New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-14
THE DRAMA.
1RvrNG's PRODUCTION OF "cYMBDLaNns

was accomplished at the London Lyceum on G,p
tember 90 received much attention from the pre-
Of that CITY, and indeed from the papers through.
out the Kingdom. Mr.. Irvings stage version Of
the play, which Is new. is generally commepdsd
The text Of Shakespeare has been freely cut and :
a very long play has thus been much condemned
Adyerting to the subject the reviewer for tn
London Telegraph sportively mentions the convsu.
tonal structures which are always made. in sun .
cases, by sticklers for the original text:
IRvING's STAGE VERSION
Shakespeare must be edited and arranged for TN
modern stage. his plays cannot be acted. There
may be some who will cry out at the loss OF Cio.
tens scene with "A Lady and some OF that young
gcntlennan's tole;ably free expressions and CON-
ments. We shall. doubtless. hear murmurs OF dis.
content because the Ghost scene In the prison cell
of Posthunus Is omitted and heartrending appeals
to the kind.hearted Lyceum manager to n.
store to us old Iseonatus and the ancient N.
tron his wife, and the Leonati, with wounds a.
they died In the wars having a merry-go.round
with music. Posthumus lies sleeping. There will
be cries of literary and Shakespearean anguish be.
cause Jupiter does not descend. In thunder and
lightning. upon AN eagle throwing thunderbolts
about, whilst the grizzly ghosts gibber and fall on
their knees. We shall be told that aided by the
Irving imagination. this Cymbenc' Ghost scene
with Jupiter astridc his eagle. might hhvs
beaten hollow the Broken scene In Faust But
Henry Irving knows better He has spared u
Jupiter the eagle and encircling ghosts and he
has devoted his special attention to those scene,
in 'Cymbcllne that dwell the beauty, IN,
charm. and the mental delight OF that best an.
sweetest Of all Shakespcarc's creations-Inoger
In common with all lovers Of poetry. he regret
others must regret. that in presenting a worI
manllke acting edition. he must ruthlessly G,
down rare poetry. as the mower does the lilies
the field. But cannot have everything"
ELLEN TERRY AS IMOGEN.
The inpersonation OF Imogen by Ellen Terry
described as follows by THE London Telegraph
the article being obviously from the pen OF
Clement Scott:
we shall be told that this Is not Imogen IL
Ellen Tcrrys Imogen. and she held her audience
the palm Of her hand. Imogen never played
like fashion before. The scene In which Imogen
summoned by her lord to Milford Haven may NJ
be Shakespearian but 1t Is pure Ellen Terry he
very best She bounds about the stage Ike youn
fawn. she Kisses ner hand she kisses her dea
lords letter. she is = wful madcap and romp. !
this Imogcn the Kings daughter. the seriow
thoughtful Imogen of Shakespeare? Who cares?
is the Imogen OF Ellen Terry. and she has undoubt
edly made good case Ii may be heresy to the Oh
school to hear actress incorporating 'asi1es
and adding remarks ard breaking In upon the tex
with charming gestures. but Ellen Terry does
and every one loves her for doing II. We hae
hesltating period and an Ellen Terry period "
when We got to the 'Fidelc' scenes then came
tears There only one remark In the hot
oh what a posalind she would have made: "
many added and ought to make Here. In tfts
scensy had comedy Of the finest favor ID
pa thos exauis!tely true Few Will forget the et'
nently Rosaiind-ke incident Of the sword at
entrance to the cave lit the bloody kercM
over AGAIN.. and few VIII fail 10 admire the nery(e
passion. the eloquent grief over the supposed ny
of the headless Posthumus. The success OF the
Fdele scenes nerved the actress to fresh attat
,,ftt lion .hC
with the romance and activity OF n g!r OF eigh'ef
II was a surprising effort. from first 20 last: andf
all the Shakespearan essays OF TINS deiShtiui arY
this from her standard. Is assured'y the oe3
Hitherto We should have said Beatrice; but here
have Beatrice with the pathetic touches OF Rosf
| lind superadded. She IL model Shakespeare
,ov there 1. no doubt about that. and has boz
laughter and tears at her winsome command l..
HENRY IRVING AS IAcHIMO
Tho same writer sketches this outline Of HenA
! Irviny's performance OF Iaciimo: Henry irving
! Iachimo was different from anything Of the KIN
that had been before IT, Made up after slcrq
picture by Guido. calm. serene. a man or sorrow
and Acquainted with grief No ady-kiiier OF ROM
no butterfly Of the Forum. no fantastic DANDY w
the Iach.mo OF Henry Irving. lie was an ;nteHectu4
lover no; an empty sensua.ist. Earnestness
brain power stamped every lire OF the rev lach'H%
In the scene Il lmogen's bedchamoer. Iaehimo Wv
no Haunting k1ave. devoure1 by passion. but SOM
IKE a werl DIT or vampire. Never was the Guidf
idea better conveyed than in the last scene OF al
where Iachim. with his infinitely pathetic rae
lined with sornw. his hands manaeled MS reputs
ou gore looks a. II he were destined for the mayer
la,ion pillar Ills subtle and weird idea. Iachm
seems TO embak on his enterprise not touched o.
pass.on. but h a dev.lish love OF mere mischief
! rhe Ting ne himself to do does not anect a.
Sony % lie r@rei. the SORROW ne has caused VIII
heart that leeds when he reflects upon u, n
,oid that Iachino coid be made to suggest the most
"a thetis figure the worlds history Bnt tine sus'
Mr Frederic Robinson, making his first appeal
an nee in Mr. Wings I.yceum dramatic company
was a p.h he n sby "srST Teesraph
After the speuid reception given to Henry i,yns
; ;ns Es e old rr ses "SS or
who n,ust ave as,onished some OF f i bis
staeiness we tsh the stare had more Of IL "
ruth nq; s'SSss at a cTi h I'M London %s
E Hn sounds smS .naT note Of praise Mr. Frederic
Robinson made great h he Tvs a sU'1. inc AND MD dig
niaed agure' The Echo repeats this strain
Mr p Ssr s a%% nn the weight Of h a
presence and s.orous elocutton 10 the pas.sges
We've Wards I'm and trcnchant style found mi,
scope In 'nre handsome md middIe-sssd
', AN in, ,resinreterence to Mr. Rob.nsons pas:
association wihe London stage !, made name an IN
binds me - thIdays OF the Phelps revivals o.
Sadler's Wells I'd later to the time when Hrn.yy
! Irving made hisfrst success at the ST. James,
| Theatre under De- management OF Miss iferrr,
/ I mean the nam OF Frederic Robinson. who Is 70
! play Bel trius uter the amusement OF one VINO
| never forgets arold comrade This excellent &C,
tor who combin I'm himself the merits OF the OLD
| school and the nr has made his home IN America
| for msny yearswhere he has achieved grea,
name and ~ hgg esteemed. The last time saw
| Frederic Robinst on the English stage must nave
| been at the 81. lmes's Theatre In 1864 when ne
| played King Cfstian In Palgrave Simpsons
"syhl,ia; or. stety Step" in the company OF Mr.
| and Mis- Charlie Mathews tNio Fleming and ~.
hiila). or was 4 Leicester Buckirg hams Faces
In The Fire" In IS or, again. Ar the ST. Jamess "
! John Oxenforls erslon of Miss Braddon's novel
| "Eleancrs VictE." when Frederic Robinson
! played in n astontaining such names as Miss
| Herbert. Harry lontague Mr.: and Mrs Franss
| Matthews Artht Stirling and CASTOR Murray
| The great value the actor was that trained N