ
stacle to his gaining this proud position
He is going through such a schooling now
as will ensure it, The Irving mantle will
| fall On his shoulders.
The scene OF the play is in and near the
| Castle of Plessis-les-Tours, aud the mag
nIficent setting of the first act, showing the
| ex. x.erior of this old historical fortress with
the professional paReantry, including the
| church dignitaries, men-at-arrns and
| knights in armor. indicated that there was
! to be full stage picture of this great
drama all through its successive acts, and
| not mere sketch as we have seen il pre-
| sented heretofore. The indication was
fully sustained. Louis Xl was never be-
fore presented in this city with such scenic
| THE forsst ulade seane asnsrially in the