The times., 1898-01-09

Lafayette-E. S Willard.
National-Primrose & Vests MIN
sbels.
Richards & Canfield, in
MY Boys
Academy Northern Lights"
"Hogan's Alley
Kernan's- Broadway Burlesquers.
Bijou-NaudeyiIle.
All the head of these columns this
morning is miniature OF Otis Skin
ne1, which those VINO know him viii
recognize as an admirable portrait MIR.
Skinner is the most gifted of American
actors. This he has shown in vari-
Gus achievements. He played wide
range of parts with DAILY at his New
York theater and afterwards as co-star
with Modjeska he rivaled the inddbi-
table excellencies of her Magda, Lady
Macbeth, Rosalind, Mary Stuart, Ca
mile. Portia and Catharine with his
mastery performances OF Schlsert,
Macbeth. Orlando, Leiscester, Armand
Duyal, Shylecl1. and Henry VIII This
is a wide Camut of character which
no other American actor whom we
have with us could have PLAYED with
such highly sustained fiSesse as did
Otis Skinner Since he inaugurated
his Independent starring tour he has
even broadened the latitude of his
achievement One OF his first cfarac-
ters was the light and airy His Grace
- Al
The tragic Jester in The Kings Fool
then The poetic lnsouciance of Nillon,
the Yagabond poet of meG.eval France;
next reading of Hamlet which mas
been generally accorded OF intrinsic
magnificence and relatively next and
Very close to IeoothS: finally the ro-
mantle young hero in bis own "A Sol
der Of Fortune" This season ne mad
added to his repertoire new success
in Prince Rudolph. a dramatization
OF Robert Louis Stevenson'S, Prince
otto" 1t is pleasant TO chronicle The
crescent fame which crowns the ar
ristic endeaNor Of such a man as Otis
Skinner, for his honesty OF purpose and
loftiness Of aim, aside from the mag
pificence OF his achievement, entitle
him 10 every whit of his enviable sue
cess. Mr.. SINNERS coming to Wash
ingt0h is said to be one ef the rich
promises Of the not distant future.
The return Of E. S. Willard is always
an occasion OF rare pleasure ii only in
the opportunity OF sitting again IN the
enjoyment of his delightful perform
ance OF Cyrus BleHkarn, in The Mid
dleman, which he has CONSIDERABLY
put into his bill for this week. Mr..
Willard is the best actor England has
sent us. Neither Wyndham, Beerbohm
Tree, Hare on Boucher approach him
either i'm artistic perception, the sub
tlety or fnesse of his expression, or in
the magnetism OF a winning and ad-
mirable personality We notice with
pleasure that unanimity of substan-
tial encoura cement has everywhere in
this country been accorded this Eng
lishman for he is the only one of his
thespian countrymen who finds it prof
liable to dwell among US season after
season. The period has gone by it
seems, and let us hope, when the SIM
pie brand of importation should make
a pseudo-artist a pecuniary success on
our stage. Mr. Willard. however, has
come into merited heritage of popu-
larity when it extends beyond the snob-
bish consideration of geographical
lines and reposes on the broader foun-
dation of attachments and achieve
ments.
which are not new to his repertoire, /
Mr.. Willard will this week present two
new presentations both interesting from |
different POINTS of view. One is Da- |
vid Garrick This will give us q first
view Of this actor in powder comedy.
1t seems as if his delicate hunlor and /!
bearing as we'll as the impress
sire power found in moments of Blen- |
karn should fit him admirably for the
Moreover, it will afford a comparative |
study not without interest. The role |
has its traditions on our stage and |
IN more settled way in England and |
Mr.. Wizards performance will offer |
occasion to compare. Creditable Gar /
ricks have been few. Those who saw
him have praised the Elder Salvini's /
most when he played it under the title, |
sullivan" On our contemporary |
stage Nat Goodwin has furnished the |
'nly conspicuous eXemplar. and his per-
does not rank high in the list /
Of his endeaVors
But we pass over the other offerings |
of Mr.. Wizards list for this week TO |
IWeH with expectancy on his perform
ance OF Tom Pinch" 1t would seem /
hat the placing of this play in his rep /
artoire were one Of those flashes of in
Spiration which leaves us in astonish
ment to think that 1t had not been |
lone long ago. The concrete of Dick /
ens delightful ingenious. good heart |
I'd fellow should be just what Mr.. VIII
ard might embody him. The thought /
If him brings back a flood of interest
ng reminiscence to every reader of |
Martin Chuzzlewit" The great nov-
eiist has in a few strokes sketched him |
20 realistically that he stands out from |
he page an entity clearer than which |
10 actor could desire for a pattern. He
s introduced entering the presence OF
lis adored Pecksniff.
BE was FAR from handsome. certainly.
inu was drest in a snufr-colored suit, |
u an uncouth make, at the hest which |
1eing Shrunk W lth long wear, was twist
% ahc tortured into all kinds of odd
'hapess but Notwithstanding his attire,
inu us clumsy figure, W hich a great stoop |
u ms shoulders ana lidicrous hahit
ne nad OF thruSing his head forward, |
~ no means redeemed, one would not |
lave been disposed unless Mr.. Pecksniff |
ald Soi 10 consider him @ had fellow hy /
my means. He was perhaDs a aboIit t,I,rty
iUt he might have been almost any ace |
,etween sixteen and sixty, being one Of |
hose strange creatures who meyer do |
line into an ancient appearance but look |
her oldest when they are very Young
md get 1t over at once.
That is the extrinsics Of a PERSONAL
ty which elows with all the gentleness. |
lindliness, naive humor and winsome |
GOODNESS that the pen of Dickens could