New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-26
LONDON DRAMA.
MISS ELLEN TERRY IN A COMIC PART
SIR HENRY IRvINGS NAPOLEON
MIR. GEORGE MEREDITH ON
THE COMIC SPIRIT

resources or uramatlc art. Inc graceful woman
was transformed as Nine. sans-Gene. into an
awkward creature who knew how neither to
carry herself nor To wear her clothes specta-
tors, who had never seen her make an awkward
movement in any play. amazed by the
facility with which she stripped herself Of every
element Of grace AS the low-born Duchess she
let's herself go and reverts To the antics Of the
laundry and the boulevards. The Empire gowns
do not fit her, because the stoutness which Ia
ordinarily concealed by consummate dressing
IL audaciously revealed She is not at ease In
her clothes. and man milliners cannot teach her
to wear them any more than the dancing mas
ter can induce her to make a graceful bow
She wobbles and stumbles about in the gllded
drawing room, and when her long train Is tam
gled behind her she draws UP her skirts and
jumps over 1t. Whether she Is sitting with her
feet under her standing in helpless embar-
rassment before Princess Emperor every
pose is awkward Miss Terry is artist enough
not only to forget the refined and beautiful
parts which she ordinarily plays. but even to
put aside her graceful self in filing up the
measure OF vulgarty required for Nine. Sans
Gene.
The vivacity and buoyancy OF spirits which
Miss Terry throws into this broad comedy part
surprised even those admirers OF her art who
have derived pleasure from her Nance
Odfeld than from the other tender womanly
characters associated with her name During
the prologue, with its stirring revolutionary
tumut and it's lively touch OF melodrama at
the close the stage is filed with the presence Of
the buxom, frolicsome. warm-hearted laundry
woman. Her humor is inexhaustbe, and the
three following acts. while duller in action. are
frightened by her comic byplay. Now and
again the sincerity and womanliness Of the free
spoken vivandiere laundrywoman revealed.
but essentially 1t is the comedy Of a vulgar
madcap among the parvenus of Napoeons court
and Miss Terry adapts herself 10 1t with In
comparable skill. Evidently she likes the part
and finds 1t a congenal one, after the sterner
and more rigorous dramatic studies of recent
years II suits her temperament, and she en-
joys the license which she has to follow her ca
prices and mpetuous impulses Certainly there
has been no comedy performance more genuine
and artistic for many day
NOTABLE TRIUMPH FOR IRVING
Sir Henry Irving has his triumph also in this
play and it Is a notable That he acts with
vigor and subtety is a matter Of course. for he
never fails to do that But it is his marvellous
makeup Napoleon that is the best surprise
of the performance How a tall. spare and in
short, portly, coarse and sensual Corsican ex-
ceeded the powers of the liveest imagination
There was hardly feature Of the actors face
which facilitated the transition process. unless
1t was the nose; yet it was done with such re-
markable success that on the opening night
when Napoleon was revealed in uniform at his
desk the audience was overwhelmed with as
constituent and delight. He seemed 10 have re-
duced himself in height az least half foot
Bulk was secured by sheath over which the
uniform was worn and the illusion Of shortness
was helped out by breadth Of shoulders and an
artistic abbreviation of leg-dressng. The cos
tuner and wigmaker between them produced
Little Corporal who might have stepped out
Of an old French print IL was night Of mar
wells; the most graceful OF actresses masquerad-
ing as Lady Awkward. and Sir Henry Irving
overcoming every physical disability ana NIL
ing nearly all the requirements or a stunted ana
pOrtly Napoleon.
The reception Of this play hearty on the
opening night. but there are some unfair strict
ures upon II in the press a commercial enter
prise designed for Jubilee public and surprise
is expressed that Shakespeare should have been
followed by Sardou. The Lyceum Theatre Is
not national institution. and Sir Henry lrv-
ing has only such support as his pre-emlnent
talents as actor and manager command. with
the most expensive theatre in London 10 be con-
Quoted his own responsibility. 1t Is not strange
II he consuts at times the humor and taste or
the public. ard varies the programmes so as 10
secure as large measure Of popular support as
possible Madame Sans-Gene" is not a poetic
drama but it is rollickinS comedy, with MISS
Terry in congenial part, anc II is likely 10
prove. a most successful and profitable piece
during the London season. which Will open IN
a fortnight. In that sense 1t may be proper 70
describe it as a commercial enterprise. II is a
bright. cheerful and amusing play. and offers
London the sort Of recreation when IL requires
under the dispiriting effects of an enervating
climate and dull and gloomy skies. IL IS more
suitable play for the Jubilee revel OF holiday
mummery and social extravaganza tnan eitheE
a poetic drama noble tragedy would be.
LIGHT HOLIDAY PROGRAMME.
Criticism of Sir Henry Irvings judgment IN
ordering light programme for a holiday sea-
son of joty and good humor is as unfair as
structures. now happily seldom heard, upon the
luxurious setting which he provides for every
play at the Lyceum. The scenic pageants, the
splendid Empire gowns, the glitter of gold lace
and the clanking Of swords essential TO the
artistic production OF a play in which the comic
idea is the dsporting Of vulgarity among par
venus at a gilded military court. If these ac-
cessorles have a commercial value IN attract
ing and delighting audiences the justification IS
ample since this theatre. like every other one IN
London. is dependent upon popular support anu
cannot be conducted without II. Sir Henry lrI-
ing is really entitled to public gratitude Tor al
lowing Miss Terry an opportunity for appearing
in a part which reveals her genuine taient AZ
a comedian. Her comedy style is spontaneous
whimsical and brilliant. and. while she some
times approaches dangerously near the cage OF
burlesoue she never passes beyond 1t. She Is
not Rejane, and, indeed is an English cockDey
girl rather than a French shoddy duchess ana
camp follower: but with all the sparkling ANNA
tion and extravagance OF her humor. she mfkes
the part thoroughly consistent and lifelike
1t is now the fashion TO quote MI George
Meredith's ingenious essay on COMEDY am inc
Uses of a Comic Spirit" which has been re-
printed opportunely by Messrs. Archibald con-
stable & Co.. and is attracting more attention
than when 1t was first published in literary
review twenty years ago one OF his hes points
is that comedy comes OF some degree d sociaI
equality of the sexes. and that cultivated women
are blind TO their interests IN sWelilng te ralAs
of the sentmentalsts. and in not recognizing
the comic muse as one OF their best fiends
..u,i.n hor THAT where tncy