New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-16

MIR. TREE AS FALSTAFF.

In .hbav,s Theatre last night an interesting pre-
sentaton OF Shakespeare's delightful COMEDY ot
THE Merry Wives of Windsor was accompisneo
in the presence of IA numerous audience. ana Mr'
Tree appeared as Falstaf This Is the hfth part
,b,t the comedian has presented here since his en-
g,oement began on January S-the others DeinS
.;ringoire Demetrius. Sir Philip Marcnant ana MI
Wilding otherw' Sc known as Captain swirl Inc
distinctive fecities Of Mr. Trees acthg'-"hich are
felicties OF makeup, OF supple interpretation Oh
icv nonchaance. of mOrdant sarcasm anu Vi ia'
and expressive gesture-heye been shown IN al 'hese
Characters but conspicuous.y in Marchant ana
N-ildIng In no one of them has he struck the
chords OF romance, poetry, or deep ieei'hs' ou' '
all ~ them he has been intellectual. picturesque
DELIGHTFULLY."- artistic and sharply effective I'S s'e'
ling worth and his versatility as cotheu"" a's
thus been clearly Indicated and the public recost
ZION ouicklv accorded both to him and 10 hisAc-
complished wife denote that he has not laooreS IN
vain. .
The representative Of Fa,stan. that character
Is shown in the comedy Of The Merry WIVES VI
Windsor" viii sufficiently succeed II ne presents aA
image Of vaingorious seishness, rubicund sehsu-
atty and expeditions assurance alterhaths WIN
comic annoyarce and rueful discomfort. Inc reAA
Fa.star Is .ound in Henry the Fourth Inc a.
staff of THE Merry Wives Is less ior"'udo'e
character less humorous and far less inteHec'ua'
a fat comical, absurd old donkey, paHOoo~eu anu
made ludicrous and contemplate by two women "no
overde,cate The ideal is not difficult to grasp ana
If the actor car express anina.ism' cohce, oo.-Se
ness and iovia levity 1t Is not very dfiicut OF
uortrayal Mr. Tree indicated d just percePtIoh "
The part and. although his humor was thil Sso
brittle he save "A tunnier performance OF y than
nohr have been aniIc!pa ted. II Is possible by ar
tl1cial means make a lean. Doiy asseti",
Fat one The physical aspect OF falstan can o ddy
stantia.ly be assumed, and Nj Tree assume -, =.
with more than common attention TO those s,asSSs
OF shape facial modelling, demeanor ana expires
sion that are produced by the mind upon me out
ward aspect OF me body. 1t Is not possio!e' now
Glacial convincngly TO invest himself with a ho-
norois personal ~ that is rich. mellow, copious'
NJ Trees Fa,staf was wagSish and satricat. re-
plete with agile action. nlmble in nina ana meat.
rlcay effective The comedian Is a, az! t'' S;v an
artist and II In this instance ne uli not ultuSv
nerfect glamour OF illusion. 1t was because feat
OF professional skill must necessarily be iess az.
thoritatlve thar a personaton o. character. by
II he which impes the artistic nature In Us ehoice
Of characters Tree is really no more ntted ior
Fastaff than Mr. jefferson Is for Tlmon OF atnens'
or Mr. Too. for Corio.anus. DR. Johnsons Well
worn observation on the dancing bear Is thete.ote
once more approprate Inc WohIsr T. lo' &, 20 ali
Much OF the merry effect produced by MIN was
due to his capitai delivery Of language tnat IL re-
eNpedients Of downright farce. He was recalled oy
hearty applause after the scenes OF the basket ana
The comedy was mounted in appropriate scenery
ds,ant views OF Windsor Caste The representa-
ZION seemed hurried and a, times little careless
showing therein the fruits of true art-Were gwen
nv Lionel Brough. as the Host Of the Garter.
Charee Allan. as Dr. Caius, Ford by Henry Nevil.e.
Page by Edmund Maurice. ana Sir hugn Evans py
Alfred Wglay \ pleasing woodland scene stn-
belshed with a dance. concluded the piece This
the cast. tn fuil;