New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-27
THE nRAMA-MUSIC.
WILSON BARRETT IN THE MANXMAN.

man" had it's frs. representation in America. The
audience was numerous and both the actor and the
play we're welcomed with interest and favor. Mr.
Wilson Barrett's conspicuous ability in the dramatic
art is as wei known and highly appreciated in
America as 1t is in England, and wherever he goes
he surely will find friendly audience and the good
VIII OF al persons who respect earnest endeavor and
talents we'll used In heroic drama in domestic
drama, and in the tragic vein which sometimes
flows out OF them. Mr.. Wilson Barrett has shown
himself to be one OF the most accomplished. he
certainly is one OF the most successful actors OF the
present period His drift. az an artist does not APP
pear 10 he either imaginative or spiritual and there
FORE, probably. his performances are not always
sympathetic to those auditors whose requires
werdness Of atmosphere, high intellectually. and
the rare graces OF poetic ideal He IL. however.
distinctvely human.-ihat is to say. he Is actively
sympathetic with the elemental traits OF every
day character and the common and usual joys and
sorrows of mankind. His best successes have been
gained In simple types of manncss. combining
rugged strength with tender feeling. and in pays
OF homelike texture and ddacc trend Some
men are born 70 moralize. and throughout all the
acting of Mr.. Wilson Barrett there has ever been
the note Of the preacher. He would, probably.
sympathize with the Hermit of Nthside. and II Is
easy to believe that no one could possibly prove
better Interpreter OF such strong earnest and gen
tie themes as those that moved the genius of the
poet crabhe-so well designated by Lord Byron as
Natures siernest painter, y"t tho best" In the
hero OF THE Manxman' he has found n character
with which his mind is completely harmonious. and
on this occasionanimlted by novelties OF environ
ment and by the applause OF an eager and excited
audience-hc put forth all his powers and he was
seen to the creates, possible advantage The spirit
OF the part is the spirit OF Enoch Arden The
image that the actor has t. present is that Of a
man. in very humble position OF social llfe-a
rude un;etered simple sai;or.-whose nature Is all
goodness and who. under bitter trial. cruel in
justice and overwhelming grief instinctvely aims
after the first Wild impulse Of natural resentment
To bear all sorrows with patience ana TO treat all
persons with magnanimous consideration and sweet
and gentle charity. The mpcrsonatlon given by
Mr.. Wilson Barrett. picturesque in aspect ex-
peditious in action. vital with feeling. potent by
reason of sincerity. and delightful because OF novel
traits and external embellishments frcsh. charac-
toristic. and harmonious with the pari.-was one OF
equal power ana beauty the power Of simple truth
and the beauty Of wel-conslGcred and effective art
1t VIII benefit all persons who see ii-because il will
touch their hearts and because II will strengthen
in their minds the instructive belief in heroism AMI
goodness which dwel.s at the basis OF human nature
and which Is the Only sure foundation Of social
life I; succeeds. ana 4. ought to succeed
The play Of THE Manxman" is "A piece that has
been made by Mr. Wilson Barrett himself upon
the basis Of story 10y Mr.. Hall Game The novel
and the play are somewhat at variance
jill 1t precision and moral drift The novelist ap-
outrageous fortune"-In other words. OF the hor-
rible injustice that may result and sometimes
doubtless does result, from human trcachery or
animal dcpraVity. or moral weakness. the force
OF low passions. and the ins2nsate cruelty OF "A hard
heart one Of the pcculiaritcs OF contcmpor aneous
fiction is the .ortraturc % rcmcdlless misery.
quent upon hGcous wrongioing that apparently
prospers and never Is punished. The dramatis.. on
the contrary. seems 10 have wished 10 teach the
ancient lesson Of retribution and 70 teach II with
strenuous force. and by picture as Ncll prsccpt
IT ~ no; point OF importance. The main th.ns
Is that play should be- a play-that II should have
feet ana should move Morals always bc
above art in fha Mr. wlIson barrett not~th
standing his twist in favor OF declaring the obvious
very powerful play out OF ,rlie. however touch
ing. story FOR NOTHING surely could be- more es-
scntially triie FOR the purposes OF the stage than
a. III bnS ,risoIa sve ne me" wom,n ''' in
other. aud IN which the woman either capriclou~ly
or from Irrational weakness IL hurtful TO both.
spares sonncts over Hsain. II ~ the story Of "A
artist. however. must max. old thing by
piquant treatment ana that L. III. achievement
rIyes sOr; OF z~si from being domciled In the
is,e , 81 MAP t'Ke ~, 'n na nnd
rves sill greater rest from It's bold and spirited
duct The topic IL painful but Of course II Is one
that canrot be Ignored. Objection has beer, made
ana ought 10 be- made. to the msus" - II. 10 the
introduciion Of fCr The "nnton purpoS OF reach-
ing coarsencss b. the no~"fy path Of ethical wv
the power that apper1ains to the passion OF love
and the part that II plays In human Affairs. The
how from it, errors and It's sins naturally
portion OF The material ~ all literature and all art
1ut mere ~ 'sny mn nEI Do nrn MIN '', f
late been rather uuscrupulously followed. ana 70
20, .~rhn ManxmSn" mat whateyer cisc II mag b..
II is not "a prolacin play II presents an ex-
ample OF poignant human suffering: resultant rom
weakness and from uninicrtional sin, but IT. pur
pose Is pathoI not pollution II does not cXpatiatc
o,er disease Its obvious moral lesson Is empha
Si2ed with somewhat paitry insist"nce-as II II
.erc necessary TO puncture yourself with pin In
order to ascertain that pins have points: But It Is
clean In object II does not portray vice FOR th"
sake OF vice and II do"s not load the mind win
nth II is in striking conir S Win sn el Pre-
queray" and The Masqueraders" and II merits
the hcartier welcome for that reason IL has story
character incident situation and effect. and II EN-.
mobiles the observers mind BY showing type OF
ing the springs Of human pity The situations In act
third reminiscent Of those IN "Belphegor and
original and they are among the most dramati caliy
effective that have been invented In our time The
LETTER expedent is truly stroke OF genius. In the
scene of the mothers return TO her child neither OF
the y the er quite eR ha p S e the pay sm MI
nates,-all that follows being explanation and d.
Mr wilson Barrett has brough, a well-choscn
and competent dramatic company. Miss Maud
Jeffrcs a tall, picturesque person. remarkable for
great sensibty and nervous force. impersonated
the heroine. who is more woman than charac-
SON The earlier scenes Were marked by piquant
charm. the later scenes by the passionate emotion
OF differentiation the woman OF this story wishes
10 do right and Is irresistbly impelled TO 20
wrong Miss Jeffries, although dark beauty. Is
strangely suggestive OF Miss Mary Anderson May
her career be az brilliant as that OF her honored
,redece ssor md as beneficial to the stage anu 10
the world, sir Wilson Barrett ana MISS MAUI Man,
Jefrres were rewarded with enthusiastic paudlts
a nd their associates OF the cast most deservedly
participated In that emphatic tribute OF popnia,
approval An admirable impersonatlon OF a hard
and cantlng old sectarian was given by MI Am.
brose Manning. The least adequate enort Is mat OF
II would DE- tedious to dwell upon the mcihents
81 the siory Enough IL said when II Is said tnat
nov are employed to depict the manner In which
he knowledge OF a great and terrible and deplora-
HE wrong was brought home TO TIE victim OF IT,
and the sublime patience with which ne bore MS
grief. =, ..,,,, - 49, oo,,r,o,o
ness OF the record Of this excellent and we-staged
production: