New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-13
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
JULIA ARTHUR IN TWO CHARACTERS.
GALATEA AND MERCEDES.

GALATEA AND MERCEDtS
Last night at Wallaoks Theatre. Miss Julia
Arthur appeared az Gaatea.-in w. 5. Gilberts
beautiful play Of "Pygmaon ana GaIatea."-
acting the statue girl for the first time. and also
she repeated her well remembered performance "
the Spanish heroine Mercedes. In the picturesque
and touching little play Of that name, by Thomas
Bailey Aldrich. The choice OF these TWO dramas.
with view alike TO contrast and unity. Is espe-
ciay fortunate and although Miss Arthur's act
Ing has not. any time. revealed either simplicity
or tragic power the general representation gavs
pleasure by reason Of its pictorial qualities and
It's diversity OF playful and serious elements. Mr.
Aldrich's Mercedes" written many years ago.
dt was published In 1889 and not made for Miss
Arthur for any actress In particular. contains
more than II expresses-its chief element OF
strength being pathetic situation The author saws
that the play suggested by an ircident In the
Memoirs Of the Duchess d Abrantes. but the story
and the Characterization are original IN" spanish
girl Mercedes believing that her French lover Is
false and thinking herself abandoned ny MIN.
has drfted into n state Of silent desperate misery
and finding her home invaded by hostile French
solfier. she fulfs a design or destroying her
enemies by poisoning Their wine The return OF
her lover ensues and the climax OF general
catastrophe Is his death well as her own by
this same poisoned drink. There IL wider oppor-
tunity for the exercise OF tragic power In the m
terpretation Of Mercedes than Miss Arthur mas
shown herself able to grasp Out, uI'" 10 p''''''"'
side and IN one or two moments Of pathoS, her
embodiment impresses the mind and touches ths
hear, II is scarcely more than sketch. but II
shows the actress to the best advantage her por-
travail OF Mercedes certainly Is better than hcr Nor-
travail of Galatea In Mr.. Gilberts play the heroine
is a sweet and simple girl. but the part oHers OPP
nortuni,ies for denotement Of ideal grandeur and
no performance OF II can prevail that Is not deeply
surchargcd with a fascinating charm Of Innocent,
yet unconsciously piquant and at the same time
deeply pathetic. personality.
|, Galatea f. n sophisticated young woman. pre-
tending to be a child and rafting off her words
as II saying a lesson and DESTROYS OF saving Il
ouckly and getting II out OF the way. then MISS
Arthur has taken a right view Of the part ana has
eNpr.ssed her View in a suitable manner. 70 any
hody who knows the play and has though upon
It. and felt its profound sadness.-oVer wnic1 80
light OF humor and satire flashes. Xix" the CLINT or
morning on tho bosom Of tn" still ooean.-hcr deal
Was commonplace and her expressi Of r. hlastei
with raplity She IS sweet.y pretty woman. and
good 70 see and she often elected the plauds -
crowded house: but she cannot play Halatea
The piece Itself creates excellent effects, and no
handsome and even tolerahly expert actress could
fail in IT. Miss Arthur Is not fortunate IN her
imitation Of Miss Ellen Terry-possib.y an IN
conscious imitation: and It Is not perhaps an ec-
centricity 10 prefer the original Allowance has
TO be- made for the disadvantage OF having TO act
Galatea with a Pygmalon who has neither gr"'e
Of motion use Of voice. nor distinction of manner
and whose delivery AZ once dislocates the language
and s.uns tho ear Miss Ethel Winthrop. who APP
peared as Cynisca eynced intelligence. heavily
constrained By artiice. Chrysos and Daphne were
turned into mere buffoonery.
II is good plan TO think little about the mean
ing of situations and the contrasts Of character IN
a drama but the habit Of thought seems rapiiy
diving out as well upon the stage as everywhere
else No performer IN this production Of "PyGma-
lion and Galatea" seemed 10 understand, IN the
least degree that any purpose was IN any way 10
be disclosed Of showing tho bitter contrast that
human life affords between the ideal ana the ac-
tua. or that anything was 10 be- accomplished
except to CRAFTY the vanity Of a pretty woman ana
give her some roses. Miss Julia Arihnrs acting IS
shallow-and that T. the main trouble win H.
From such actors ae NJ. Hart.-am!aole ana often
intelligent young men who have not yet got De-
vond posing and believing IN the rl"nitude OF
their vigor-little is expected. but it Is otherwise
ar 70 aspirants who suddenly assume the leader
shin Of the stage At the climax OF Mercedes
Miss Arthur as Mercedes and Nj Hart rs
Iouvois contemplated their dead infant, poisoned
by its mother with composure that "ould nave
made King Hcrod blush. That was not the way
Of Charlotte Cushman. Matilda Heron or
Adelaide Nelson or Mary Anderson. The method
of comparison. OF course. Is never desirable IN inc
ANALYSIS OF acting. bat there are times when us
influence upon the mind scarcely be dis
PEELED.