New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-02

THE ST JAMESS
THEATRE.
London February 16
The first night Of King Arthur" was not, am
told quite equal to the average Of first nights at
the Lyceum. The rule Is that enthusiasm REGINA
On this occasion. say some OF those who were
present, the enthusiasm was of sober KIND ACT
after act the curtain went down on a house which
seemed slightly depressed. At the end there were
the usual calls, but less than the Usual heart In
the applause. Even the pit and gallery, who are
stanch Irvingtes and Terryites, did not prolons
their homage to their favorite artists. 1t was
felt that things had not gone quite so well as
might have been expected, and there was no great
confidence in the future Of the play First nights
like books regarded from the publishers point
Of view; you never can quite tell on what II Ia
that success hinges.
All this only made one the more curious TO see
how things were going after the lapse Of a month,
and curious also TO get first Impression Of Mr..
Comyns Cars play and OF the acting. So within
a day or two after reaching London, found my
self at the Lyceum. 1t Is too late TO write at
length OF the piece. and offer you an impression
only Mr.. Carr seems to me to have done what
can be done with legend I'm which the dramatic
element is IL not wholly wanting, not very con-
spicuous He and Sir Edward Burne-Jones, who
designed the scenery and costumes, have alike
striven after pictorial effect. The period
legendary 1t was open to both writer and paint
err to treat it imagnatively. Whether Sir Ed
ward though he has Imagination. is the
right man for such an effort may be ques-
ton There Is an element Of the sombre in his
very refined and learned art. 1t reappears all
through this piece. He. have heard, found 1t
a ifFc N 10 he
stage or to adjust the conditions of the stage to
the art Of Burne-Jones. That is not difficult to
believe. Stage scenery is art by itself. Mr..
Halves Craven, the accomplished scene painter OF
the Lyceum, understands precisely how given
effect can be produced on the stage. Sir Edward
Burne-Jones understands precisely how the effect
he desires can be produced on canvas, or in water
color. in black and white. SO when ii came to
transferring his delicate designs and charging
them or rendering them as to convey to an au-
dience the thought and purpose of the artist IL II
wonder IL a little friction occurred Some OF
the scenes are OF great beauty, and so some OF
the costumes, but, the whole the art treat
ment OF the subject Is less decisive. and less ef-
fective on the stage than in the studio. Mr..
Craven has done much to broaden the designs
from which he worked. and Sir Edward gave him
themes new and beautiful, yet the alliance re-
mains little unsatisfactory. The costumers were
In a similar difficulty. Probably King Arthurs
Court was not a gay place at best but it might
have been possible 10 use lighter colors and to
liven a little the general appearance Of things
Nr. Comyns Carr set himself task for which
neither he nor anybody else is entirely compe-
tent. 1t Is no longer possible even from literary
point OF view to handle the legend OF King
Arti IT as il Tennyson had never written, or as
IL this were not the end OF the nineteenth cen-
fury. Mr.. Carr has literature and much OF 1t:
a knowledge OF poetic form. much poetic feeling;
a knowledge Of the stage. ard right sense Of
the value OF the Imagination IN the theatre. He
has achieved IL not quite = masterpiece, a tour
de force. His verse is rhythmical. The episodes
with which alone he could deal we'll chosen
and deftly handled. He had not reproduced
King Arthurs Court. nor could he. We do not
breathe that air live that life 1t Is much
fault as Mr.. Cars or the actors. The play
or the poem is an attempt at an illusion which
cannot be complete. The eye sees that which
the eye brings means OF seeing and so does thu
mind: so much and nc mort. What the spectator
gazes on is a succession OF very interesting
scenes: not legendary not romantic. not OF the
time when the quest for the Holy Grail be
M de to seem reality; not knghtly nor kngiy.
Mr. Irving as King Arthur is dgnihed and
pathetic figure not quite the builder os
pire Of the sea- hero OF the Round Table.
1t is not one OF his best creations 1t is probably
\ creation Of which other English actor Of the
day is capable. His opportunities not many:
OF Much occur. and especially the scene in the
third act. he makes a fine What you feel Is
that he has made an intellectual effort Of a
markable kind. The Impression OF spontaneity
is wanting The days OF ohvalry were gone long
before Burke rung their knell. and it is not the
modern stage on which that early freshness Of
loyal devotion and gallant deeds can be looked
for Nor is King Arthur himself entirely
sympathetic parsonage. Still less is Lancelot.
who in Mr.. Forbes Robertson's hands. seems
overburdened alike by the weight Of his armor
and the dispeasure of Mrs. Grundy. Least OF
all. alas. is Miss Ellen Terry Guinevere. II
Mr. Irving King Arthur has too many reminis-
cences OF Hamlet, Miss Terry is like a mature
Margaret gone astray in unfamiliar scenes.
And yet. such is the prestige OF the Lyceum.
such the hold OF Mr.. Irving upon his public, such
the skill Of the dramatist and actor that the
play did appeal to audience which crowded
the theatre There was none OF the reported
GOODNESS Of the first night: the house was inter-
ested and responsive the play went smoothly
and well from beginning to end II the applause
was subdued by the solemnity OF the scenes and
events and the gloom OF the air. 1t was at least
general and irrepressble. There were signs OF
genuine emotion. Royalty In the person OF
Princess Beatrice showed signs OF interest, and
paid close attention 10 the progress or the play.
Altogether. a remarkable evening-a great per-
sonal triumph thought, for Mr.. Irving, and
triumph for Mr. Carr author The British
public showed itself more susceptible than is Its
wont to the influence Of poetic art and of acting
which was very subtle in its method and quite
free from any appeal or concession to merely
Phillstne taste.
There is a notion that Mr. c. f.. D. Wards
new play at the Comedy Theatre. "A Leader OF