New-York tribune., 1901-04-23
THE DRAMA.
MR.. JEFFERsoN's HARLEM WEEK
RIP VAN WINKLE."

lNif VAN w lNhI1t.
Mr.. Jefferson appeared at the Harlem or.-.
House last night and acted Rip Van Wrinkle R.n.
ttions of the performance will be given and ,,.
great comedian will also appear Acres CALI,
Plurmer and Golightly. The audience. last nigh,
was as large one as the house could be masa
to hold and IL greeted and appIauded the ve,er.,
actor with the enthusiasm of afectionate friend
ship. He recalled the end of act first ara
was constrained to make brief speech of thanks
and he was again called, with prodigous applause
after the last curtain.
There is instructive significance in III. na-
manenty potential charm Of Mr.. Jefferson's Ri,
Van Wrinkle. Other actors now and then appear IN
this character.-performers. for example such az
Mr.. Robert McWade, Mr.. Conquest and Mr. Beer
bohm Tree.-but other actor conquers with IT, or
diffuses anything like the delight that has fol
lowed Mr.. Jefersons acting of it during wenigh
half century. The comedian himself. as his pub
lie addresses have from time time signifed
gives much attention, in his thoughts the art,s-
tic method by which his dramatic effects are pro-
duced; but this is matter OF which his audience
in general is profoundly ignorant, and which
1t is wholly indifferent: it feels the spell Of his
magic, but il asks the reason OF it, The se-
eret of Mr.. Jefferson's charm as Rip Van Wrinkle
all the same is obvious and readily perceptible
II can be indicated in word-Poetry.
Upon the fabric Of his constructive the actor
has lavished a thousand graces. Every position
has been arranged. every movement has been
planned every gesture has been studied. every
in the dress has been thoughtfuly chosen. every
vocal tone and every facial expression has been
duly practised; and the result is embodiment
OF absolute symmetry. This result however, might
have been achieved without either firing the mag
ination touching the heart One thing
was essential and that the actor supplied because
he could not help ,-unconsciously-without intel
lectual volition.-the charm of poetical tempera-
ment suffusng the whole complex structure OF
artistic lovelaess with glcw of romance; with
IaFt1, min ed hum and and
tranquil beauty; with soothing, comforting
full ntimatons of kindness. charity. and love:
with the sweet simplicity and careless freedom OF
gay and innocent childhood: with wistful sweet
ness Of tender humanity; with wildly imaginative
perception of the and terror of preternatural
things: In word. with that indehnable magic
felicitously designated by the poet Wordsworth.
''the light that never was on sea or land Mr..
jefferson may take as much pains to explain the
N echansm of his Rip Van Wrinkle as Edgar Poe
took TO explain the mechanism of his Raven.
but the central and final truth will always remain.
that the power OF his acting and the secret of his
greatness dwell in the inspiration of his poetic
temperament.
This potentfality of genius has never in any age
been defined but In every age, the multitude has
practically recognized IL. There would never be any
reproach the stage If all its ministers had
been favored by nature Mr.. Jefferson at the
beginning: and probably. there would be but little
reason to reproach public its acceptance OF
trash and its support Of evil If at all times u had
enjoyed or could enjoy. the opportunity Of
choice between the minisrations of genius and the
tricky devices and strenuously contrived novelties
mercenary greed and vicious cupdity. Good plays
do fail because they good but because they
are badly acted-because most Of the persons par
ticipant In them dull and common and OF them
selves. are nothing and do nothing. Edwin
Booth had TO echo the silly. parrot cry that
an actor give the public what the public
wants" Mr.. jefferson is not heard 10 echo IT, His
whole professional life has been devoted 10 the in
terpretation beautiful ideal and TO the diffusion
of beauty: and in winning the most ample sue
cess for himself he has made the world better and
happier for having lived in il. He is acting now IN
the same gentle piquant. winning spirit Of old:
he is surrounded with company that includes sew
eraI actors trained talent and proved efficiency;
and HIS presentment of the half pastoral half spirit
uaI ideal of Rip Van Wrinkle that he has deduesd
out Of Washington Irvings prosy bucolic vasahond
is still bright with humor tender with pathos.
haunted and strange with the investiture OF tmasi-
nation and sweet with the alureulent OF romantic
lOvelineSS. W. W.