New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-01
Mr. IRVING'S "KING ARTHUR"
OPINIONS OF THE LONDON PRESS ON
THE NEW PRODUCTION


coMyNs CARR AND BURNEJoNEs-MR IRv-
1NG.s PART suBoRDINArED TO THOSE
or MISS TERRY AND Mr.. ROBERTSON
The press opinions as to Mr.. Irvings production OF
"Kinp Arthur" which was accompished at the Lon
,n, 1vceum on January -. will be read with in
terest.
THE Times says:
mine of wealth for the poet the who
works in medium unfavorabie to the a0d
OF the the oler in which King Arthur and his
Knights loom mposngy acf fer as he can go
sare OF the Song the path supsrna%Sra
and the heroic Mr. Irving goes emp pcsum and the
end the highest scenic s ali al OF necessity how
the action mainly son9 in to tns' Sstra
Of the legend most suscepb bs % auas Of the Holy
GTa passing episode p roteGxf m tGr in night glitter
ing mail and for impressive FPS paSsase ty !" loves Of
thur suvan,s score e;o. j., contrast with the no.
billy OF the unsuspectng Arthur whose ~areG hold
further assaed by the treason OF or s3 20 resove
the STAGE a so thar Version OF the eternal logy Of
la femme lie mari. ct amant in an orna , e,ydience
King or Af fbe Space Of four hours Is fine
play ranking not ony in point OF cI S also in
da eth5y Se The dcutes Of the task Of carving
Sendary lore associated with the name Of Arthur thur
are known only to the few II Is only inc , and
will miss the romantic glanor when poets as,a
chroncIers have cast around the theme or n TSe
how much the author has 69 Arthur is in
sisted upon mainly in the prologue .csrsi light
through which the lake madens are perceived. dts
Rqrns m s d in hs scaonr % vi it is Ar
thurs destiny to possess himself OF: draamt Of
rule the kingdom Art aiua na hi. dreams a
beautiful face touching which he questions ntea'i n;
The wizard answers him by showing cgr oisT" Of
flowers and may blossom I'm that gif OF beauty pea sS
turks Thy DOOM ADDS the oraeq ha the hsr ar aune
we're brings her lord through her passion T ror
.;o4s o w sf U 1as seS beautiful
nobility Of sentiment 1t the finger o. rae e n
hoqss S S passion hSss
while the King is irressiioIg oorN ,h 1nem foretod
which one associates with the famou: Found TSDs
KNIGHTS in their shining sm9T NOT one Of Mr
% y; s~dS 1t w0 Tse burden f
t thu acting ,S ins fails falls upon Miss Ellen Terry and Mr.
Forbes Robertson and Is rare nGeeq ,na with 80
seductive grace on the one side ana SO V nnb,aed
so and a. magnanmy OF this love the
absorbing interest OF the play Is really CUES CIT
laions OF Guinevere and Lancelo. have not hither-
TO- we believe been turned to account r IN any
THE Telegraph" says:
The first act Is by far The most interesting and
impressive. II Is arranged with rare dramatic Skill;
II is varied full OF color. and lively with incident
Ne is a deenly religious man. tormented with an
unholy love. Longing to so IN quest o. inc hoiy
loves the queen. the wife OF his friend and King;
Mr. Conyns Carr has designed the menta
complication here with rare dramatic skill Shall s,l
Co ne in ri
!, he goes ne will his SOUL If he stays he Will
ain the mos, 6eautr' woman on non seE aso
bur the arrival Of sweet Elaine with her pitsou:s
pleading love for LanrSo s setS hs ede5 xass
ep!sode.-Mr. Hawes crayen's triumphant bit
Of nature as painted in En S eS ~ood "a k sahs
,hroush the old trees tie masses Of May and haw-
morn h. seem to Seyer '@ aid ar
his audience more than IN his his re OF r. by
Of Nj comyns Cars most credtable and scholarly
work.
would nssh marble I Anger , had O sss" laid mine.
For locked In Deaths white arms Love lies secure.
@ no s R GS S. Ns'Lo sss s'''s
W 1 a Vows chine Sh With Ss bell
Ina, tolls L'vc's funeral If thou woqlds, boast
90 's e i aS" world %i thy hear, ha;e
pad been Kn Ems. w Yet . .s , hot all clear
4 star for all mems worship. and lamp
ssod lf steer her co~rc toward. God then
Whose NE lies here. thy fall
A shattered kingdom bleeds
The last &C; deals with the usurpation of the
Kingdom by Morired the charge OF treason against
The Queen her pubic condemnation nes deveran Se
turns ont TO be King Arthur. and the death OF me
nE in n Sy AZ VIZ ss hear Of the
ter Of Mordrcd by Lanceot but that scene ~, Is
IN Se dS.y barge Win the three crowned queens
My ends beautiful drama. The pictures
OF Mr. Hsny yn ssn S oC asS mh
rc,ignaton breaking his heart-strings at the ruin
dne i s' at t' the Snn ana OF Hexorabe
he treasured by al who admire his versatiity ana
genius So asO will be the gentle ana gracetuI
touches Of womanhooi shown by Miss Ellen Terry:
picture in many loysy scsns II ne ,b n0fe er Sa
IRE ~ love burned a ll,tle low stlll the accent or
sene"rf he f@ nnceo of Mr. Fobe. Robertson is
performance that cannot be praised too hgh ae
tGH 'very9 Ts value ann of Ms
as Morgan lie Fay cannot be overrated Il was a
most difficult character admirably played one
tremb!es to think what would have become of such
IA character in nartistic hands Bu, MISS warn
the last act. where her assistance most urgent
~ required Handsome always dignhed ever, strong
suave this Morgan Ie Fay was even better , than
owes much to her invaluable assistance
THE Standard says:
Mr. carr has made effort to drsmatize Tenny-
sons loosely linked ldyls. He has gone to Maory
nre the late Iaureate's guide Many personages of
the Iiys are OF necessity missing. their connection
with the main lines OF the legend being too remote
but MIR. Cars verse. always smooth and effective.
and often Instinct with true poetic spirit suggests
n -, rnf,l study az rennyson's work II Is hard
a. o much 70 saw that as regards the dresses and
scenery-for which Sir Edward Burne-Jones is main
y responsible perfection is attained. The music
which Sir Arthur Sullivan has written In such en-,
tire sympathy with the poem. contributes greatly
TO the effect OF the drama. The Interpretation OF
! the chief characteristic King. the Queen. and the
Ienceot OF Mr. Forbes Robertson--r!ses TO the fu
dignity of the subject Finally. and this Is no sinai
matter In the management Of the whole the master
| hand of Mr.. Irving is always visible The
poem follows the mystic course OF the sword TX
! calibur. to the securing OF which by the King tho
! Prologue IL devoted. The scene IL the Magic Mere
and the suavc melody OF the Lake Spirits. whose
waving arms appear above the surface. Is heard as
the view is disclosed. Arthur comes down a rocky
path TO the shore OF the lake. accompanied by Mer
] lin; and here the action was interrupted willis
/ again and again .ong continued volleys OF cheers
erceted the retmrn OF Mr.. Irving az soon as his mail