New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-28
THE DRAMA.
ROYAL BOX" AT FIFTH AVENUE.
CHARLES COCHIAN

Those persons who enjoy acting Of the higher
and bstter kind.--acting that is animated by in.
tellectuai purpose. governed and guided by the
faculty Of taste, and made potential with genial
emotion, should see Mr.. Charles Coghan's i'm.
personation of the Maynard actor, In the drama
OF "The Royal Box" now current the Fifth
Avenue Theatre. The embodiment 10 Of great
interest and OF exceptional beauty. The changes
| that Mr.. Coghlan has made In adapting the old
French play to the English stage. while they have
not wholly relieved 1t Of extravaganza. have In.
vested 1t with refinement. and with large meas.
ure OF credibility. The general modification OF tho
fable Is ingenious, and. in particular. the change
OF nomenclature O wise expedicnt,-for to
think Of Edmund Kean as the hero OF such fiction
Is to think Of impossibil!ty: besides it Is safe
principle of constructive art that when the In
cidcnts Of a story imaginary the persons also
should be imagined 1t probably was not possible to
discard the Prince Regent. but the substitution OF
the fancifu Mr.. Clarence for the actual Edmund
Kcan makes n wide difference in the result
Inc infrmity of the piece Is a certain distortion
OF view, TO the mysterious attribute OF Genius.
Upon this subject there has always been great al.
versty OF opinion. In the minds OF some OBJ
servers genius. in the case Ut Shakespeare Is
perfect sanity,-the equilibrium OF all the faculties
combined with absolute control ct them. and with
the power the whole OF life clearly. and to
portray 1t with equal fulness and beauty In other
minds, genius is q sort Of derium as sometimes
manifested by such men Christopher Marlowe.
Richard Savage Robert Burns Lord Byron. George
Frederick Cooke, and Edmund Kean. Much no
doubt could be said on both sides Of this question.
but every reader settle u for himself The
actor Clarence, as embodied by Mr. Coghlan, Is
tyre not so much Of del!rium as OF passionate
weakness The attributes OF the character are
noble but II lacks roise and self-control. Much
that Clarence says is wild inconsequent and fatu-
Gus, and although his conduct Is invariably plct-
ure2que 1t is seldom rational. This consideration
would not be important II the drama were not
at several points. freghted with precept ana moral
reflection.
Looking at the character for itself. and discard
ing its parade of wisdom the spectator sees COM
pound OF Imagination. sensiblity tenderness, pas
sion pride. and generosity, and mas mat all these
are fused in a personality OF exquisite grace FROM
first 10 last Clarence is disp aged in situations that
REQUIRE splendid dignity Of demeanor, chiValrous
emotion great breadth OF gesture. animated play
OF the countenance most diversified and expressive
yocalism, and picturesque and flexible treatment
In ca n OF those situations,-in the attitude OF
reverontial devotion 10 woman. In that or allegiance
and Difference royalty. In that OF protection 10
innocence. in that Of fiery scorn for meannes+
craft and villany, in that OF tolerant yet not un.
gracious comradeship, in that OF nonchalant and
elegant self-possession,-at every point, and with
the us:ained ease OF spontaneity. MI Cogh.ans
acting shows a consummate mastery OF his art. II
is .ong since such picturesque and romantic
figure has been upon our stage, and those who
miss the prospect OF II will lose pleasure and a
benefit The auxiliary performances in The Royal
Box" especially those Of the men. are nearly al!
judcious. spirited, and effective The female ele.
ment in the company is not as strong as might BE-
wished. The partial transference OF the action
from the stage to one OF the boxes while not new.
is somewhat bold experiment but It has good
effect Flags that imp!icate actors and the business
OF the stage have not generally been successful:
The Royal Box" however. pleases and deserves
to please-mainy because OF tne absorbing interest
with which Mr.. Coghlans acting has vitalized It In
every fibre. W. w.