The evening times., 1896-01-14
ENGLISH ACTORS PLEASE
Sir Henry Irving and Miss Terry's
Delightful Performance.
George Edwardes' Players In "The
Shop GirT' Are Fine-Aiiss Pal
mer In 1.-The Schoolgirl"

1t was to Il characteristic audience Of
| the Capital that Sir Henry Irving and Miss
| Ellen Terry dispensed their favors at the
| Grand last night.
The dominant function was social, and
| the members must have been more accepta-
bic to Irving and Terry, as lovers of art for
| arts own sake, than to the matter-of-fact
; Mr.. Bran Stoker.
And yet the character of the audience, III
| Guiding, as it did, great men both political
| and social, must have been Il sincere pleas
ure to the distinguished artists.
The Shylock OF Irving is distinct char
actcr, in many of.its manifestations, from
the Shylock OF Booth. Z
Irving sGyiooK reaches the climax of
! his VIVID, passionate utterances when he
declares his hatred Tor the GcntIcs by
| hurting from his teeth: . How like Il fawn-
Ing publican he looks. l hate him, for he
Is !; Christian
Bat BoJtn's Shylock found similar climax
| IN The broken grief 1T the loss or his daugt-
, Ter. and it mast be said that this latter
seems more appropriate conception.
Tue Shylock or Gus Skinner is a still
different conception. In Ssinner'S pro-
| duction the Hebrew is still most deeply
| moved by the gsief at his daughters action,
bat he also evidences in vastly greater d, =
gree his instructive. absorbing. and over
ruling love for gold.
1rvings rendition strangely negieCis
this salient and Almost transcendenu trait
in Shylock's character.
Nevertheless. his Interpretation OF one
or Shakespeare's most remark BILE CharaL.
ters Is almost altogether a wonderful thing.
IL shows the Study of a student and the exc
cution OF an artist II is the great work
of il great actor. who has subserved every
a r.ly tn tha into d atI.Ey
analysis of character as it is revealed
by the lines of Il great writer.
His acting sometimes transcends his ar
ticulatioD, aud many sentences of his speech
are uttered with anything but an elocutiuE
lists care. But the physical actions. which
have been denoted as Irving mannerisms.
areamong the most successful features Of his
great role. HIS uncertain vet firm stride
to and fro while iu the midst of passionate
DISCOURSE is a character mark which helps
TO make Henry Irving's work what IL is
truly original.
The Portia of last nights performance
was sweet, strong representation "f the
gracious woman. Miss Terry's Portia is
peculiarly her own conception, not So much
In the more striking kinds of originality as
in the subtle, gracious sweetness of the
general study. Miss Terry is truly not an
actress welded to her lines. She has made
The character her own, aud it is impossible
TO separate 1t from the thought of her OVID
personality.
She is more than supporting artist,
even If the character were I,ss an essential
or the play.
The Antonio of Mr.. MaCkliu was q rather
typical representation of this character,
though his work was meritO Orious. BassaDio.
III the person OF Mr.. Cooper, was faithfully
acted, and Jessca, Miss Craig, was success
fully rendered, though with lisp which
ticular character.
The frequent applause which was accorded
TO the play from beginning to end became
imperative al the end of the fourth act.
and, after three curtain calls, Mr.. Irving
made brief, graceful speech. He thanked
the audience Tor its warm welcome. eX.
pressed his pleasure at once more being
able to appear before a Washington audi.
ence, and said that The frieu,.iy reception
would ever be cherished among
the most greatful memories OF Miss Terry
and himself.