New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-08
THE DRAMA.
MIR. JEFFERSON.

Next Monday night. November H. At the Fifth
Avenue Theatre Mr.. Jefferson will appear in his
familiar and admirable embodiment OF rip Van
Wrinkle" and doubt he will charm his audi
ence. as ne has often done beforc.-winning their
sympathy by his spontaneous humor. awakening
their imagination by his subtle poetic prompting
and touching their hearts by his pathetic tender
ness II Is always a pleasure 10 welcome Mr.. JEFF
ferson Rip Van Wrinkle and 1t will be especially
a pleasure about this time. when much has been
heard about the moral mission Of the stage 10 ap-
ply the dnerential calculus 10 regenerate the
human race. to nculcate the modification Of IN.
flesh, and TO proclaim the overwhelming glorics and
raptures Of Kingdom Come Mr.. Jenerson's i'm
personation Of Rip Van Wrinkle is one OF the love
Hest works OF dramatic art that have ever been
presented on the stage. and 1t has been received
with sympathy and with afrectonate admiration
in many parts Of the world for about forty years
and yet 1t is performance that does not coniem-
plate any moral result whatever and does not
ostensibly teach anything. No better exampl.
could be wished Of dramatic creation which
moves directly I'm the line Of achievement for which
the art Of acting naturally exists and 10 which II
ought always to be devoted
Nobody Is bored 10y Rip Van Wrinkle. Nobody
hears in il the shrl tones OF tho Pharlsee calling
upon him to shun the flowing bowl. TO 60 TO The
ant. or 20 consider the busy bee, remark m.
flow of ointment that fell from Aarons beard and
spoiled his brooches. The spectator of It only aces
an amusing ana IONable character. displayed tho
central figure in moving picture OF humorous
romantic and pathetic experience and is only ag-
tated by delicious impairment of poetic pcrcep-
ton and thrilled and warmed and ennOb.ed by an
excitation Of sweet and tender human feeling In
all his long an actor Mr. jefferson f. is
very sure has never yet heard Voice from
heaven crying unto him 10 arise and SHAY a ballet
girl and yet it is certain that he has been able.
for many years TO exercise pure and noble IN
huence. to stimulate good impulses in thousands
of hearts TO make people more cOnsiderate OF each
other and more charitable toward human infrmi-
ties and 10 render the drama incessant spring
OF innocent happiness It IS a coincidence. and
not without a valuable meaning. that Of late years
the three loveest performances that have been
seen. and tina; have done the most good in the
world are Jerersons Rip Van Wrinkle. Henry
Irvng's DR.. Primrose and John Hare's Goldhnch:
and each Of them Is far removed possible
from anything Ike ddacticism or any purpose OF
imparting moral lesson
Good Judges Of dramatic art dIenry Irving
among others. have oppressed the opinion that NJ
J"fersons best piece Of acting Is the performance
Of Acres ~ Goub that Is embodiment u
original ideal AMI OF exquisite finish but the
judgment that places Acres above Rip Van VIM
klr can scarcely BE- thought N.ll-founded. Acres
IS =. conica simDlcton VINO gets himself into a
panlu aad ridiculous dilemma. and therein be-
hayes WIKI whimsical and humorous absurdity.
Rip Van Wrinkle j. "a poetic Creamer.-the fancifui
deniZcn ~ an ideal realm.-HEo passes through IN
ordeal Of dread and pathetic experience symbols
ing human life transitory ana ephemcral. show
ing the pi;able weakness Of man. When shorn u
the defences OF artificial circumstance. and I'M
parting the conviction that there is neither per-
manencc nor beauty except in the affections. Much
OF his eXpcrienc- H. limited to the fields and the
woods to tn spOrtve society Of children and ami
mails. ID communion with trees and brooks. TO ide
froc and to the common incidents of every day:
but one scene Il it transcends the limit OF the
actual and moves upon the confines Of anoth r
world In that remarkable passage and under
circumstances at once fantastic and awful. he =
confronted with spirits from beyond the grave.
The time is the middle OF the night. and the place
is the summit Of a mountain.--a place so desolat.
tina, be there alone. evon ~ midday and whsn
the sun is shining is to be conscious Of n haunt
ing mystery and to shudder With ndehnahle alarm
Such a situation requires personality OF the nm
est fibre and only the finest dramatic art in
formed by the most glowing magina ,on. could
clothe H. as Mr.. Jefferson clothes H. with
thentc spiritual glamour. with Tueful and tende:
lovelnes. Communicating smiles ano tears.-and
with the enchantment Of perfect illusion. No such
situation and nothing analogous or approximate 10
IT, occurs in Acres. ip any other character that
this actor has eyer presented. Delicious VIII
humor and sympathetic with humanity NJ.
Jefrerson's embodiment OF Rip Van Wrinkle pos
sesses "A transcendent he iGty, by reason Of this
spiritual quality which has placed II. whore II vii
always be remembered, among the great poetic
creations of the stage. W. w