New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-28
THE DRAMA-MUS1C.
.nA REHAN AS VIOLA.

prc''u ,orce not only in his personal expert
a ue' t., that of his time. and the presence Of
CIV" N actor satisfies contemplation with the
s''" :, noble achievement which neither can be
sens NOR denied |, was. accordingly. with
shaNe" Of repose and comfort that a numerous
deep ., the most intellectual and refined char
auo'" ,con,el Miss Rehan. last night; In
ae"' r,e,,re and looked again upon her beautiful
Dag noe Of Viola in Shakespeare's comedy OF
p-,s,h Night" The character typifes adorable
made sublime by self abnegation.
WIZ ,saerng both its esserce and the conditions
a". shiloh |; is manifestsd.-'t Is one that can
uhue ."rsonated only by a woman vino. profcen,
DC '' .,,,eradds spiritual charm to physical en-
IN az ,,, Miss Rehan successful In Viola.
cha"' srst because she glided naturally into
iroh a,,,ons and because she con,en: TO
'ho'' a,i not strive to do. She has played the
oe' .,v times within the last twenty months,
pa'' - sxecltion of II has matured IN freedom.
anu ,n,v preclslon and dispatch; but her present.
neAo" - !, remains unchanged. The spirit of her
mel .,ll combines passion. romance. melancholy.
". DEL natence and delicious sweetness. while the
WIS.," 'ra garment is joyous buoyancy and humorous
see an arowr bv s,aaesnaare
-. most brilliant Of his women and not the
.onesst but certainly the most lovely OF them In
..,tns of Miss Rehans performance of Viola.
'..,.tors the observer who looks beyond the In
20, and beneath the surface Ia profoundly I'm
,.ssea with the personality Of the actress. Art
- accomplish much. but a true soul comes from
60 and the incarnation OF noble attributes in Nv
w. ,ra nractlcal force is Of greater value to the
lid than any creation OF art however perfect.
:, vans, he remembered that the influence exerted
:. sucb an actor as Miss Rehan enters into the
.,p,rlence OF hundreds of people.-especially OF
,,une people-and may have much to do with the
.b,pIng of their characters and the direction Of
,hesr destiny. Let forerun the historian OF the
,sxt century. and say now what will be said then
hs. the present generation has reason 10 be CRATE
,nl not only that 1t such piece OF dramatic
49,, as Miss Rehan's assumption of Viola. but that
~ actress so richly endowed. abundanty
.cu,nned and so keeny sensible OF her intellectual
responsibility exists 10 labor for Its welfare. lis
MEASURE and iis peace Few persons in our time
have diffused so much happiness or deserved so
we'll the public affection and respect. 4 particular
description Of Miss Rehans portrayal OF VIOLA see
,ng that IT has been given in this column more than
o,ca will scarcely be expected now. The actress
was welcomed with unstin;ed enthusiasm. and from
FIRST 10 last her fluent, sparkling. tender I'M
,arsona ton held her audience as with the glamour
81 fairy spell AT time has that comic due'-
scene passed off with more spright.ness OF froiic'
and which is still more TO the purpose-at no
time has the spirit of those exquisite passages IN
shch Viola expresses the simple forttude OF
Of truth or more wealth and sweetness Of feeling.
The pers that beset portrayal Of Viola are artice
lapguor and monotony A poetic drift may become
,syerie The part of Viola needs to be frequently
spIcsi with glee In order 10 keep II steadily ef-
sscive
Upon the manifold charms OF the Twelfth
Night II would be superfiuous here 10 linger As
often as it is produced however. the recorder OF
dramatic doings is conscious Of the impulse OF
MIA hat Of
ae at every point. and yet a play which alures the
pectator into a realm OF dream and fancy. far
rom ali pain and trouble. and above all that IL com
non and mean The romance Of Viola. the periur-
,a;lon OF Olivia the passion OF Ors!no the phan;asy
Il Nalvolio the rogush merrirnent OF Maria. the
ibicrnd humo- OF Sir Toby. and the ludicrous
atuity of silly Sir Andrew-an those are elements
4 delicious medley. mos; enjoyable 10 contem-
,la;e end very dear 10 remember. In Mr.. Days
xpcrt treatment Of the comedy II has. by judcious
'xcis:ons and by the Introduction OF music and OF
irana iicsy symbolic picture. been relieved OF some
light tediousness. The auditor has enough OF NAL
ol:o. withou; having consider AL OF him-and
hat. in actual representation, is distinct gain;
or While Ma.volio is the principal man in the play.
nd of shakespaares happies. creations' ne
rows monotonous in the acting. The part has now
zen committed to Mr.. Dixey, and his management
II was judicious II would be easy 'or 'nat
.omedan 20 give effec; TO the comcal aosurdity OF
ne characterize depict the ridiculous proceedings
o. solemn, concelted who fanc!es that iau!
s in love With him The thing he was not expected
o debut which. nevertheless. he dd.-was TO
Indicate Malvolio man OF formidable CHARACTER
.us:ere spirit and individual import such a man.
,sria.nly h. u.s. as drawn b. Shakespeare-a man
rho tyoiles the very madness or egotism MI
Dixey's gravity was entirely and wisely ana deNsht-
uiy righ, in being from the soul and not simply
r the face His psuses Of elaboration were po'h
liscreet and involunterily comic. and his use Oh
go.ce had feIlcitous interpretative effect. as
l.r-niaatirs both character ana text Ire per
,ona;lon has room to grow in breadth. freeoofn'
sItt,ety AID elabo.a;l oc. but 10 perform
snce hitherto given by Mr.. Dixcy has shown
20 nuca thought iais ono shows. or nag so Gear
y indicated hts posscrs ion Of superior powers. he
VIZ often and Justly spp.audec. the revels OF Sir
TOBY ana Sir Andrew. conducted as 10 De huinof-
oas without being coarse. were accomplished with
an effect OF general Joy by Mr.. James Lewis and
M Gresham
Ii is astonishing what wealth Of rich huinor
Mr. Internationally n slender person ana Oh
qulzzical whimsical. playful temperament
has expressed and conveyed In his acting OF o'r
Toby Belcn. Miss Carlisle appeared as DIVA ana
Miss Haswei Maria. The stage setting OF Inc
comedy Is IN exquisite taste. one scene In par
ticuar.-if the present writer may use again 'he
words that he has elsewhere written on TINS sud
;ec,-presents a striking Illustration. ana one de-
serving OF particular remark. as contrasting the
dfan,at tic method with that Of words the scene Is
oiy's's garden The time Is evening. VIOLA dis-
sui'e1 as the minstrel Cesaro, having received an
'rtHat!oa that perh cps her brother sebastian mas
1o' been drowned. has spoken her joyous sohioquS
upoa that ausplcous thought. and has sunk into d
SEAT In meditation. The moon is rising over me
aas.s1t SEE. and in the fanc!ed freshness OF t1e
0any rising breeze you can almost hear the ripple
oi the leaves The love.orn Orsno enters, win
many musicians and they sing serenade beneath
'ns windows of Ollyia's palace The proud beauty
zones forth upon her balcony, ana, parting her
'aL looks down upon Viola-whom she loves, sup
pos'ns her to be man. Meantime. Orsino IL ghZ-
ing up at Olivia. whom he worshipr. while Viola ~
nusns on Orsino, whom she adores. Not word Is
'pcken and "A is needed The garden is all
~ moonlight: the delicious music flows on: ana
sser that picture-entlrely dramatic crystaiiizins
A'o one diamond point the whole meaning 81 the