The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-28
PLAYS IN VIVID CONTRAST.
sHAKEsPEARE AND BARRIE ACTED
ny IRVING and WILLARD.


Land OF the Midnieht sun -" The Msr-
chant of Venice" ss at the Lorson LJc-un
The writings Of J. NJ Barrie for the stage re-
duiro discriminate audiences II they are to be
appreciated and enjoyed. Just as his stories arc
keen 10 some readers and dull to others, but
there was the desirable assemblsge Mt the
Garden Theatre last evening for Tho Pro-
fessor's Love story" and 80 the comedy gave
much pleasure No real experiment was then
made with it, because q trial OF lite quail
tiles in this city last year had proved
their merits The professors story Is tho
very old one 81 n sedate bachelor who
wins the heart OF n younger woman without
knowing it. and without being aware oil the
state OF his own feelings until the affair has
lasted in uncertainty long enough to provide
sufficient matter for book or play. That isa
story that has been told 40 often and 80 well
that. in order 10 be entertaining again. 1t must
be wordod by master in fiction Mir. barrie
has done IL with rare literary success.
and what is more TO tho purpose OF
theatrical entertainment. with an orig
inal development OF such characters
and Incidents us make up n rather lively and
altogether delightful comedy The freshness
and charm Of novelty to DO found In Mr.. Bar
rios books nre present in this play. and.
while at times the action trembles on the
verge OF absurdity. 1t never falls into IT. The
author has taken the risks involved in disre.
garding the ordinary usaGes Of stngecraft. and
that course has led TO triumph which.
though It can hardly he wide or popular.
should make him proud Of his achievement.
T. = Willard is sound and proficient actor.
not brilliant, but admirably meritorous. Ills
art is true and discreet lie Is the sort OF
player whom one auditor takes exceeding de-
light in and the equally capable observer In
the next seat is bored Ly: but he Ia lighter.
and therefore far more generally gratifying.
in The Professors Love Story" than in any
other Of the pieces in which he has appeared
here. His representatio OF the absent mind
ed scholnr. profoundly engaged in scientific
WORK. and thon lapsinG from his devotion as
savant unconsciously into devotion as
lover Of his fair young assistant. gives
exactly tho right treatment TO the part as
written: The chatneter is made to HSp iI TO
SnT ps Mo with his S @
vet we nre quite serious in wishing him to get
tliat girl She is very gentle ant engaging
acted by Marie burroughs. who is WELCOME
back to our stage after long absence. The
set OF scenery 10 uncommonly handsome. and
the whole manner Of the performance is praiee-
worthy. A. N. palners management Of tho
Garden Theatre began last night pleasantly.
THE Merchant OF Venice" was performed
Mt Abbey's Theatre by Henry Irving Ellen
Terry. and others o,tho Irving company last
evening ntteT tne manner pl IHb lbuuOu
ceum. aud as wo saw 1t when these players
were in this city before Mr.. Irving has not
changed his delineatlon OF Shyocl, and
makes him Genter and moro humane
man than Shakespeare meant perhaps
whilo surely less hatcfully venGeful than
most other aetors Of cmi9ence haze
softenod. ami his reverence OF his religion and
his love OF his daughter are accentr8,ed. Mr
sivc men. with their traits OF mind and sinGu:
larities Of APPEARANCE strongly EXPRESSED. and
sSSmcthtnG imsanGiSe yet ntse1 thas SsGiE61
his Sjy'ork. who-ii II be true, that Shake;
speare created the character to be ridicn!ed
contempt In this. performance and maintncd
in dignity. The delivery Of the text is not de-
tive. Int there is an intensity that rises stead
lily 70 climax % exceedingly powerful effect
where the actor was wonderfully vivid and
Mr. irving does not cut Tho Merchant OF
Venice" short with the disa ppearnnce OF Sig
.2cS hut GiySYF; the last act depend ts on the
point in her playing OF f"TGa has been reached
aberoyia,iOn seams to be iusIiGed by this
giving OF the comedy entire. Miss Terry's
tcrance and motion preserved and with It's
nervous tension and force seemincly in
creased by the physical e3ndition OF the &C.
very best achievements, II found great favor
with tho audience st A6bey's. and she shared
applause The cast was an efficient one from
tho numerou company brought from London.
The artistic moulding OF the play needs no
new description.
The Columbus Theatre had last night play
new TO New York in Land OF the Midnight
sun" by Edwin Barbour. The author in u
line on tho programme gave credit to Hall
Gaines novel. Tho Bondsman." for some OF
the plays incidents. but aside from the origl-
nality OF the work. 1t proved to be
an attraction OF strong interest to its
first Harlem audience with opportunities
for scenic display which were well cared for
competently looked alter. It's story hung upon
two halt brothers. unknown TO each other. the
elder OF whom Xa ga an IGelandic giant, who
by birth and OF gentler disposition. Fall
ing in love with tho same woman; the
brothers hate was Increased. Eventually they
met In an lcelandic mine where they were
the hope that they would discover thelr iden-
tity and quarrel fatally. But this foe oyerdid
his GiIainy as stage Pl9S'erS ;oG are prone
young, bro, touched tho elders hear!
and led toward their reconciliation and
dslivsrance and the plays ending happily As
this was worked out il soon became evident
that probability Of incident or reasonablencss
the dramatist or else he had widely missed his
mark Probably he tried merely to hmuse
and In that he succeeded. II last nights Hu-
disncs is a fair one to Judge By. and there Was
no evidence OF anything but genulnenrss In Its
many signs OF approval. The Columbus gallery
has been Justly noted for its enthusiasm, and
it's endorsement Of scene after scene OF almost
imposs BILE dOings was not surprising. hut en-
IoYment Of these same things was plainly gen
eral in the balcony and orchestra. There WAS
little chance for failure IN respect to the actors
employed. for they all did their work 90 con-
scientiously and skilluly that no nishaDs oc-
Cured TO excite mirth at the wrong
time and such an occurrence early In
the plays progress would have been nearly
fatal, for II would have set q precedent
TO be many times repeated II any Jingle men,
Der OF the company could be said to have eX-
eelled the others, that one would be the author
as idp. .i0HyrsdIhe": but his was 10 more
prominent a part than half dozen others
done nearly II not quite as we'll or scenery
thers was an abundance, most Of II very good.
storm and shipwTeck upon the bleak coast
OF Iceland was good featurS OF the first act
but the greatest effort came in a scene
showing the sulphur mines in volcanic
regions, worked by conyicts. A corner OF the
walled enclosure was shown. backed up by "a
range OF distant mountains which smoked and
glowed with volcanic hires. Inside tho walls
the prisoners worked. while flames burst from
the ground at thelT feet at irregular Intervals.
The local disturbance resulting from in
10 h. 81, - Q..a