The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-31
THEATRICAL OCCASION.


Tho rcappcarance OF Sir Henry Irving at the
Kuickerhocker last night was theatrical
orcasiOu. His severe illness since he had
been on that stage. and tho failure of some
n, his enterprises. inspired admiration
with sympathy. and so the enthus-
a4m Of remarkably good-uoking
audience had the ring OF sincerity beyond
ANYTHING that is usual in the greeting OF an
Motor II the new drama. Nictorcn Sardous
"Eobc.Iicrre." had been no more than pass
able, the kindly feeling OF the people would
still have been sufficient. no doubt. to
follow the actor with applause to the
.nl u the performance. But the play
p,ssessed positive merits. the manner OF its
represe atatIon was lavishly pictorial. and the
r6s for Mr Irving was good ono for the dis
NAV OF his best abilities. The art and the
u.nnerisms Of Mr.. Irving have sometimes
blended - make memorable pcrsonages on
the stage, such as Matthias md Louis III.
bnt never in more vivid creation
then this R1beSpi1Tc. whom the French author
had taken out Of history into fiction. IL the
rortraiturr had been exactly true to what Is
known q the original the effect would have
boon es4 deep II was the fancy OF the writer
that had provided the additional matter with
which tho actor impressed tho audience
,,pocialy and with 1t real success was oh
t1iDal u r,
any strength lost in his illness. His acting
had sufficient force wherever it was needed,
and in subtlety it was abundant. He was
greeted with two minutes Of rouslng applause
upon his first entrance. and he was called out
,.y.ral times at the end OF each act Upon his
final apprnrance he responded TO the demand
for speech.
1T ia impossible" he said. TO thank you
adequately for such an inspired welcome rs
you have given us. and | speak also for my
friend, Miss Terry. when | say that she shares
with me the deep satisfaction OF renewing our
Old ties with gracious public whose generous
condolences are among our most cherished
memories | should be a dull man-which /
may be-and an unGratetul man-which l
am nOt-were not to feel tonight
a sense of delight and happiness in the
cordially aud warmth Of your greeting.
Tonight You have given us new welcome
with an old rng-a welcome in a voice which |
well remsmber-such a welcome as makes us
gad-amd thankful that life has such delight
ful Pleasures and rerompenses. Ladies' and
gentlemen. with all my heart | thank you for
one and all. and am ever your respectful and
loving servant
This drama OF "Robesperre" contains no
Indications that the skill OF Victorien Sardou
has waned. His adrotness is shown in recon-
mrnding a dreadful man Of blood to n small
measure Of sympathetie consideration. He
does not palliate or excuse the course Of tho
cruel creature. nor contradict history in
the depletion OF his monstrous deeds
But the truth, though not dis
torted. is nevertheless softencd by
accompanying fiction. A gentle manner in
private life is here given to RObeSpjerre. That
was the authors idea OF course. and tho object
IA. 4
while leaving others terrible, The chief inven-
ton OF the playwright. however is a love affair
for this fanatic. tyrant and wadcr in blood.
Twenty years before the time OF the
play. he won tho heart and person
otan aristocrats daughter. A boy was born to
her. and this son has grown up to believe that
hismother's husband. now dead. was his father.
He loathes and dcspises RobeSpierre without
sIsrecting the knship. The woman is living
III seclusion. But tho ban Of the Ter
rorists falls on her. and RoJespie,Tp,
without knowing who she and her
nece are orders them to prison. Tho son S
furious resentment leads to his arrest. Tho
father will not. for tho sons sake. reveal the
disgraccful secret OF tho parentage. but seeks
to win his regard while saving his life. He
fails for awhile in this. His purpose in liber-
atng the two women is dstrustcd. and his
ty is misunderstood Then comes the episode
OF a search for the suddenly impericd son
In the prison. the narrow saving OF him from
the guilotine. and the tragic end OF the father
Master hands are evident in the com position Of
this play and its representation. Who're
that OF Sardon left or that OF Irving took
hold. The author nut RCbrSDierre into sue
cess!on OF historical. sem.-historica and I'M
ngluary, ard these the actor manager put on
the stage WITH COnSuInmate art
Ehe lrst act. in the forest OF Montmorency.
s.lHrs at the arrest OF tho woman.
such Il diversity Of characters az French
revolutionary plays commonly contain; hut
!2tlns u better than usua in IFS various phases
II hrayeryhnd fright. Ascend scene in this act
Illustrates the fct", which kobeSRierre ordered
nrrocessiOnal spectacle, ana It held u dramatic
element in tho denunciation OF the father by
r. own son. neither kn@wing OF the tie Of
tNo. at The lodging Of, EoIesblr,1'c Here is
lIr is gentle and amable with the members OF
me household, ant when he discovers who the
morse are touching. His emotions reached the
hearis OF last nights audience. and the COM
hiIeI XII o. Hnrtou land irving was triuu-
Ihant there N higher degree, perhaps, than
Mrsthali Of the fourth act is emotional too, with
me iafher aud mother watching. distracted
rom win low. the passing carts on their way
70 the gu.Ipiine. to see /! the son IS in one Ot
ihem Ellen Terry onacts the M other. and her
h.st orIortunity is here. The second best
~ tins act contains RpbtSptejreS visit to the
IFiaon OF the condemned in search OF tho son.
ana ms terror at the imagined sight Of the
ghosts Of beheadpd men and women. The
WNrihees Of this exhibit was impressive. The
cNHaN 81 spectacle. however, did not come
w close ON to midnight and it Law in
a. roiulous and turbulent representation Il
Mp"Sbwy'S condemnation by tn" C0nver ion.
ms was as line ~ achievement in noisy con-
lu''on as Preceding passages had been in othe r
ways. kOheaplerre is q many sided play.
thd Justice was done to all sides OF 1t.
Tho short play Edward Harrgan brought
Yesterday To tho Pleasure Palace proved
To be hali-hour version OF one OF the
earlier larrigan & Hart pieces. 'llcSorley q
Initiation was it's title, and was explained
Ivy the fact that its most conspicuous
lr'shman was an aIdermanIc candidate and
lett. IN consequence. that his wife should give
M her market stall and become lady. Title
ana explanation were not OF much con-
rern in the brief sketch prepared for continu-
Gus vaudeville They did make reasonable
Mr Iiarr,gan's comicNl dissertation on parlia
Mehldry law, for he was eating in readiness