New-York tribune., 1896-12-24
THE DRAMA.
SHAKESPEARE AT DALY's THEATRE.
ADA REHAN AS BEATRICE

1t might we'll have been expected that this nc.
complished. actress with all her Of vital.
iy and all her wealth Of tender feeling would sue
ceed in this acter.-compounded as It Is OF
light and Joy, piquant and tantalizing mischief
noble passion, and the ardent fidelity OF an afYec
tionate heart. She had made Katherine an imasa
OF truth. to be remembered and treasured as lonr
as any tradition Of the stage shall prevail and
much as the two characters dfer-in Katherine
there Is the poteRtiality Of Beatrice. She NOR.
than justified the lveliest anticipation Her idea,
true. her expression OF Ii firm and splendid
and the embodiment, taking Its place among the
ripest and happiest of her works was not less n.
dicative Of the clarity and power of her mind than
Of the afiuence Of her animal spirits the decacv
of her womanllke intuition. and the exceedir.
grace Of her dramatic method In personal dIs.
tinction, In prodgality OF glee, In mental corre
spondence, and In continuity OF impersonaton ,b,.
performance Is extraordinary 1t will not ec,s.
the glittcring Image Of Beatrice tha, Ellen Terry
has set for all time. In the pantheon OF memory.
but It will be named after that superb achievement
and II will Ill "a niche In the same stately ca,srv
Of proud renown.
1t Is said of Beatrice that her spirits are az GOV
and wild as haggards OF the rock,"-but tha, must
not be taken too literally. Beatrice Is neither q
virago nor a shrew and the old stage custom OF
making her almos. extensively tumultuous and
violently aggressive was abuse. She speaks with
airy satire and philosophical composure about woo.
ing, wedding .~and repentance and her remarks
are extremely dverting; but she Is no more sapent
than other women when once her heart Is touched.
She can see a church by daylight.-but the daylight
sometimes fails and when the stars come out her
sight is not keen. Beatrice Is to be understood
as a high-spirited ardent affectionate young
woman. who longs for love, and yet resents the
necessity in herself of longing for it, She has pro-
vided her mind with the full conviction that she
can live without It, and she is equipped with many
pungent precepts to that effect. There was a star
4. ehe j
and CT her merry heart she declares. thankfully that
lit keeps on the windy side OF care There Is
no great mystery in that aspect OF the Feminine
nature. Beatrice Is not one OF the milky rabbe':
q Ut underneath her brilliant exterior. her gay I'm.
perlous, defiant manner c'Disdain and scorn ride
sparkling I'm her eyes') she is one OF the most
aft, ctionate and generous Of women. She has long
been secretly inclined toward Benedick. as Bene-
dick In turn, has been secretly incnned toward
her-ard therefore she is readily awakened. ana oy
q simple stratagenl, to the knowledge OF her iose.
That is the ideal interpreted and conveyed by Miss
Rehan who has had the wisdom to apprehend the
essential soul Of Beatrice entirely, or even con-
sderably from her relation to Benedick. but largely
from her relation to Hero. The great moment Oh
the play for Beatrice. Is that OF her prodigious
passionate unspoakable resentment of the dreadful
insult that Is offered TO the pure and gentle girl
whom she so tenderly loves. 1t Is as II all woman
hood were incarnated in her single person. TO re-
buke humiiate. and punish the arrogant ihJus"ce
NJ man Women usually, the sternest
ard most rancorous censors Of other women; hut
women at their best. may well admire bed've.
for she Is all woman and the splendid champion OK
her sex II is remarkable in the unerring art OK
Shakespeare that all the disguses and defences
of Beatrice are suffered to fall away. al 'hat ~.
preme moment. when her soul STANDS pare anu
flames TO its full stature. Miss Rehan mad carried
the scenes of the merry war against beheai'h
with that profuse and exharating vivacity IN whch
she excels but IL was in the church scene that sne
crowned her triumph. by magnificent outpurs' Vi
passion.-not turbulent. nor compat'e' ho' u,
ical but that OF q womans outraged m'ho anu '"'
ferng heart-which, while II fmpeiied the ura"a"c
action swiftly to brilliant climax. also ope,"eu
to illumine the whole character and disclose IL ~
,,,rins,caliy the soul of woman-like virtue ana
honor The applause Of the audience broke tor'n
with ardent vehemence. at that point. ana Fa''neo
and signalized her victory.
The stage ideal OF Benedlck is that OF the dashns
soldier: but Benedck Is not dis,inctively sodier'
any more than Claudio Is. or Don fedro' anu AZ
though ne ,s yivacous ard demonsratve when oeset
with raery. his constitutional habit Is whimsical.
Moreover the type Of soldier Is not UNIFORM except
i'm stage cusom.-for one soldier diHereth from ah'
other soldier ard there is one glory OF the artery
and another glory OF the drum major. Snakespeares
men and women show themselves, very distinctly IN
their solilooules and Benedck in his solioques. 10
ruminant fantastic. QuiZzical. and wagglsn, ana oy
no means OF any kindred with Bobadil. Don caesar
or Captain Plume. Tradition however Is potent;
and Mr. Rlchman. deferring 10 ancient custom. pro-
sented Benedlck the bli,he and buoyant warrior.
to whom the making OF love and the nghtins OK
battles are equally the pleasan, pastmes OF life. and
who Is radiant In .utter and resonant in bounce
Moving upon that line the young actor gained me
best success in high comedy that he has yet ooahed
In this theatre His appearance was continual
pleasure to the eye and there was In his banter ana
railery a gay and happy sp!ri, which diffused de-
nth. al n,nfh
in the comprehension OF Il complex character. TO-
gether with the imperial manner OF high comedy 10
It's deneaton, desirable In q portrayal Of
Benedlck: and yet the part can be very ehectvey
played without them. Edwin Booth. who certainly
Vas great actor never troubled himself much about
them, when he Played BenedIck. and his impersona'
ton had many admirers. Perhaps. in t!me Mr.
Richman may infuse more mind into his acting, and
take a more original course He possesses many
excellent qualifications; and, though It could not os
prophecy" it may rightly be aleged,-and never
more appropriately than in view OF this auspiciVsIi:
head: that speak him fn Of Of grace" ",,v s,,sb,ea
ance given by Mr. Sidney Herbert. Don John !:
tho eyil force-busy resolute and reentlessmooSS
the play. Shakespeare has not elaborated the par.
but he has clearly drawn it, and he has given to II
sentially mean. crafty, and crrel. is corroded VITA
envy and malice. He Is the man who hates gooa.
ness because II Is good and beauty because II u
beautifu-the man who Is made bitter and resent'
full by mere perception or report OF merit in an;
other person. He Is villain. and he knows II ana
exults In II; yet he has been born prince and ne
possesses the manner Of his station. and. for tne
furtherance OF his bad designs he will assume the
demeanor Of blunt honesty: and he is always SELF
contained and grave. Mr.. Herbert singularly
fortunate In his assumption OF that personality.
expressing by the pale. discontened countenance
and lowering eyes Of a man consumed with spleen
and heightening the impression of surly ill-na!.
ure.-with difficulty curbed and repressed.-by dellt
use OF dry. hard. inc.sive voice. black raiment.
a hpar m nh Vsir "
not infrequenly an incentive to malice. How
tartly that gentleman looks" says Beatrice: i
never can see him but am heartburned an hour
after" No representative OF Don John. in our
day. has made so much Of the part Mr.. Herber
does. has clearly shown its practical impor-
tance.
The paternai urbanity and honest feeling OF