New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-29
EN.;LISH STAGE AFFAIRS.
IRVINGS PETER THE "hEAi Il
DAILY COMPANY AT STRAIT
FORD-ON-ANON
London, August II

ro,aon bv Irving was remarkable for ac-
curacv OF physical investiture. and for
predominant burning vitality which animated
every fibre of it. The denotement OF iorihida-
bic. dangerous. merciless. coarse personality
could not have been more clearly or more eff
fectively given. The 'make-up' was marvel
,ous-every personal popularity Of the original
having been copied in it, even TO the lock oil mar
which growing at the back of Napoleon's head
was combed forward and carefully spread over
the front The method was marked by great
activity and impotence. violent energy being the
conspicuous attribute The assumption of Nine
Cams Gene nv Ellen Terry afforded a striking
contrast to the more historic figure. and was
eouallv delightful for deep feeling and involun-
,ary humor. In the drawing Of Nine Sans Gene
tho dramatist has perhaps a little sacrificed the
truth Of nature. for the sake of broadly comic
effect A woman who rises in the social world
seldom fails to adjust herself somewhat 10 her
now circumstances Sans Gene remains gro
,esoue eccentricty. In acting. however, effect Is
The essential quality. Ellen Terry presented
most amusing and at the same time most low
ehle image of deep womanlke feeling and comic
manners In two scenes.-that of Sans Genes
rebuke Of her royal parvenu prosecutors ana
that OF the explanatory interview with the En-
reror-a perfect Illusion causing the theatre TO
he completely forgotten. created with great
skill and sustained with profound and convnc-
ting sincerity There were forty-two persons III
+ho cast besides the supers. and every figure was
a picture. Mr.. Macintosh, one of the most Ju-
dicious careful. and thorough actors of our time
distinguished himself by keen. subtle, piquant
performance Of the diplomatic and WHY rouche.
In his farewell speech Irving disclosed his
purpose TO produce. on returning to the Lyceum
after a brief autumn tour new play by MS son.
Mr. Laurence Irving on the story OF the RUSSIAN
desnot Peter the Great careful reading Of
that NAV has satisfied me that the production
will he a dramatic event Of the first Importance
and great cess The piece is comprised in
Eve conpact. animated. fluent acts. and it is
vigorously written in terse and pointed prose
II is a portrayal Of stalwart. intense character
and is at once synopsis and picture us pur-
nose is to depict the fateful, terrible forcf ol
rnercjless and remOrseess worldly ampluoh'
which. in the accomplishment of its OBJECT
sweeps away every obstacle. brushes every hu-
man feeling and sacrifices all things.-even 10
the closest ties of kindred and the deepest, hleh-
est and hottest emotions of nature us principal
characters are Peter and his son Alexis IN asso-
citation with whom it also displays Eudoxia' the
discarded wife of the Car Catherine, his chosen
NnO
Alexis. hv whom that soft and sentimental youth
Is ultimately betrayed and ruined. The action
masses AT Moscow. at the incipient st. Peters
hurg and AT Naples. and the changes admit Of
excellent scenic treatment The fourth act con-
,oirs an uncommonly well-managed trial scene,
and closes with a most powerful soliloquy intel
,ectual imaginative. and passionate. in when
the inplacable Car determines upon the Judlclal
death of his recreant son. irving will play Peter;
Mr. Forbes Robertson will play Alexis; Ellen
Terry will be Catherine, and Miss Ethei Barry
more. although a novice is to nave great Up
nortunitv in the character Of the capricious Eu-
phrosina The principal subsidiary character Is
that OF a crafty statesman, devoted to Peter ana
duigent and successful in his cruel service fe'ei
Is not a Brutus. He does not typify justice ana
he is not devoted TO liberty and. athoush HIS
crowning act repeats that Of his Roman eNeih-
Mar. his nature and his motives are unique. Inc
theme suggested by this piece is the man OF &C
.ion as contrasted with the man OF thought aho
since materialism is almost everywhere ram
nant. the idealfso strongly presented WILL no
doubt. be viewed with sympathy ana accepted
with enthusiasm. Irving is al Herrngham' near
Croner on the coast Of Norfolk MISS Terry Is
az Winchelsea. in Sussex. Mr.. Stoker is at AoeI-
deem. and MI LOveday at Ostend Ihe Lyceuh
company will rally, however Tor an autumn 'ou''
,.oinninr on September 20 at Birmingham.
Meanwhile the Lyceum Will be opened by FORBES
Robertson. with "Hamlet."-Mrs. Patrick Camps
bell playing Ophelia
Mr.. Tree at Her Majesty's Theatre, ended MS
season on August -, with Hamlet" The new
theatre is a beauty in shape, but somewhat
earishly decorated in its auditorium NO inca
ire in London is more commodious Mr.. Tree
Of V,
which was failure-as it already had been in
America He then produced The Silver Key,
by Mr. Sidney Grundy. and this has succeeded
IN attracting good houses, so that it will be re-
yjyed in the late autumn. The story is that OF
"Nile de Belle Ise"-and more painful, I'M
pleasant story could scarcely be devised Mr..
Grundv has handled his theme with ingenuity
and tact so that the encounter Of wit between
Richeljeu and his INSCRIPTIONS mistress is made
more prominent than the iicentious and de-
testable plan which makes the basis Of the ac-
ton. Mr.. Tree played Rchelieu and his grace
Of bearing felicity of dress, incisive delivery and
steadily and effectively pictorial action made
the embodiment a remarkable image Of icy,
polished wickedness. In less skilful hands this
play would be 'ntOlerable. In the hands OF Mr..
and Mrs Tree the glitter is made TO hide, or
almost to hide the depravity of the active char
acters and the vulgarity of the subject. When
revived by and by this piece will be associated
with the old Garrick version Of the ShreW, called
katherine and PctruCho.'
AT Days Theatre The Geisna is still popu-
lar and ii bids fair to hold its place for a long
time. Its setting is luxurious some of It's melo-
dies are delicious and the performance Of it, IN
general is brilliantly effective. Miss Viole:
Lloyd. as Molly SeamOre, has eXcelled COMPETE
ton in that character. equally by adequacy and
finish of vocalism and delicacy. grace and tan
TALKING alacrity Of merry action. and Mr.. Hay
den Coffin maintains his fine emnence az a
ballad singer. The house is crowded every
night The next novelty. when required VIII
be z musical play upon Greek story.