New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-27
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
MOUNET- SULLY.

ri, eminent French actor, Mr.. Mou"e 80.
waking his advent in America, appeareu v,o,or
at Abbey's Theatre, ana iinpe >, o,,oa and the
IJupo's Hermann The house was wen il,'e. sn,,r
,.hd artist was welcomed with lrieiri'N'
t,orast and abundant favor. In France MI ~
re,.Su,lv has long been accepted as d i' a.,
tragic actor of the first order, ana MS ~ Y,h
America must necessarily delight the ioc' ,
audience To Americans. in general. ne Is me-
,,, hecause of his famous name, anu u W.
.,as 4, nartic,ar who like the technic"'
I'll, Of dramatic art his acting must posseS' ~
culior significance and value. because Oh ls ~,
sentative character. With french colhe"' -,
nub,ic has long been well acquainted anu PSI ~
who relish Photographic accuracy III '',e r,
,ronscrintion of multitudinous details nave io",u
,,,,,nh oniovment in II. With French tragedy us
nracticaI acquaintance is, perhaps, less ln'"'".e
REPRESENTATIONS Of French tragedy, AT ali events
have not beer numerous III th9
since the golden days OF haO'I'' -.
nearly forty years ago. and almost III -.
Nine Sarah Bernhard did, indeed. endeaVo' ~
rrnersonate Phedre but this part, being Imaginative
ord IN some sense spiritual. euded her. ana '"at
expoit was trivial. Mr. Mounet-Suly ta'ei'e 80
n d lnerent order and when he presents hlns i'p-'
and The Cid the students OF acting VIII ha'e "
caslon 10 enjoy the best that tragic art cdh '
at present in the French language. Inc trdSsus
% L,r,rca beinV constructed after the Greek MODEL
ia stately and decamatory and usually II can oe
viewed with composure. It's symmetry "o"e''''
and the refinement Of Sy.e when IL c0lhpt'', u
often delightful. and when ii IS animated oS
passionate temperament in the actor. 1t becomes
excessively impressive. Mr.. Mounet-Sully WISELY
chose for his first American appearance a cha'-
acter not OF tragedy, but Of romantic drama
the character indeed, with which victor H1s'
long since led n revolutionary and victorious as
saut upon the classic style Of dramatic literature
and art in France. This community Is familiar
with Herman" 1t was performed, on this &C.
casion with competent ability in the chief parts
and generally in a lovely spirit. Mr.. Mounet-Sully
at once charmed his audience by his picturesque APP
pearance. and he gave most fluent ana hexiO'e
embodiment Of one Of the most romantic lovers that
the art OF expression. His countenance denotes
rare sensibity he moves with grace; his deineanor
IS impetuous and demonstratve; and ms rlcn voice
uters the emotions OF an ardent spIr IA W tnr
guage Of perfect music. More than any frencn acor
OF years he showed himself TO possess the me
and winning quality OF personal distinction; inUusn
all the storms and fluctuations or Hermann irNe.SI
sincerity and simplicity that beoken the controlling
power Of true taste-so that passion never became
Hermann Is dOlatry Of a woman, and mat does not
appeal with overwhelming force, to AL classes OK
expressed at all, even the least sympathetG auuItor
would IKE t. haye Il SHP1eIyd %5 NJ
Mounet-Sully did not-and that Is sgnlncant slsh
OF his mental balance and his artistic discretion
lie was applauded with much vehemence. especially
for his ardent and various action throughput the
ylcsstudes OF the difficult third ac-after Hermann
has entered in the disguise OF the pilgrim lie was
Interesting even in tedious tomb scene, and OF
course he was imprisoned and sympathetic In the
scene OF poison and death. His artistic method Is
obvious one, In all Its machinery. lie uses much
gesture. and II Is large. various ana eloquent lie
Is superb listener, and he fills the scene win ex-
pert by-play-aways helpful 10 the total effect,
and never mmoderate His best qualities are DELI
cacy OF touch and refinement OF feeling. The strange
the spiritual elevation appertalning 10 genius
he did not manifest. and there was not a particle
of inspiration in any part Of his embodiment. Inc
audience recalled him twice after each act.
Nine SECOND Weber. handsome woman and a
slfu actress. appeared Donna Sol-the much
to testify. even unto the bitterness Of death her
devotion ID the old doctrine OF AL for love Donna
Sol Ike Hernani. is an idolater-in the period when
all life Is colored by youth and passion. For both
the note is Intensity and the dramatist has con-
trlved that 1t shall be continually struck. Nine.
SECOND Weber We'd with Mr.. Mounet-Sully in
picturesque and at times vociferous denotement or
passion conflict and misery. The King and the i'm.
placabe Don with the winding horn were embodied
effectively. and the proceedings at the close. were
plentifully believed with tears OF pty ana Noeraly
honOred with plaudits OF admiration. Nine SECOND
Weber made a marked effect by her transition from
defiance to supplicatOn. and then 10 deliriuIn she
IA a dark lady. whose appearance is modelled on
Rachel and whose style follows that OF Bernhardt
There il fustan I'm the play OF "Hernani'
The Kings Grafton. In the tomb scene ought In par
tcular to 20 10 the BARRIERS with the beard OF
POlOnus The fun is recOrded,-since Il SHOWS
the strength OF the company: