New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-01
THE DRAMA.
HENRY IRVING AND ELLEN TERRY-DR
PRIMROSE AND OLIVIA


PRIMROSE AND OLIVIA.
7,,,oro &c o charm in this representation. which
may No Indicated but cannot be exactly defined.
-rhc p!av relates to simple things. and the acting
Of all the players who are concerned III us per
Torrance is marked by absolute simphciN' Inc
atmosphere. to be sure, is Doetca ana SO the Ie-
snl Is truth trarsigu~ed into beauty; and perhaps
the secret Of the enchantment consists IN tha'
artistic use of a simple theme. Goldsmith story
of the Vicar Of Wakefield, upon when MI Wits
built his play. contains many matters lhat are
not touched in this epitome OF II. Inc ui"'"t'St
sought only to display against the pacNsrou"u 81
eeo, domestic and rural life, the beauty Of pater-
nal love- A gentle girl who is deceived by hcNie
lover finds her refuge in her iathers arms anu
&c brought back wounded and sorrowful. but saie
from harm, to the home she had thought loIcNe'
lost. That is the substance OF the drama Inc
charm is in the treatment
AZ Irving and Miss Terry have lite need OF effort
for the portrayal of Or. Primrose and DIVA Hii-
pllc.ty OF character in the one and dehc'ouS p
nuancv Of tenperament in the other, comoneA WIN
great sens8bI.ty and tenderness OF heart III oo'"'
make those crnboG.mcnts spontaneous cas-! an.
ns:urai 80 dramatic picture 50 cniIreiy De~u'll"l
as that with which they close the hTs' ac"-'le
picture Of the family group in the Ycarage si'ue"
AT evening twilight, while the chimes are souhuIhs
from the church tower ana when the Old clersy-
man enjoins submission TO their misforiune'-laS
been presented on the stage in our time; LOT IL -
beautiful not alone to the eye. but TO lhe near
Miss Terry's expression Of O,lvlas awakening u
Thornhnps treachecy, in tie scene at the nm -
not simply a display OF great hisirion'c power Oul
q wonderful denotement Of womarhood. You do not
reayze until az is over tn1t You nsVe ~
acins. and th2, ne eHper.ence ms s-i,.e
confr~i If dramatic situation low l.4'1- .E'N VI!
brilliantly at the climax. when the father mas
yanlv tried to rebuke the daughters fault fet IL
is not by single details but by complete menthca-
tion that ne has made DR.. Primrose dominant
and impressive among the best OF his works II
is personation that endears Itself by the attributes
of virtue and sweetness by thoughunl ana gfhte
gravity and by that spirit Of charity ana love-
which is at once the chief blessing of this world
and its Only ground OF spiritual hope. No one can
see this performance without being made better.
Il is more than dramatic art; IL is religion.
The enthusiasm of the great audience last night
was marked and earnest. especially at the close
Of act third when Miss Terry and Mr.. Irving were
again and again recalled. Mr. Terriss Gistin-
guished himself by a fine performance Of squire
Thornnin Mr.. Howe as the Farmer Miss Cole
ridge as Sophie. Mr.. Cooper as Burcheil and Mr.
Tyars as the Gypsy. repeated their former sue
cesses. Indeed. every part 50 thoroughly
well played. the scenery was 50 tasteful and the
music 50 lovely. that. even though the subject be
old. il would be injustice not TO record the re-
vival with emphatic favor.