New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-07
THE ORA MA.
MIR. JEFFERSON.

Little II anything. remains to be said abom' MI
JeHerson's mpersonation OF Rip VA WhKle'
II has been conspicuous before the world through
ont nearly the whole period of one generation. IL
made it's way slowly at first but it presently en''ced
universal sympathy. and it has not only sratified
the popular heart, but educated the popular taste
As it was in the beginning. so it is now'-an IN
spration of dramatic genius and a work OF per-
feet dramatic art. II satisfies the IMAGINATION by
its romantic and spiritual qualities ana IL WINS the
affections by its humanity. II has hau many mn
tators, but ii has had no parallel The only o'her
dramatic embodiment OF our time That Vies win II
in the potency of charm is Mr.. lrvins's Or. Prim-
rose; but involves element OF the prefer
natural and is. therefore kindred with II only III
sweetness and grace. Jefersons Rip Van Wrinkle
stands alone i'm fact, and it will always stand
alone in memory.
The secret OF its supremacy is not obscure 1t
has bewitched the world. for the very simple rea'
son that II has successfully applied the method OF
poetic treatment to common things That is easily
done-when you happen to be able 10 do II; but
you will not accomplish ii unless you were born win
the faculty of the poe.. The student of this sub
ject has Just now an excellent opportunity to con-
sider with the aid of practical illustration, the
philosophy of the whole broad question of natural
acting Mr. Jefferson.-who appeared last night
at the Star Theatre and deeply delighted great
multitude as Rip Van Winke,-presents the poetic
view. Mr.. Ilerne. who is at the Fifth Avenue, VIII
show you how it is done in prose. Both actora
aim at nature. Both touch the heart. But the
method of Mr. jefferson is incomparably the best
because while that comedian is just as true TO fact
as IL he had encumbered himself with all
the paraphernal!a Of the kitchen and the stable
he adorns all that he touches, and shows every
common object through Il glamour of refinement
and grace Mr.. Herne is prose. Mr. Jefferson is
poetry. All the talk about the bottle and the sot
and the bad example and the bad lesson is
lie cha ter nothing
profits by temperance lecture. The very worst
way In which 10 endeavor TO exercise sood In
fuence. through the medium of a work OF art, Is
the didactc way. The moment you begin to preach
on the stage YOU are bore and you overshoot
your mark and miss your object The real moral
OF Rip Van Wnkle.-the moral OF genteness ana
love in human intercourse and OF beauty ana h
cheer in human life,-steas mperceptibly INTO me
mind and it stays there long after the picture has
been lost to sight. Nobody ever saw Mr.; Jefferson
as Rip Van Wink!e--and liked it at all--withort
being made happier and better FOR the spectacle
The mere dramatic mechanism alone rs lasting
comfort to the sense of symmetry ana the peiccP-
ton of finished execution .,.....,u, ,o..
The comedian was as earnest and thorough e iaS.
night as he has ever been. and 1t was dellghtluiy
apparent thai the deep springs OF feeling py VIZ.
tue Of which he Is able to animate one oil tn are m s
rich and coplous and potent; SIN enchan'ing t., N
ing strength. Mr. jefferson was hailed with an
affectonate welcome. and often cheered win hearty
applause The scene with the ghosts maj sne
Is of the most eloquent pathete ana peau.iiu ~
expositionS of the best power ana idppiHesS y,
drt.ma;,c art-to thrill and ennoble all who behold
It--that the stage has ever disclosed The old
dra,n. has been mounted with care and taste, The
moon lii desolation of the solitary mountain sum-
nit with the shadowy shapes of the grotesque
Vet weird spectres slowly stealing into view. was,
in particular most inpressivey indicated: nothing
marred the picture except that the music was some
called and at the end Of act first wss con- Gn
}eats IFS own enjoyment by insisting upon
such interruption and the actor is o6s bS
accepting such recalls The cast Of cooperative
parts is more than commonly good Mr. Varrey
perbaps little overcharged with cruelty ana
Violence for purely fanciful play. yet, unhappy;
moi untrue to actual NE Gretchen was played
with discretion and judc;ous force by Miss Berlin
and NeeniS was swectly presented by Miss Bender,
who lacks however. sincerity and strength IN the
dinicut moment of the recognition. That ciimax
is a remote echo of scene In king Lear, ana
n needs almost a Corielias emotion to convey ns
full effect This is the complete cast: