New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-15

She has been to school There are actresses who
would not like that TO be said OF them but Mrs
Campbell Is at the :op Of the tree and has be-
sizes TOO much good sense 10 wish her art WORK
to be taken as due wholly to temperament and
inspiration. Her schoolmaster / imagine. was
Mr. Pinero. who superintended the rehearsals
OF his play
What he has taught her is mainly elocution
defective clocu,ion Is the most marked fault
of nearly all the best English actors and &C
tresses 1t was tc some extent with her In
"Ducie Larondie" there were times when she
was inaudibe. She has voice OF singular
vibratlon; tones Which thrill you These
she has now learned to use. Her organ has
gained in funess and richness. She delivers her
sentences with measured federation Of when
every great orator knows the value. and some
great actors. The words cnunciated; tney
leave the lips perfectly formed and they reach
all ears. She has learned how TO make her
voice carry" And she retains all that sofi
resonance and emotional quality of voice which
she had before In her best moments.
Her acting has gained in other respects She
Is more mistress OF herself and of the audience
is more convinced. more simple more direct
Her nonchalance in the presence OF crowded
house Is something to be seen 1t is not due to
her Venetian drawing groom with &c much ease
and repose Of manner II 1t were her own IN
Ashley Gardens. OF the audience she seems I'M
aware; TO them she makes none Of those appeals
by glance and gesture which are the stockton
trade of the inferior ard i,,-irained actress She
is Mrs Ebbsmlth. net Mrs Campbell acting Mrs.
Ebbsnnjth SIZE has sacrificed on the altar Of her
art even her womar's vanity: perhaps the hua!
test Of the supremacy OF art In fine nature.
Because the part requires II. she wears the most
sovenly gowns. The Duke Of 81. Ohberts calls
her slovenly and then corrects 1t into shabby
Both adjectives apply. She slouchcs about the
stage just such woman would wren alone
OF her own beauty she takes no thought. Even
the brilliancy Of her eyes Is dimmed; WEAKNESS
and misery have dimmed them. Her clothes
hang about her an, how Mrs Ebbsmiih has =
theory that she ought tc be addressed and IL
dressed she IT, / have seen Desclee- the incom-
parable Desclee-disguise herself In similar
way and with the same conscientious renunc'a-
ton OF the personal attraction that really De-
longed 10 her. so fragile does Mrs Camppei
seem. SO slight that you think she must be
physically unequal TO he tremendous scenes Vi
the fourth act. but It is In them that she IL
greatest The face is not physical but spiritual
Intellectual Imaginative. and perhaps emotional
|
OF the three hours between the rising or the
curtain ard the going down OF the same. bu'
to the end though sometimes shaken by the IN
RENTING strain. she retains the command OF
her powers and Of herself.
This is not saying that Mrs. Campbell mas ye'
reached the limit OF her powers. do no' thilH
she has The wonderful advance OF the last IL"
months is proof that size has not. Nhen she
went 10 the 81. James's Theatre she was com
parativey unframed. or hal been trained IN
rnolodramatic school she taught herself. WIN
some help from Mr. Alexander and from her suf-
roundngs to act comedy. She still lacks variety
What she does she does with almost unfaihhs
effect. but there Is much more TO attempt. Sh'
has delicacy and discretion and a force OF con-
centrated passion which she will do well ior h'i
own sake not to exhaust. Unluckily, she Is goine
back TO the Haymarket TO play again part
she dislikes-one IN which she will not do herself
Justice. Mr.. Tree. Of course. knows that she VIII
| draw" and manager must consider his treas
| urv. But he will do well as soon az possible u
provide her with part worthy Of the actress
@. W. :.