New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-05
THE DRAMA.
THE IRVING DRAMATIC SEASON.

given AT the knckcrhocker Theatre and tho acting
Of Henry Irving. Ellen Terry and their assoca ties
OF the London Lyceum has been enjoyed and ap-
plauded by thousands OF enthusiastic admirers IN
kohcsplorre which is a superb melodrama and
n magnificent spectacle Irving dominates every
scene.-the part assigned to Ellen Terry being that
or care-encumbered widow. who has known much
trouble and sorrow. and VINO is subjected not only
30 the iudignity OF imprisonment but TO nm almost
intolcfabe agony OF SUSPENSE consequent ON tho
arrest OF her son and a subsequent period OF I'M
cortanyas TO his fate In that character tho exauis
tie sensibity OF innate virtue ana tho melancholy
dignity of patient sorrow are impressivclv OK
pressed. and az one point the apprehension and
acute misery Of afflicted mother are uttered
with intense fervor and with an effect OF great
pathos. The frenzied prayer with which Ellen
Terry closes the scene Of the passing tumbrs will
always he treasured among the most precious rec
o"e''onS or great acting. Such. no doubt the
overwhelming strokes Of genius and OF art with
which the greatest of AN female actors Sarah Sid
dons. awed and dominated her audience whon. as
MIS- beverley. 90 The Gamoster." she gazcd I'm
silent horror ON her husbands corpse or whom. as
Arpasia. I'm "Tamerlane" she gave one look Of
anguish and fcll AZ II suddenly stricken dead The
Oh records speak with eloqronce ~ such achieve
m'nts. in q time whom acting was more considered
than business and when the spirit OF tho ago moro
directly fostorod than e. does ar present individual
character and romantic life. But such achieve
menis are rare now-and there is but one Ellen
Terry
u IS not however in scenes ~ domestic rneio-
drama that this exceptional actress attains 10 COM
riete freedom. Her roalm is that " poetry, and it
- only when her imagination is aroused that she
dhuses her greatest cnchantmen' Yesterday She
acted Charles Reade's Nance Odhod which is q
character Of blended attributes. refinement. scnt-
ment. feeling. mystihcaton. arch vivaciiy hoydon
froiic. certain sadness of wisdom and wealth
Of sweet and deep womanhood and also Eilalno.
In Mr. Alfred e.. Calmour's fanciful. tender. and
lovely. though Just little artificial and lnspid.
dramatic poem ~ The Amber Heart" A. Nance
OIdheld Ellen Terry has never made much of the
dramatic interludos. Reades intention 20 this
part seems to have been kindred with that OF
O'keefc 10 Rover wild Oats."-that incl
dontaly Illustration should be given OF tho high
tragic and doclamatory style OF the eighteenth
century stage. but her versatility. p.quanc,.
nischiovous mirth and Involuntary irradiaton ~
tenderness are delightfully."- manifested in the
process 10y which an infatuated youth Is redeemed
from his sentimental folly. and altogether he per
formancc IS delicious manifestation Of sprightly
mind and good heart. and one that difuses great
happiness. II has often been seen here. and Its
charm which IS perennial again exerted. with
the perfect grace Of spontanoity and 20 the album
dant qualification ~ brilliant house.
IN Eraline tho revelation IS one Of tempera-
rlcnt ard the conquest OF exquisite personality.
Mr. Calmour's rather ovcrchargel dicion has.
porhaus more OF tho form than Of the pcrra-
sive soul 81 poetry. but q is swoetlv meodious.
and hts writing has. IN general. the merit OF pre-
cisl0n. n goes straight % fits purpose. The scene
f. indofuite-nore a dreamland than the world ~
everyday. OF rather. perhaps. a region Of poetic
fancy in whirh tho actual and tho IDEAL are dis
played in sharp contrast; while tho atmosphere
s. that o. unalloyed romance or Of romance al
Logged ~ in tho plays Of Gilbert. with tinee ~
bleak truth and sad irony. The character ~ Ella
line may 10 defined ~ a type ~ unsonhisticatod
rho
tectiug her from an knowledge Of love she can
neither feel the passion herself understand Il
in others. Later I'm a mood OF mirthful caprice she
casts away her amber heart and Il IS lost IN
lake. and thereafter She responds 10 2 poets love
and becomes Ike other women. sufferer from
human weakness I'm herself. and presently she also
suffers from tho malice OF spitefllly jealous fe
male friend and from the infdelity Of her tickle
wooer. At the last. and after = sharp ordeal of
sufferng-undo- the stress Of which she IS prompt
ed 10 sulciIe-she receives hack her protective
amulet. which has happily been recovered by her
guardian. and thereafter she Is restored 10 her
former condition Of peace. vet the experience has
left its mark. and. though her heart &C. not broken
her life remains darkeucd with the shadow Of a
troubled dream. I'm the actual world the end 10
such nature would be death 10 actress known
TO the theatre OF this period with tho single OK
ccption Of Ellen Terry. could make this fragile
personality authoritative investing II with reality
and elevatng n gossamer experience into
theme for tears. The secret OF Ellen Terry's
potent charm is partly her wonderful articu-
latlon and infection. Every word as Il falls
from her lips has fits and full moaning.
and for the capability OF throwing the soul
into the voice she has no equal and probably never
has had Il superior. The ingenious tone in which
Ellaline asks for cnlghtenment 70 the nature ~
love has in # that bewitching combination OF IN
noconce and perfectly unconscious droilery which
may sometimes DO noticed in very young children.
Of an exceptional order. and which IS their dom
NATIVE and Irresistible charm This beauty Of vocal
ISM which cannot be adequately described, Is
something that no study can acquire. a. IS purely
rpiritual. and for this alone Ellen Terrys per
formance ~ Eilalne ought n be seen D. every
lover o. acting The embodiment IS one ray ~
light. one strain q music. ono living vote" -
genius ono steadily fascinating image ~ natures
nerfoct simplicity and grace. and the observer
leaves a. with tho wonder that in part so little.
the actress should be able, mostly by sheer force
Of what She personally Is. 10 produce an effect 50
great The chief situation 10 Tho play IS the ono
I'm which the girl finally ascortains that the man
whom she loves has ceased 90 love her Nothing
could he more trite since nothing 90 human expert
ence is moro common than irhdeity. nothing more
f~eou4nt-or more afiictive-than the arrangement
OF hearts.
For constance dveils IN realms above,
And life is thornv and youth IS vain
Yer this essentially tame and ordinary situation Is
elevated. in the acting Of Ellen Terry - inc as-
nitv Of tragedy and few could look upon - without
,ho emotion that is too deep for tears
Last night was devoted 20 "Waterloo' and The
BELLS" and Henry Irving repeated his eccentric
uathetc. and deeply touching portrayal or the
veteran Brewster and his marvellous ana 'ohS
famous impersouation Of the haunted Matthias
These performances have been repeatedly de-