New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-05

HENRY IRVING AND ELLEN TERRY
KING ARTHUR"

Harold and William the Conqueror. and the story
Of Henry the Second and Beckett. Among the man.
pscripts that were burned by Warburtons servant
,here was. indeed. a play Henry the Second
which some OF the old scholars attributed TO
shakespeare; but trace OF IL rem aims. and no
satisfactory evidence is producible that defines and
proves its authorship: and on the other topics
named II Is certain that Shakespeare never wrote
Modern authors, however have supplied that de-
plorable omission. In recent times Tennyson has
written tragedies Harold and Beckett. and Mr.
Joseph Comyns-Carr has written tragedy on King
Arthur Mr.. Cars play first produced in Jan
uary OF the present year. at the Lyceum in Lon
don and last night, at Abbey's Theatre. II had Its
first representation in New-York 1t is good
play.-as good a play could he made upon
subject that is mystical and symbo.cal ra Their than
LARGELY dramatic.-and the production OF 1t
beautiful ss a spectacle and authoritative and In
teresiing a performance. A great company OF
sympathetic and appreciative spectators witnessed
the representation. and received 1t with many de-
notements OF deep delight. There were at least
four calls after each curtain. and at the close
Irving had 20 respond with speech
The story OF King Arthur. had IT been OF great
dramatic value. must long since have taken con-
spicuous position IN the English theatre; for It
seems always 10 have been widely known and popu-
lar and II did not escape the attention OF the old
writer's. Justice Shallow mentions "Arthur's Show"
which may have been pre-Shakesperian masque:
there is a pageant the subject. that was dis
played before Queen Elizabeth. at Greenwich: and
10 less hand than that OF Dryden treated it, In
the form OF opera. Not however. until touched
by the magical genius OF Tennyson did It become
prominent and deeply Influential in literature. and
but for the living power Of Tennyson Mr.. Carrs
pay probably would not have been written In
every essential part his tragedy shows the influence
OF that poet; that is say the ideals of character.
the fabric OF story the choice OF Incidents the quail
ity Of feeling. and the movement OF verse indicate
the natural effect OF loving knowledge OF the
"Idyls OF the King" The author could not have
had higher or better inspiration. He has not. in
deed. ehdeavored TO make dramatic paraphrase
OF those poems: he has consulted the Arthuran
Legends. well the great poets wonderful and
beautiful epitome Of them: but he has treated the
subject IN the Tennysonian spirit. and. to some
extent, in the Tennysonan manner. The play has
character feeling, atmosphere. color picture pahos,
and music but 1t has much movement. II is
written In blank verse,-always melodlous and some
times vibrant with poetic passion. The love songs
are remarkably fine The defect OF the language
is one that is usual In all literary piays.-it is
radically undramatic. Not a line OF 1t moves OF
its own accord and almost every speech in it is re-
dundant with fowery adjectves.
This tragedy is comprised IN a Prologue and -Four
Acts The prologue shows mountain tarn,-the
magic OF Tennyson.-upon the margin Of
which stand Arthur and Merlin. and out OF which
rises hand. grasping the sword. Excalibur, that
Arthur Is 10 sway. while over the CLASSY water
float a vision Of the inenable beauty OF Gunevere,
AMI van!shes 10 the sound of unearthly music
the singing OF the spirits that guard the sword.
In that scene is prefgured the destiny Of Arthur
to rule the realm OF England. TO be ruined by the
woman whom he loves. and finally, wounded and
dying, TO be waited away TO that mysterious Isle
O. Avalon, where tempest comes. and where
there is neither trouble nor sorrow any more.
The first act shows King Arthur and Queen
Guinevere in their royal court, with Lancelot
and the other knights OF the Round Table as
semblei about them: contrasts the fatal passion
OF Gulnevere and Lancelot with the white majesty
Of the bamelcss and trustful monarch; and sig
nlAes the dangerous power Of their enemies.-the
suspicious and watchful Morgan and Mordred by
whom they presently TO be denounced. The
second act.-an idyllic episode OF romantic and
reckless iove-shows Gunevere and Lancelot. in
their miserable infatuaton. self betrayed 10 the
potters vigilant TO precipitate their ruin.
The third brings the crisis-when beside the
corpse OF the dead Elaine Mordred declares their
guilt. and when they are confronted with the
King The fourth act depicts Gunevere In prison.
under sentence Of death. by command Of Mordred:
displays Arthurs combat, her. in which
he receives his death-wOund; discloses the manner
Of her rescue. and the final scheme OF retroution;
and ends with the mysterious vanishing pageant
Of the sable barge the Queens OF Night and the
dying King.
If a remote historic period legendary and ro-
mantle atmosphere and a mystical investiture OF
story be set aside the posture OF circumstances
thus indicated appears radically simple noble
eondps magnanm9us sS reseedis man n rs
but does not love him. or has not yer Teaz s pn Me
the basis of her fidelity His trust in her is abso,
lutte He would more doubt his Wife than me ne
ertheess, is false to him. and she gives her love
to tho man who is his nearest and dearest friena:
For q time he remains in Ignorance OF the treacher!
and infamy with which ne is environed bG l,s al
length the h sS Si hs w5e he eI
and makes war upon the SsheT anu rsh with
around him ruined anu ucso-
lated, he fights as the champion Of the woman
S se me eas with Mh0a the Blessing The
pentan wife then fully YAK Inye for him the
fsise friend is, likewise. repentant and the wihas
blow and the birds sing, and the movers 0 %nSine
in that episode OF human experience,-since, un.
happily it has always been o The
principal truth illustrated in any EXPOSITION OF More
sman deserves the love OF a woman, the less LIKELY
be have it, and that aph9rs n nT, can be
ya1s such sasI posture of o
sRy by IS parity the conduct Of the plot
pary The drawing OF the principal characser anq
partly the pahes dignity and 81 pas ss Of Ellen Terry
As acknowledgements the decisive success Oh MI
specia felicity Of nvenOp IN si xe.k ihe IS i tne
eG Nas Eo5d Invention. also. make Guneye he
confirm her intuition as TO the love % tsur's man
sae Uttered through Guneyere the means fso Oh the
venting Iancelots purposed departure ~ "A ~
court 10 make Morgans theft Of me and sim
nlSsaa,e With n: 10 induce the exposure ana punis
nea Of the guilty Lovers BY n an innf Game and 10
make the Injured King refrain from any aCr 70 the
gsance-leaYing those who have wrongeo ir s,n Ar
thur moment Of derious rapture Jus. DeaT, , and
End when ne thinks himself TO De In Saane srated
feeling ana is touch OF exquisite art me ,h as dun
& ME a., "Fsust;' and the ordeal OF comoat ~
but the sSis s Is escs Of dfamac
natbst,c submity. and poetic s,isa
re- gr,ef OF a cruel fate inexorapy iu va. -,
re cesoae s' Glamour OF spiritual things as YET put