New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-10
THE DRAMA.

al .' " a ". @ @y by %oa %s soisy
B., 3oij,err OF ;a. wor that IT, aj:hor has So
a,Hn for him 70 speak Those Judges cal the ACTOR
Z hummer ana they al Mss rs arr as !W'"''e
and insignificant. J. > radical erfo: A'-h.S y
crotti.- a. wei IS initiative ana the Success @ VIZ
q cor =. IN = great degr @. dependent ipon VIVA, ~
c5n,r.Dn.-g Many performances might b" '.'ei J"
Illustration % that rrir l,c works o. a'' sue" a.
Pip Van NiE6.e Hy jefferson. Matthias 'Hu ~ ~
Y..e u- Irving. Be1G BrlmmcN by Mahshe'' an"
Shalnspetr o'- JIIia by Mss Ala Rehdn In ea'h W
these Instances the ACTOR transcends the part aus
mon:s II, uumin,s H. and either hallows Il win tiie
charm OF genius or eXalts II With ne co"'P'''"h
force 90 creative power.
\ striking example o: tho "a nifty o. an "''o' ~
crca." q character upon the basis o. sNe''h'
and indeed. TO animate with his strong personah'E
the entire structure Of fral and feeble plays
afforded at this tine by Mr.. Crane's impersonatioh
or BILLINGS in Mise Norton farce Of His Niies
Fathel." now current ~ the Fifth Avenue Theatre.
II Nr. Crane were no. actor o. intellectual
force. OF tcmp"ramenial rarn-stress and o. chal-
acie,ietic and spontaneous huIuor an" part would
he % manifest absurdity, and :he play would shriV"l
iu the fires. light o. commor-sonsc ;hat might hap
ron 30 touch IT, : father may love his daughter
ever so dearly. no .orm cf mortal love can b. nor"
purc dce- tender. u1seldsh and true: bat no
e,fhor could possibly he 30 foolish to propose
TO accompany h.e daughter on her Wedding tour. %
he, ana ler Young husband, 20 moropoU@" FER
Hfc and 10 conduct himself ia an respects a. !; she
wore -ti}l unmarried and mild At hom' me
situation IN a play can only be vi"w"i ~ ioi"'ah'
when ~ IS frankly recognized as a situation o.
farce Assuming that the fcih"s ~ the 'aih"F-h-
law arc 10 he made them o. eood-natGred satire
and genial laughter. and that tho character al
Billings is not meant TO be- taken seriously Miss
Norton's scheme readily becomes admissible. II
is a vehicle for sport. AZ The last, indeed. the
author has adroity hciGcd 10y making Billings de-
clare that his scnsel"ss and Altogether picIoS-
ferrous conduc, has been merely experimental ana
intended only to tes, the stability of his children.
But 10 look at it gravcly Is TO soc only mockery
OF reason and a trayesty % Ne. With such
false foundation. serious scene appears to have
any warrant. or can affect the observer In any
way sincere. There might be a TIN II papa cans
TOO frequent, but the disruption % mar
riage Of lovcrs-eyen temporarily. -should have
some better reason than the old mans coming TO
breakfast. uuinyiied. the Young wornan's mo-
meutary lll-tempcr. such set % crcu'nsi an'es.
II II were OF possible or-urrcnco-lu actual lie
would be rectihed by single plain word spoken
in kindness and scnsc. Miss Morton's treatment
OF character-if her persons in this play arc TO be
taken In carncst-s deficient not only OF subtety,
but o. perception. The true way. no doubt. is TO
take them I'm sport.
Mr Crane. amid many difficulties. has nevcrthe-
less made Billings characteristic and representa-
tive person. Ills means ar" ti"'iod f''thIl'ltA,
humor and a touch ~ tenderness billings g. rapid.
fluent expeditions. fussy l1drrous IN his bland as
symptoms. inexprc-sblv comic in his perpieNities.
Prominent among MS dro clements s h.- era Ilaly
growing foudncas for blooming widow. VINO has
incidentally indicated 20 him the folly of MS conduct
toward his daughter. Through the comedian dc
notomcnt 81 that feeling "a" auditor perceive
kind heart and a froucsome spirit. In the quick
play OF facial expression Nj crane is ai"sy- f'i'-
ious, while the pose - h.. hgur" and the t9h.'
81 ms 'o - 49, ..5 t '.' - ',,t"if Its ,,,i.,,
about effect less obvious. or were not obvious
| comedy acting is cx.e"iln.ly difficult AMI com.
lians. r!ic. dN.l overmIch ~ details AMI or.
ing the .,y.e If Char.,s Math.ns with That ~ bis
father and being a marvel - hr'iAnc' aga r'1
'' 'ii,', 'li ,ri.,. re- rc-fe.f', ~ art
in comedy. is "a" aliurins air ~ ~s"r'' '' go.
al~ays rcmarD bic FOR tisor lie humor IS hcart,.
robust efrrry,,o,rt ami h. IN. b.st 20 paint Wiz
heavy stroke. bIi there are moments When Dbl.
artistic touch is ye-y delicate and tender tn" man
n,r in wnirh BE- made he ali ,,taer ak 'nc sor'r
forgiveness The niu" indication ~ ronn ihs Ono.
tons and - the scttcd r"rp'.. - s".f ."m'.t
wa chat ~ beautiful simplicity. showing how nH"
hi- instincts aIt WIN "ha' si'n ana I'.i 'I,
proIriety he an touch fhr chord ~ ltia + ana
how true his TIE il g. place among ih' best e'-
Much OF the m.r,h IN " e., Morton play Is caused
by stag"-b l',s.css. Billings has -Fn'1 an hgi""-
ment one part Of which Article s.N" binds him.
much - his annoy an'" H"' q" Wi'fl'i' 10 me
business which he has ASSUMED 90 hls DAUGHTER
husband mschltNoHs bp} '''o''I- ma i",'' "','
thrreupon sends him letters ana kilograms con
iainlns simply mention OF the obnoxious Article.
An oficlous servant m"andrrs through IN" piece.
with bland assurance and comic inOpportunity That
servant was remarkably w"ll-playci.-in a de-
llghtful tone Of unconscious wagglshness and sub
duci drollery.-by NJ Brook. The blooming widow.
Mrs. Canary. made cOnspcuousN pleasing 10y
Miss Folliott Paget The deaf and decrcpit aunt
seemed superhlous boon save that she was
perfectly embodied by NE admirable old actress
Kate Denim The aristocratic. though impecunious
bro; her. made suitably pompOus 10y MI teorg"
De We're. was plainly needless. Miss Annie O'Neills
Mas
and there wa a pretty scene OF lovers m!sun-
Outstanding. prcttily played hy Miss Mary Sanders
and Mr. Joseph Whcclock Mi Crane Will con
,nue TO act at the Fifth Avenue Theatre until
Am