New-York tribune., 1901-04-26
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
MIR. JEFFERSON IN OLD COMEDY
RIVALS -

AT the Harlem Opera House last night Mr. JAp.
ferson impersonated Acres. in THE Rivals" rh,.
is an old story-but so is sunrise which, intrinsica
ly. is always beautiful. and. to happy hearts al,
ways delightful Familiar though 1t be (and NJ,
Jefferson has been acting Acres almost continuous
ly since his memorable revival of THE Rivals"
made at Philadelphia in the autumn of lssO ,h,.
performance still imparts pleasure and stiu =.
welcome. The character of Acres. as drawn hv
Sheridan. is that of somewhat rough rural Eng
lish squire. designed TO be made the butt or
rdicule and to evoke laughter rather than sympa
thy: but Acres. as embodied by Mr. jefferson while
comicay vacuous. is whimsical rather than un
couth and less sympathetic than humorou.
Acted according to the stage tradition he wouId
be momentarily laughed and then forgotten
Acted fantastcal good fellow. vain and fool
ish. an amiable coxcomb and an emulous beau he
arouses kindness well as mrth. he is lovabl.
as well as ludicrous; and Mr.. Jenerson's ernbod,-
ment of him.-devised with this intention and exc
cuted with a refreshing spontaneity of art
whether it be accordant with the design of tho
dramatist exclusively the fabric of the actor
is the merry and winning manifestation OF
a charming ideal. Some changes have been
made in the comedy. but, with due excen
tons. they such deepen it's comic tints
extrude it's formal sentiment (as projected IN
the episode of Falkland and Julia). and sharpen
its effects and therefore they admissible sher-
idan himself the sternest of all critics of his own
writings, did highly value The Rivals and II
seems very probable that. could he have foreseen
these changes,-so we'll devised to keep his comedy
afloat lin the corrupted currents of this world -
he would have eagerly approved them. His only
reason for introducing Julia, manfestly was a
shoplike consideration of that public taste for
starchy sentiment which, the epoch of ''Tbe
Rivals had not entirely died away. Like Col
mans Caroline Dormer like Scott's Isabella
Wardour, Sheridan's Julia is all buckram and
propriety: and Mr.. jefferson has wisely preferred
that she should be mentioned rather than seen. On
the other hand the characters of Sir Anthony and
CAPTAIN Absolute are, perhaps. little subdued
by the general compression of the whole structure
Comedy presents few such clever images of gay
audacity, humorous impudeIce. buoyant animal
spirits and jOcular humor Sheridan has fashioned
in Captain Absolute: for any parallel to him the
reader must go back to Farquhar's Captain Plume
forward to Charles Surface; and it always seems
pity that he should have the utmost possible
prominence. But, when all is said, Mr.. Jerersons
treatment of The Rivals has done more for its
continuance in practical and vital prosperity than
ever done for it by anybody else. and often
he plays Acres his audience is made happy.
This result again achieved last night Mr.
John Jack gave exceedingly good performance
of the choleric and explosive Sir Anthony. In
other particulars the cast is the it was a
year ago. when Mr. jefferson presented The
prop before. is made too comely and buxom by
played by Mr.. Denham-a truthful consistent,
rounded type of English rustic The whole COM
pany was recalled after the second curtain and
Mr.. Jefferson responding special call. briefyi
addressed the audience W. w.