New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-17
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
MR. MANSFIELD IN CASTLE sOMBRAs.s
THE GARDEN THEATRE.

In a new play called Castle Sombras," by II. a.
Smith, produced last night at tho Garden Theatre
Mr. Mansfield has afforded to his numerous admirers
the pleasure OF seeing him as an eccentric. form-
dabe. forbidding. vet attractive military nobeman
supposed to be resident in England in the time OF
Charles the First. The name of him Sir John
, Sombras He dwelt in grim old fortified castle
upon rocky cllf. and his reputation for feroclty
had made him the of his neighborhood He was
In love with his relative, a woman named Thyrza
Sombras. and he wished to marry her: but Thyrza
In love with another man. and she would not
accept him.-altnough inmate OF his castle and
more or less within his power. The other man.
named Hilary Dare.-was the commander o, Royal
force which had been sent by King Charles 10 be.
siege Castle Sombras and to capture and subdue ts
dangerous and troublesome chieftan and so It han.
pened that these rivals In love became also opposed
as antagonists in war. The contention between them
was continuous and fierce. and 1t was attended by
various adventurous proceedings and singular and
striking incidents. picture Of that contention IL
the purpose of this play.
Like Sir william Wallace. In his warfare with
Edward the First Sir John, disguised a minstrel
penetr ,tcd into the camp OF his enemy but.-less
fortunate than the Scottish hero.-he was seized O.
SPY and condemned to death. That was a d.
JENNA for the sweet little cherub who watches
over all adventurous knights. and the cherub was
punctual-for Dare became possessed Of Sir Johns
portrait of Thyrza and learned Of her presence in
/ SOmDraS,
permitted to buy his life, and to depart. upon re.
veang TO Dare a tasman that would insure him
admission TO that fortress Into the castle. and
into the auring presence Of ThyrZa. the bold Dare
speedily made his way and there he was con-
fronted by Sir John; and then began bitter strife
between those martial lovers and simultaneously
I'm the mind Of Sombras. a still more bitter strife
between his passion for ThyrZa.-involving a venge.
full luminosity against her favored sutherland his
loftier and worthier impulse to be magnanmous
and to promote her happiness. The physical incl
dents of Sir Johns contest with Dare.-in which. Of
course the latter was aided by Thyrzas ingenu.
l>ity-were often irrational but the spiritual expert.
ence attendant upon II was salutary ennoblng
illuminative as to character and worthy Of con.
sideration because OF its intimations TO the cruel
facts Of life and to wisdom in human conduct
Sir John might, at any moment. have swept Dare
Of his path. He chose. rather. while maintain
ing the attitude OF enmity. and often feeling III
spirit to test the sincerity of Dare and Thyrza. to
watch the beating Of their hearts To sift their
characters and bitterly to vvisect the whole phe-
nomena OF love: and when at length he had
thwarted by one. all their schemes for escape
and shown a superiority of soul which neither Of
them was great enough 10 recognize. he ended BY
breaking their chains and sending both Of them out
OF his castle to be happy in their own way and at
the last he sat alone by his cheerless hresde and
watched the dying embers. and faced his fate.
/
rot gained by worth The fact is nearly always
! totally distinct from the ideal. Women are neither
/ attracted By mind swayed by character, but
! by personal charm, conysntional success ana ING
/ in the days Of good King Charles as thty are now
and doubtless as they always will be mr. Mans ans.
/ field III playing Sir John Sombras, seems TO nave
! had some idea Of intimatng that man OF grim
exterior and ill-repute may nevertheless De hooe
I'm mind and vastly superior TO his detractors: and.
furthermore. that the loveess and lonely condition
Of such seqprnt on ms ch an
perfectly tenable but IT is very little likely to In
terest the peope who attend theatres The ingredi-
! ents that will please them in Castle Sombras arc
the situations Of peril which inspire suspenss ing
! incidents Of adventure. the plans OF the pighted
lovers to outwt their custod ian. and their ultimate
happy release from his clutches Those nsre1 80 ny,
! and time. and likewise they have been treated
more by chance than by design.-n such way As
! the whole brood OF contemporary romantic dramas:
The piece IL IN fact a diruse narrative. divers ned
anima,ed with ,ableaus. and so doub,fuy balanced
| between a grave design and gay one as 10 seen'
now and then. Just l,tle nsncere II does no, re.
yea. exceptional dramatic art or diStin, tive literary
style but II well enough signifies that rs write, mas
been dligent in reading the novels or ne aay Esn i
shows the revising hand Of the actor MI ianSss'a;
no withstandng his keen sense and strong tacuy OK
both playful and sarical humor Is essentially se'i-
Gus comedian and ne Is never - effective or 80 ad
| mjrahlo as when he emb)dies a complex formidaoe
character in scenes OF Imagination ana sene SOM
bras is a compound OF good and eNi, ana Ml, siaY'
h,d embOdsd him II ss .gsb esee atenaion:
o, deep feeling and grim and sirlent sarSa sit,l,
convey astonishing npr'sslo, o.
mental snguarty and depth ard power OF EN- )t3n.
| The essential result. for him. as an actor II ihe
vivid portrayal OF al agolzing and pahetlc connl.t
between good and evil IN passionate, snrn,, ha;
stormy nature. His method AZ usual. was son,rWht
! UNEQUAL being weighted with constturonai 'her,a
or n; least deficient Of thar alacry OF stI "l'rn'
I'm Us outward manifestations. Is the cro"ihS cJ'n-
fort OF all art Mss Cameron 'Mrs. Minsheti, an
actress OF sweetness but Of power presented ne
heroine II Is be said for her. and also Tor VII:
Henry Jewett. who played the favored 'oNsi NM NM
in situations which closely aDproach the Aerge
| OF extravagance they bore themselves tas SNAKE
speare aptly says with 'tormal cohs,hhcs or,
Mansfield was heartily recalled AT the end ~ eacn
act The scenery is very good ana ny d''sShs
he play according 10 the picturesque fas Mons OF al
m.nf which prevailed In the time CT Char.es the f'st
Mr. Mansfield has dlrused over the whole spectaeies
sort OF Nandyke atmosphere when ~ 'Onia"''c INV
exceedingly agreeable.
cAST OF "CASTLE SOMBRAS."