Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-29
REVIEW OF TIE DREAM.
One of Those Dramas for Special oc-
cnsinnN end PriYnte REORGANIZATION.

One of Those Dramas for Special oc-
cnsions end Private Representation.
The production Of "A Midsummer
Nights Dream" by the Association for
the Preservation OF virginia Antiquities
Just after Easter. will present many at
fractions. and will appeal TO the general
public for other reasons than because IL
is designed TO benefit a noble and n
worthy cause.
Ii will be given under the direction Of
Miss Nancy Brooks, who has made a
particular study of each part in Shake
spearean stock companies In England
and will be staged upon a sumptuous
scale at the Academy Of Music on the
10th and 18th Of April.
Apart from tho fairy songs in which
Shakespeare in a mastery manner, pre-
serves the popular tone OF the style
which existed before him. the play bears
prominently the stamp of the ltaiian
school The language picturesque, de-
scrirtive. and forid with conceits-the
too-apparcnt alterations. the doggrel
passages which extend over the passion
ate and impressive scenes, and the old
mythology so suited TO the subject; all
this places tho piece in close; or, az
least. not remote relation 10 Loves La
bor's Lost" The story and the original
combination Of the characters of ancient.
religious. and historical legends with
those Of the popular Saxon myths are
the property and invention OF the poet.
The acting characters are distinguished
only By a very general outline; the
strongest distinction Is that between the
little pert Hernia, shrcwish and irrlta-
bic even ~ school and the slender Yield
ing Helena, distrustful and reprOaohful
of herself; the distinction IS less appa-
rent between the upright, open I.ysander
and the somewhat malicious and incon-
slant Demetrius.
The period of the origin OF the play,
which. like Henry VIII" and tho ITEM
pest" may have been written in honor OF
the nuptials of some noble couple, u
placed at about 1884 or 1896. The mar
rage OF Theseus is the turning-point OF
The action Of the piece, which comprises
the clowns, fairies, and the common race
Of men.
APPOINTED FOR PRIVATE REPRE-
sENTATION.
The piece Is q masque, one Of those dr2-
mas for special occasions appointed TOT
private representation, which Ben John
SON especially brought 10 perfection. In
England this species of drama has as
little of law as the historical drama COM
pared 10 the ordinary drama IL exhibits.
according TO Halpin. an insensible trensi-
ton. undistinguishable by definition. A
i'm the historical drama, its distinction
from the free drama almost entirely
arises from the nature and the mass OF
| The matter: so i'm the masque, IL proceeds
/ from the occasion Of its origin, from its
necessary reference 10 it. and from the
ollegorical elements which are introduced
/ These latter. it must be admitted have
| Given n peculiar stamp 10 the "Midsum
| mer Nights Dream" among the rest OF
/ Shakespeare's works.
THE SPIRIT OF \ DREAM.
The piece is called ~ Midsummer
! Nights Dream; the epilOgue expresses
| satisfaction. If the spectator will regarC
| the piece as a dream, for in dream
! time and locality are obliterated, GER
| tain dusk and twilight is spread over the
whole Oberon desires that all shall re-
gard the matter as a dream, and 30 Is
! ,ritania speaks OF her adventure as &
vision. Bottom OF his metamoTphOsls a.
a dream. all the rest wake at last out o.
"a sleep OF weariness, and the events
leave upon them the impression OF
dream. The sober Theseus esteems thei
stories as nothing else than dreams ans
fantasies. Indeed. these illusions In IN
play must have suggested 10 tolerios
| and others the idea that the poet mad IN
| tentionally aimed NJ letting the pee
| glide by as a dream One only wonder
that. with this opinion, they have no
reached the inner kernel in which TINS
| intention Of the poet really Hes ehshrlh
| ed-an intention which has not only give
a name TO the piece, but has called iorth
| as by magic. a free poetic creation OF III
greatest value. For II Is indeed TO De eN
pected from the poet that such an III
tention on his side were not TO be sough
for i'm the mere she'll II this intention
were only shown In those poetical eXtef
nails IN that fragrant charm OF rhythm
and verse. In that harassing suspehs'
and I'm that dusky twilight, then this wef
80 a shalloW work OF superficial grace
nv the sole use OF which a poet Tx
Syatesneare would never have dreamt O
occomnlishing anything worth the while
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