New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-18
THE DRAMA.
VARIOUS PLAYS AND PLAYERS

customary mood Of blended humor and pa.hos .ns
| with his usual apparent spontaniety Of feeling ana
exquisite symmetry OF artistic expression Partcu
| lar description Of Mr.. Jefersons performance a,
Rip Van Wrinkle has often been given in thi. co.
umn, and It is not essential now. No other ac,o,
| Of the part ever made II imaginative. The great,
ness OF Mr. Jefferson's embodiment Is in Its oual,v
| OF Imagination. The mechanical devices Of acting
| can be copied and Mr. Jefferson has had MANY im,
tators the poetic and spiritual charm appertans :.
the man himself and It is Inaccessible 10 the Cons
list. When Mr.. Jefferson passes from the stage m.
| character OF Rip Van Wrinkle will vanish with him
never to be again. Those who wish to see /,
should. accordingly make good use OF the present
occasion. Mr.. Jefferson will act at the Harlem
Opera House throughout the present week div,d.
ing the time between Rip Van Wrinkle and Acres
The professional experience OF Joseph Jefferson
may we'll be considered unique. II would be din.
cult TO name another person on the contemporary
stage. whether man or woman who possesses in an
equal degree with this fortunate actor the love and
admiration OF the whole community Such a per.
sonality and such should often become ths
subject Of thoughtful contemplation. for they are
those OF OF the first spiritual benefactors and
most remarkable men OF this age.
Mr.. Mscean Miss Tyler. and Mr. Hanford. enter.
Ing the third and last week Of their present en-.
gagement at the Herald Square Theatre presented
themselves. last night In Shakespeare's comedy OF
The Merchant of Venice"
The production is ambitious but a good intention
does not redeem bad performance. and in this
case Mr.. Maclean and his associates have only
made contribution 10 that celebrated pave
ment mentioned by DR.. johnson The scenery
was tawdry, the acting was feeble, and nobody IN
the cast gave any heed whatever TO accuracy Of
text or propriety Of elocution. The pert dapper
frisky method OF speech peculiar to Miss Odetts
Tyler is far more consonant with Susan Nipper
than with Portia. When II SHOWS red roses' Miss
Tyler will be able to play Shakespeare's serious
herones.-and not till then Mr. Maclean ap-
peared Shylock, but he seemed not TO have
formed either a distinct IDEAL OF the part or Q
rational plan for the expression OF It, shylock
can be played as the resentfu representative Of a
abused race or he be played willy scheun.
Ing malignant and monstrous villain In either
case he would have a definite meaning. MI.
Maclean suggested senile dealer in secondhand
garments who had made a bad bargain. and who ID
not quite clear whether he ought to blubber or to
swear In the delirium Of the great street-scene
he was the incarnation Of fabby sloth and vacuow
gurgitation TubaI. however killed that scene By
saying that zone OF them showed me monkey.
that he had OF your daughter for a ring" Mr. Han
ford, whose experience should have taught him the
value Of correct speaking and an elegant demeanof
in such part as Gratiano, increased the crudy
and roughness OF the general effect, by his harsh
and careless vocasm and his staggering violence
Julius Cesar" is in perpendicular intellectual
and stately tragedy, to which mechanic hardness
and prosaic mediocrity must seem more than ever
inadequate.
Mr. Coghlan. at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. has
been warmly welcomed and he IS in the enjoyment
OF a well-deserved success-presentng his new play
OF Citizen Pierre" and acting the chief part In
IT, On the opening night OF this play. April II, the
final curtain did not fall till close on u o'clock
This protracton Of the performance was csvsed
by long delays between the acts. The scenic sets
are heavy and time is required for their
suitable display; but they are handled more ex'
peditiously now and the performance has been
considerably shortened. No material excison was
required in the play, has any such excisiou
been made. The characters Of Helose and Her
nance could be much more effectively acted'-witn
deeper feeling greater force. and a more free ana
flexible demeanor.-than they are by their present
representatives; and II they were thus acted the
sympathetic quality OF the play would be more
deeply felt and more keenly appreciated. 1t s an
excellent play, well proportoned, cumulative In its
action valuable in the knowledge which II Inn
parts and fraught with noble significance. MI
Coghlan's impersonation OF Pierre should be seen
and studied by all persons who care for the art OF
acting II Is not only various with mind grace ana
wit. noble In spirit and tender with pathos. but II
Is exceedingly beautiful in form. and II Is vev
eloquent with those felicies Of facial expression
demeanor gesture movement and pose which are
the essential attributes and puissant means OF the
histrionic art, Mr.. Coghlans acting. In the love
scene with Helose. In act second. excels anything
of the kind that has been seer for years. In IL
romantic atmosphere and in It's revelation OF chiv
alrous feeling; while his bearing at the tragic
close of the play. presents pathetic image OF
perfect poetry. No one who cares for the drama
should miss the enjoyment OF this remarkable
work.
Miss Julia Marlowe's production OF 'Cclinetts.'
at the Knickerbocker Theatre. has proved entirely
successful pleasing her old admirers. and winning
for her many ones. Miss Marlowes emoon'
ment OF the heroine is. for the most part. mirth'
full but Il Is ardent with undertone OF woman
like feeling and more than once II strikes the
notes OF nobility and tenderness. Colnette Is .
woman OF humble birth who has become the WIN
of a nobleman. and the dramatist In his display
Of her character, has endeavored to elicit merr'
ment by causing her mpetuous behavior TO shocA
the conventional decorum OF ARTIFICIAL society Ihs
toilet episode in the third act which Is remn's
cent OF Mime Sans Gene" and which somewhat
retards the movement Of the play. might advan'
tageousy be curtailed. Heretofore Miss Marlowe M
chiefly impressed the public as serious actress
winning sympathy by reason OF her ~ofnahHA.
sensbility and comma nding respect by the ferven.
expression Of noble feeling. In situations OF tna
and suspense In the drama OF 'Tolinette ens
reveals exuberant animal spirits. and at times sns
assumes a most captivating demeanor OF demw~
Ingenious mischievous innocence. Her performan"
"a IN every way delightful. and the play OF COZ
inette" WILL no doubt. be kept upon me stas.
throughout the whole OF her present engagems"
at the Knckerbocker Theatre
Ada Rehan's acting as Lady Garnet, In the en-
ceIlent melodrama OF THE Great Ruby now cur
rent at Days Theatre. ought to receive the par
ticular attention Of her admirers, for the sad rea
son. among others that the opportunity OF seems
this admirable actress will soon De withora"" "a,
Daily has intimated the intention OF cio""s 80
season Mt his theatre about the end OF May OF tns
beginning Of June. and after that time AGA henaa
will not act again in New-York uh''l 1anua,
le0.-her intention being TO pass the summer =.
England and to devote the autumn season
IN, - -. aanr,ved for a considerable time. OF
o ~ a, ~. most conspicuous Ornaments-in fact. Of
o .Ss 49,, .o,rs.s ~ the day Many performances
have been given by Miss Rehan that prove her pre-
sm,nence She surpasses all competitors. In katn'
' ,,,.s Miranda Lady Teaze. Oriana'