The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-24
IRVING AND TERRY.
Two Stars In Two Plays at the The
alter on the same Evening.

alter on the same Evening.
Had Mr.. Irving and Miss Terry appeared
together at the theater last night. the
occasion would have undoubtedly been
more satisfactory, from the popular point
OF view. To take the artists one at
time may have been the better way TO
judge of their several and numerous ac-
complishments. Nevertheless. a great
many persons desired 70 consider them in
/ the aggregate. and 10 compare one with
/ the other. There are so very few actors
who are counted in the same class with
/ either Of them that it is difficult to meas
ure them except by each other. How
ever. since IL was in accordance with the
expressed wishes OF Savannahians that
I the bill was changed from the Merchant Of
] Venice 10 Nance Oldheld and the Bells.
! mere S rs nothing. more 20 be said.
/ nance OldEeld was the curtain raiser.
/ 1hls play, IN one act, is composed OF Miss
] Aerry part and some suggestions The
story Is dramatized from one Of Charles
! hedoe works. The heroine Is an actress
/ VINO tries to cure a poet Of his love by
] playing the slattern. She plays Ii sue
I cessfully, but discovers that the young
man Is IN love with her art. and not with
J hefseit. Then she undeceives him as TO
ner character, ahd there is a happy end
In this little piece which Is charming.
MISS Ierry shows that her power for play
/ ing comedy of the breezy sort is quite as
/ comprehensive as that for heavier work.
/ Tier manner is that of well balanced ma
lure, ana her every movement full of Gull
/ Lure, ease and grace. She speaks with a
uIsunct ana we'll mOdulated voice, which
/ is musical, pleasing and gratifying There
! was general regret felt when the curtain
went DOWN and the audience realized that
MISS Terry would be seen no more. The
\ appreciation of her portrayal was mani
/ rested in the five enthusiastic calls for her
| appearance that followed the falling of
As to THE Bells" so much of com
mehdatlon cannot be given IL, as a whole
Ike the curtain raiser, the play is pretty
AucH all star, with just action enough
1 ELSEWHERE to keep the star scintilating
but Mr. Irving did not sclntillate much
I untl the hnal act. In the first two acts
ms manner seemed stiff and cramped
| with mannerisms. His famous strut was
i there, in accentuated form, suggesting
me Inc need OF massage and witch hazel
livery one or his eccentric methods, which
nave been so often burlesqued was no.
uceable During two acts a great number
! OF his lines were mumbled in such a
manner as to be absolutely unintelligible
! to even those close to the stage. MANY
/ or the situations drew their chief strength
1 from stage tricks that have become a
/ part or the business of every melo-
| dramatic company on the road. Even the
| climax OF the dramatic famous dream
scene-drew a great part OF its power of
/ impressing from the single calcium light
| that was employed to illuminate the
ghastly race Of the conscience-racked
1
| In the last act Mr. Irving appeared
/ at MS best during the play. His work
was that OF q great artist. For power of
| fed. While he was under the mesmer-
| lists spell the audience sat with bated
breath, every eye fastened upon his livid
/ race and every ear strained to catch the
/ details of the crime which had burned it
| self into the murderer's brain fifteen years
/ before, and which conjured up the jang-
| ling or the sleigh bells from which the
| piece takes its name The intensity of
| the situation during the dream scene was
| such that 1t was a relief when II came
| time for Ii to end and Matthias to die.
| The enthusiasm with which Mr.. Irving
| was congratulated upon his acting was
an n, earnest Of its appreciation.
good, and the scenery is all that has been
claimed for 1t.
Sir Henry Irving and the principal mem
bers of his company spent the greater part
of their day at the De Soto. The almost in
eessant rain up to o'clock in the after
noon prevented them from seeing much
of the city. though the weather moderat-
ed in the afternoon and it was quite pleas
ant.
| Mr.. Irving expressed himself to a repre-
| sentative of the Morning News as very
much interested in the history of the south
and the cities he has visited and he ask
| ed especially about Savannah. He was of
| the opinion from observation that the orig
| inal colony had somewhat of an informing
| ling of the Spanish, saying he had seen
a number of people during the day with
somewhat of Spanish cast.
Il have had most delightful trip
| through the SOUTH" he said, most de-
lightful. l find the people hospitable and
| pleasant everywhere and the audiences
are good They are enthusiastic and they
! show their appreciation.
| II regret very much to have encountered
| this rain here, as / have a desire to see
! more of Savannah. 1t is a most beautiful
| city. / wanted to see your famous ceme-
| terry and the Hermitage, both of which
| have heard a great deal about"
Mr.. Irving inquired very closely about
! the desire on the part of the theater pa
irons to have a change in the bill.
| Il don't understand, he said, why the
| people should have objected to The Mer-
| chant of Venice My treatment of it is
wholly different from the usual presenta-
| tions. regard the Jew as the only gentle
man in the play Despised and persecut-
ed as he is, he is a gentleman and he
| should excite pity for his treatment in
/ stead of scorn. At the same time | do not
overlook the fact that he is usurer. OF
that there is no doubt. At the same time
! made was an excellent one"
Some of the Savannah people had de-
/ sire to see Macbeth" was suggested.
That would require g good d6 deal Of s5ag
we We're not able to bring with us so
we were noe prepared to present It,"
| (Which of your characters do you pre-
| fer?' MIR. Irving was asked.
Il like them ALL" he said. II have no
special preferences. They are all diff
| tions and different methods, and they are
/ interesting to me"
Mr. Irving spoke about the prices charg-
/ ed II don't believe in a S. admission
| he said "for many reasons. There are
! a great many people who want to see a
| play and they will not go unless they
4 can afford to secure the best seats. l think
/ also there should be a 50-cent admission.
! For a trip of this kind, of course, quar-
! ter would be too small. Nobody would
/ Nv .
! should be 50 down to 80 cents, and saw
| that the change was made this morning
as soon as l arrived. did play to s.
/ admissions once in London, when Mr.
| Booth and l were playing together The
| stalls were II each. but there were tickets
at Is shillngs, TO- 5, 2, and even at
| shilling"
Mr.. Irving and his company go from
! here to Atlanta They left by special
| train last night after the play. They play
| ali next week in New Orleans, and Mr..
] Irving will dine with Mr.. Joseph Jefferson