New-York tribune., 1896-11-24
MR.. MANSFIELD AS RICHARD III.


MR.. MANSFIELD AS RICHARD III
Mr.. Mansfield appearing at the Garden Theatre
last night Richard the Third. has made his re.
entrance upon the New-York stage in a manner that
Is worthy of his genius and his fame At the zenith
of his powers and in the plentude Of his reputation
ne to this capital. presenting of the great
characters of Shakespeare. and giving personatlon
that Is massive with intellectual purpose and brilliant
with vigorous execution. He comes royalty and he
was greeted with a royal welcome. Again and again.
upon his first entrance as the ambitious and un-
scrupulous Duke Of Goster. the enthusiasm Of an ad.
miring multitude broke forth in cop.ous and reso-
nant plaudits. and often. his performance pro.
gressed he was cheered with vociferous expressions
of the public favor. His homecoming was in every
way successful. and fine personaton. thus At.
tingly recognized may well be hailed as the pleas.
Ing augury OF prosperous engagement.
Shakespeare's presentment OF Richard the Third
Is dubious history but. of the rougher kind. 1t Is
magnificent tragedy The actual man was gu.ltless
OF most OF the crimes which have been laid his
charge. and the proof Of his innocence Is ample and
conclusive. HIS reputation. however. has been
blackened with perpetual blight by the historians and
by Shakespeare. and the world accepts him, not as
he stood in life but ne stands IN the play He is
a man Of genius: he IL a monster OF wickedness he
wreaks himself upon life by the power Of adamantine
WILL and he moves through deadly crime and dire
ful slaughter to tbs summit OF earthly dominion:
bur his heart is corroded with remorse. his spirit
slowly broken by vague and awful shapes OF haunt
ing horror. and though audacious and tremendous
to the last. In the derium of desperation. ne : SUBJ
ducd by retrbutive justice and ne dies as has
lived, by treachery and violence The central theme
OF the tragedy IL human defiance Of divine law
Mr. Mansfield who bis own version Of the
play.-in which there Is much Of Shakespeare and
but little of Clbbcr-has promulgated theories p,
to the character OF Richard but his impersonation
Is not apprecably affected by them. The observer
Is asked 10 consider the lapse of time which occur
during the continuance OF Richards career. and 10
view him as slowly developed from youth OF evil
propensities 20 a man OF evil dceds. He only
nineteen when.-as is falsely alleged,-he killed
Henry the Sixth in the Tower he was thrtythree
when slain Bosworth Field. Mr. Mansfield. in
his acting. would discriminate between the several
periods In Richards i.fe ard thus would snow the
reactionary effect which his crimes produce upon
his nature II is ingenious notion, but 1t Is
wholly unwarranted By anything In the tragedy.
and the application OF II produces no obvious
suit Shakrspeares Richard Il not wholly destitute
OF heart conscience. and at some tme.-not
easily determnate-he begins TO suffer renorse for
his crimes Edwin Booth In his great performance
OF this part; caused the king 10 begin 10 break or
at least TO sn)w tre s.sns oi vreanng, after
his mother had cursed him SIR. Mansfield makes
hlm temorsefui a. early "a the throne scene and
before learns ihat the little princes nave been
Killed. and roin that point onward TO the close the
impersonItion - a subtle. powerful. most dramatic
nict between active depravly dnd the auIndn dread
OF nameless horror. he spiendid moments OF Mr..
Man-neds acfiny are mos. Il hIchards d-simuia-
ton with the Mayor, ms uttenptcD aiiIrement VI
buckingham to murder the royal boys: his panic
when smitien with blood-red light upon the throne
Uhough as fact. stained glass does not cause
color w!en transmitting moonDeams); ana MS Eys-
terical frenzy when after the famous dream scene
he has, for one terrible instant. mistaken Cdtesby
for yet another phantom. The sinister menace OF
Stanley. the denunciation OF Hastings, and the
awakening from the gnosthaunted dream wers
also,-as they have ever been. III this performance,
magnificent strokes OF dramatic art The attn.
butes in which Mr.. Mansfield IL deficient rapid.
ny and fire He broods his emotions. he lll-
gers upon his effects. and he mistakes slowne-j
repose. That method VIII /. ot prevail In such 1
part a. Richard the Third for Richard Is massed
into electrical personality, and he moves Ike
meteor. Impetuous action more than picture
would be essential 10 complete conquest II
tragedy. The concentrated intellectual power Of tho
actor was however. exhibited In marvellous r1ai-
ner and with .nnumerabe fine touches the draniato
artist deneated true picture of human nature ana
terrific image OF grsiy wickedness and Of hopeless
misery There were many innovaiiors-chief among
them being me indicated murder of Tyrrel after MS
exit Mise Beatrice Cameron gave sweety woman
like performance OF Lady Anne. and Mr.. William
n.-inund impaired to Buckingham all the essential
authority OF that character and all passion ana yer.
ror incident 10 his per.oUs experience. Miss Perce
and Miss Laird admirable as the Princes ana
especially applaudSd.