New-York tribune., 1898-11-29
THE DRAMA.
JULIA ARTHUR AS ROSALIND.

>fiss Arthurs embodiment OF Rosallnd.-which,
,sst night. In WalacHs Theatre, was presented
Cor the first time any stage.-while marked by
rcert!tude OF ideal and crudty Of expression. was,
yevertheless radiant with beauty and buoyant with
animal spirits. and therefore II impaired pleasure
and gained applause. The task of judgment upon
,erresentatives Of this particular Shakcspearian
heroine ought perhaps to be committed to suscepti-
No youth for II is the province of Rosand 10
eewitch to fascnate and to enchant and eyes that
have long kept watch DER mans mortality are
not readily enchanted 1t may be said. however. at
once and with hearty goodwill that, for begin
ming in of the most difficult characters in the
whole wide range OF the drama. Mss Arthur's per-
formance was both credible and auspicous. 1t
had grace OF movement and fuency of speech; 1t
had youth and romance; it revealed advisement as
70 some Of the traditional and usual stage bust
ness Of the part and II manifested in the forest
scenes. an impulse OF sympathy with their dream
ike atmosphere and their spirit OF poetic freedom.
Its ralery was piquant and its elocution. though
cf;en careless in the prose passages. some
times melodous and sweet in the strains of verse
on the other hand it lacked aristocratic dis,inc-
tion-the demeanor Of superiority tha; Is born and
not seigneG-it lacked deep feeling. and 1t lacked
that absolute command Of the resources and expe-
dents OF hiyh-comedy acting which shows itself In
clarity artistic design decisive execution. sub'lety
IN perceiyinS and making delicate points variety OF
Characterization. and tire sympathetic afiluence Of
nature which is called genius Ii inspired kindness
ani prompted favor but II neither dazzled
pfscd d.i il arouse enthusiasm. Rosalind. II
saould he remember ed-with all he" mind and
humor ard seif-cOntrO,-s not less passionate than
Juliet. and she must never be indicated as
tally superficial and frivolous. The current OF her
destiny in much the same way as that OF
Juliet; only It runs 20 happiness and to misery
ana is adequately persOniiod unless she is
made an intellectual. noble ardent. tender and pro
foundly earnest woman, however sparkling
spsishtly and mischievous in her tantazing freaks
and iroics. however delicious in her wayward
moods. II must he noted also that the character
subjects its Interpreter TO most eXacting ordeal
because the actress must present the woman pre-
tending 10 be the boy, and the boy pretending be
the woman. and. without sacrifice Of decacy
The woman counterfeiting the love that she feels
and probing her lovers heart while she is scarce
able TO conceal her own. The use Of the word
work as applied TO acting Is Objectionable to good
taste, bat q ever dramatic encounter was devised
that exacts work it is that OF Rosalind and Or
lando In the Forest OF Arden and, all the while
the stream OF mingled emotion, passion. exultaton.
and capTicious glee and banter flow 5 easily
as the brook that sings beside them or the breeze
ihat whispers in the branches above their heads
Miss Arthur IS 10 be severely judged She is
trying TO Go fine things and this time when
the audiences in many OF the theatres are even
more yacuous tran the plays the mere effort to
do We'll is cause for gratitude The young actress,
furthermore, was 50 oppressed with agitation that
che had but slight control herself In the col
loquy with Celia. after the wrestling she made
Rosalind say. Some OF is for my childs father.
that would anything Still II was clearly
obylous.-from her total omission indicate that
Iosalind, like orlando is stricken with "love at
first sight" from her wooden manner when giving
the chain from her failure TO impart any sgniii-
canoe TO the speech Of depreciation and righteous
RESENTMENT TO Duke Frederick CMy father was no
traitor') and from the complete lack of shading.
variety and significance. III RosaInds hrst dld-
l,gue with Orlando in the forest,-that she had
not vet given much study to the character; and
no cd hN
Of the words however fluent that may be ana
however its vim may be reinforced ana commenced
by the charm OF personal beauty
The scenery is pictorial. without being always
annroDriste TO illustrate the "uncouth forest
the artist mas painted a soft and tranquil rural
glade There is plenty of new and crude color,
but there Is mellowness of tone. Among the
associate performances only one seemed that of
trained actor thoroughly in earnest-the Banished
Duke by Mr.. Edwin Holt There was shsht
touch Of quaintnass in the Touchsione of Robert
NcWade For the rest-the mechanic air per-
vaded every act and word. so they sell hulocks.'
Mr. Hall Gaines crazy travesty Of the Christian
character with its associate coarse pictures Of
.lum life ard Music Han manners and lis implied
Cetraction equally Of the church and the stage has
been brought back town, and il may be viewed
at the Garden Theatre. till further notice Miss
Viola Allen was cordially welcomed at the Garden
las, night Mr.. Joseph Haworth acted John Storm,
living fair imitation o. the manner OF Lawrence
Barrett when mat NNe Gctnr NtS III SdNNli"'fi
qarh and character. MIS- Allen has infused an eie-
Iaent Of the Virago into her persona;ion of Glory
which taxes up the carpet tacks. now and then but
Coes not arouse any real emotion. Brooklyn swal-
lowed this Christian pin last week and manifested
goat satisfaction with tho dose-as might have
90 expected. The sins Of Chicago are TO pe pun
i,h,d: Mr Han Ca!ne viii lecture there. and the
Christian viii follow after, IN good Biblical Sc
quence..... Mr.. Mansfield. acting CyTano de B'r-
gerac is at the Harlem Opera House, for this week
only He was greeted ;hcro by great assemblage
last night .....A revival of the effective comedy OF
Captain Swift" was made last night at the Muir
ray H.n Theatre while the mciodrama or the
"Red White and Blue" was given at the Grand
Oo,ra House with couple Of actual warriors In
it, as well as the initators OF the original article.
..Mr Days magnificent production OF The
Merchant Of Venice" IS attracting crowds at Days
Theatre The audiences. On Saturday afternoon
aad evening were prCdigous, Notwithstanding the
storm.-the theatre being filed in every part
W. W