New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
IRVING As MATTHIAS.

A revival of ..rbe Bells'' was effected at Abbey $
Theatre last night and Mr.. Irving lnperSona'eu
the haunted murderer. Mathias.-iinpreSS'"s -
audience, and holding his hearers sPehD0 "
close OF artistic effort the most o''o' 49,
powerful. the contemporary stage III Wv
wide range of romantic drama IL wac Ct"
that this famous actor made his first appearance
IN Ap,orc, FOR, vears ago at the Star Theatre.
and the performance Immediately becdine' """' II
has ever since remained. a cause Vi 'u vi
vergence of judgment and opinion NO "o " "
is admired by everybody. Some people i'"e' anu
some people dislike. Those persons 10 " "
Irving's acting is agreeable have Always iouhi
especial pleasure in his performance III Inc p''''
Those an tho contrary 10 whom It is less attractive
have particularly objected TO the embodiment Oh
Misunderstanding 1t to be defectiVe III 'o",
elocution demeanOr. illustrative staSe-ouse'9' "'
naturalness of personality. That oiu co""o'e'''
long since became tedious Mr. Irving mas "o' ~
IinOuished any part OF his method. ana 'he PROOF
that he has always been right is the lasting NtaS
of the fascination that his embodiment Vi 'he
haunted murderer continues to exert. ne II oi
the stage during nearly the whole OF the P'!' an"
he does not for single instant CEASE W NC an
object of absorbing interest. A very '"'
part of the piece is soliloquy-and tha' Is o"e "
the sternest tests to which actor can be sub
jected whether as the artist or the man. MI ir'-
ings voice is stronger richer more neNo'e ''a'
was ten wears ago and his manner Is, possibly
marked by more supreme authority anu conS"i'''"'e
ease. But in other respect was MS e'oo''''e'
of Matthias in any way changed IL remains "s l"
has ever been an inspiration of dramatic genius
Matthias is a murderer. who. for many years mas
concealed his crime and who is inwardiy pheh'eo
not alone with the dread Of being discovered as
criminal. but with the dark sense OF Mucous IN
EQUITY He distinctly says That ne orlhns 10
drown remorse. The note OF remorse Is the note
that Mr. Irving strikes If Matthias were not en-
bodied as a sufferer from remorse he would lose
the quality of pathos and he would fail to arouse
pity and sympathy. He would be simply resolute
crafty vigilant and steadfast criminal, occupied
merely with the careful preservation OF his secret
Mr. Irving makes him Intellectual but also ne en-
dows him with acute sensibilIty. The impersona-
ton Is therefore. deeply touching-a wonderful
portrayal of human suffering in nature OF fine
strain and under circumstances OF hishy ora
matte and pictorial character The play or The
Bells" when treated prosily,-as 1t was, for ex-
ample by Mr. Coquen.- becomes tedious MI
Irvng's treatment Of 1t Is poetic and therefore 'he
spectator is lifted tension OF great excitement
and Is held there. The drama becomes sunused
with atmosphere Of spectral terror. mehachg
phantom half-seen, alf-imagined. hovers In the
encircng shadow. Whispers Of warning hoat In
the air and far away but drawing nearer. Is
heard the foot fall Of impending doom. Mr.. Irving.
more than any actor OF our time. and more thah
any actor OF whom there Is a record-has greatly
succeeded in the Interpretation or characters mus
invested with the environments Of mystery rear
and horror: characters that are grizzly and hid
eous but such as have about them certain weird
and forlorn singuarty and awful pathos Louis
XII Matthias Eugene Aram. Mephistopheies-in the
dark and desolatc but terribly beautiful realm OF
art indica ed by those names Henry irving stands
alone Every body who cares for his acting ought
certainly to see him in The Bells" Nothing like
It Is to be found elsewhere.
Mr. Irving. upon his first entrance. was welcomed
BY enthusiastic plaudits that were slow to cease.
and he had four recalls after each curtain. AT the
last there was a tumult OF cheers and an urgent
demand for speech. and thcreupon Mr.. Irving
spoke follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: should be stock
stOne-if ] did not respond 10 your generous
and even anectionate greeting. am very grateful
for the welcome with which you have honorei
US tonight have no adequate words to thank YOU
only my blood speaks TO you In my veins
This was the play in which had the honor 10
make my first appearance in this capital ana
before this great public. You were Kind 10 us
then and | am. indeed. rcjoiced TO find that your
generous favor. your afectionate goodwill III
may venture to say so. still endures.
The cast of characters in THE Bells Is given
below Mr. Terriss. Mr.. Johnson. Mr.. Howe ana
Miss Kate Phillips were conspicuously efficient.
Mania
hrs