New-York tribune., 1900-07-01
LONDON DRAMA.
DIR. PRIMROSE HAPPY AND THANKFUL
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL"
London, June 20.

An atmosphere of hospitality and good feel
Ing perVaded the Lyceum Theatre on Saturday
night, when Sir Henry Irving and Miss Terry
again welcomed to the stage which has
witnessed the triumphs of their career. The
ordinary relations of players and audience
seemed to have been reversed The actors in
stead Of entertaining the galleries, pit and
stalls, were the guests of the evening, whose
coming was hailed with a mighty of well
come and whose presence among their friends
and admirers the signal for a three hours
demonstration of personal devotion and affec-
ton. 1 have Sir Henry Irving and Miss
Terry on many a first night at the Lyceum
Theatre but never have I known a Homecoming
of such warmth and unaffected cordiality. Men
Rnd boys had been standing all day at the
trance to the pit in order to be on the front line
when DR.. Primrose and Olivia should appear at
the wing; and when the happy moment came
frey rose in their places and roared with de-
light For three hours the enthusiasm never
ceased. There were recalls with deafening ap-
Plduse after every act, and at the final fall of
the curtain there Outburst of personal
affection which had deep UndertOne of sin
cerity. The first words spoken by the Vicar of
Wakefield to the villagers and neighbors: You
make me happy and thankful by your kind
Telcome" provided the for those beyond
ths footights. They petted and overwhelmed
that an English welcome could be as hearty
and spontaneous as an American welcome
There was no sign of advancing years or
physical weakness in Sir Henry Irvfng's per-
formance. His voice was clear and resonant. in
movement he was more alert and in facial ex-
tEession and hyplay he more flexible than
ever and his impersonatiOn had a serenity and
completeness which denoted maturity or no1,
ers without mental anXieties or carking cares
american sympathy and support had been the
nVigorating tonic which he needed and the
Homecoming with its sense of English nrida in
The recognition commanded abroad for achieve
inents of the first rank on the stage was like .
FLIP of champagne. An actress in the audianoo
said to me: He seems inspired tonight 7
nave never known him to act with such subtIe
power Another actress paid her tribute to
uih oy rising IN the box and with face flushed
WIN elholioh ana excitement leading the ap-
pause at the end Of the second act This was
HHgnora Eleanoca Duse whose own work had
Leen fairly electrifyihg London audiences With
us artistic method and power Possibly II was.
the presence of this great artist that incited Sir
i-eHFy irving to refine his own processes and
certainly he has seldom acted with 60 co,,,r,Ie+
q concealment of the artifces and means nv,
Whlch MS effects were produced. There was NOT
'hedtrlcal pose or movement during his entire
performances Ihe art was out of sight and ap-
Farentiy out of mind, and the impersonat tion of
Ihe sweet natured, ddactic Vicar had the touc.,
Of life which came from supreme naturaInoss
and realism.
ARTIFICIAL YET HUMAN
OliVia' is an old fashioned play which in
the language Of the critics is "unconvincine, IN
ITS theatrical asides. arbitrary conversion Of =
false into true marriage, and the suspicious
repentance of rake when he finds himself
legally bound to his wife and out of favor with
his rlch relation 1t is play which NAV be
aftlnclaI in plot, yet is brimming over with
human nature. 1t supplies both Sir Henry
irving and Miss Terry with representations of
character which are worthy Of their art: and its
central theme is the love of home with the
1&thers tenderness for an idozed daughter and
tie penitent homesickness which comes after
10!Iy There may be sweet scented flowers and
fright CLEANS Of color even in an old fashioned
garden with its artificial borders and partcrres.
and there is no lack of tenderness. pathos and
h6mely sweetness in this old-time idylI Ger
tainly nothing could be either more affecting o,
more truthful than Sir Henry Irying's exposition
or the simple minded, generous and pious old
vicar.
The effects rrn6uced I,,y -,,o,,,-