New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-10
THE DRAMA.
HENRY IRVING at THE BROADWAY.


L tie Broadway Theatre last uight the play OF
~pa-te" (Which some Judges have thought 70 be.
-rrhaps little anda-te Ter rni-th-lovinr nuhHc).
avc place 70 "Wster:oo' and The Bells anc
Fer-y Irving tnpe-sonate5 Brewster anG Matthias.
These performances have been often seen and fully
described. but often IS they recur their ex-
t-sor5ina-y value shoul5 De Recognized and the
lovers Of great acting should - reminded Ct g
golden opportunity OF enjoyment such as the stage
hrt se.Goul a1orSs The embodiment CO Brewster.
aside l-oD lis absolute and pathetic fidelity 70
nature. is e rnc-iUcn 20 the end q life. that
every human berg would be favored TO receive and
would be wise heed. To this favor we must
cone a. last The closing scene n Ife-s strange
history can never have been mere faithfully. more
hu--rously more sadly. more artisacaly por-
t-ayed The embodiment OF Aathias-vorde rfsll
scr Intellectual concentration and Imaginative
c5sru.-ls. assurelly. tae supreme and final por-
t-ayal O. Tie GcciCn o. rsE,o-se IN she human soul
Nothing Ike x had ever been seen. when Henry
irving FIRST played the part rhtrty--vro years $50
Ncve-her 3. -Slll. az the London Lvceuul Thea tire
and IL remains 20 this day unique unapproached
and u1approa enable. L was as Matthias thai the
r-uzt actor MADE his first appearance IN America
= -Ss srG with this performance nmediateIy
Supp enented with Charles l. Louis ". and Shy
lock-csptu-eG the heart cf TIE American people
and permanently established his renovn IN the
Western world.
There is. perhaps. 70 other single achievement
o. Dis that aTo-ts quite such a com
From re --s- DC has been En .1-perscnaror.-Cct
Gec,a.-eri and thc proof that he has always
her- -iEH- is che lasting vitality % the tasclna-
-cn tIat his embodiment Of the haunted muir
de-g- continues - exert Ike Is on the stage
curing nearly tLe whole OF the p-av and
Re does not. for a single instant cease 20 be an
o-te-t O. absorbing Interest A very considerable
Iart 81 TIE piece is sooquy-a-d that is OF the
s-e--es- tests 70 which a. actor can be subjected
whether as the artist or the man. His voice has
grown richer, more copious and more flexible. than
it vas ~ earlier he and possibly, his manner Is
marked - more supreme authority and Colsuu,-
-ar- ease. BUt II nc other respect is tHe e-bod--
-e-- re- Matthias in any way changed I remains.
sF b hes ever been. an Inspiration ot dramatic
r----s.-ard u most co1vir--r-lv illustrates the
aUt-- -rl-L. 50 wei said by Dante that mo man
escapes Gods Justice" For many wears Matthias
Las concealed his crime, but he is va-1ly bisltee
--- alone w--h the dread of being discovered Is
criminal. g-r wiki -ae dark sense q hiGeous in-
i----y- lie drinks 20 Grown remo-se. The note az
r---1rsf g ne -Jtc that re actor strikes 81
Matthias were -0c thus embodied sufferer r7
v--l5 lose The qualify cf ra---s and - wou--
fal -g arouse pity lie would De simply res-- It--
crafty, vtElIaut sleazflzc criminal occupied merely
with tLe careful preservation Ct his secret Henry
irving makes hin intellectual but also he end57s
E.E with acute sersi5ilty. and the i-1pe-sora.-o-
ss therefore deeply roGcii-S-a wonderful r1--
rra-ai anguish and spiritual strife IL nature OF
fine strain. and under Circumstances OF highly
merit ~ tae SUI ect IS precisely as ia Mac
te-l."-a-l So ,ae drama becomes sutfused with IN
atmosphere cs spectral terror and shu-lerlg awe
and the spectator is s-lz1l-y held ia tension Of
t-rere1 excitement
The revival made last -iSh- lacks the re-fec-
-c1 cf The old cast ullca included re-r-ss
ard Howe but the central i----rz1n1tiCn lacked
no clement of power Henry Irvlls's labors
have been tremendous. but Els nervous Vi
-a-.-y remains u1brobel. and I'D storm OF --is-
fortune has prevailed 70 weaken his ada1na---le
VII lie acted with splendid vizur and with sc-1-
ru-cus attention 10 every detail and no less than
Twelve curtains czuce5 the enthusiasm Of his audi
euce-t0 which. after act secllL-h4 responded with
e speech. 4 repetition g. 'Haterloo" and The
Bells viii occur or THURSDAY Tonight LOUIS
ZI" Tomorrow night The Merchant Of Venice
These are occasions OF more than common lupor-
razce and the tLoughtf-l r.a.s1e- would be wise 70
improve them. There are t-- few real actors Iet-
and. as Things are 10T COINS rLe play made with
scissors and The stay with -5Ve-tiseuleIt1 acting
VIII s-o- be @ JOSH a-L " "