New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-24
THE DRAMA.
Henry IrTiRg ia Brooklyn.


In the Mortauk Theatre Brooklyn lszi rirt,
rienry irving in7pcrsonated Corporal Brewster in
er-aterloo." and A7thiss in THE Bells ana
again were exenpEAed his exquisite art OF en-
sediment and his marvellous power TO arouse the
imagination and touca the heart. Both these per
so-rances have often been seen and described and
reseu5 comment ~ them proceeds almost frevits-
sly in a beaten track. bat both Of them VIII De
--reatpd tonight. and. as they show the great
cor 70 exceptional sdvautaEe e may not be arniss
- remind lhc levers 0f acting thar a rare privilege
Is thus once more placed within their reach The
nrescntrne1t ~ the ceatn stricken Brewster.-tne
roo- ola broken soldier. whose weakness IS so ex-
irene that sudden shock prec.ptates his demise.
is r0t merely wouderfCi portrayal OF the de-
r-e7itu5e 81 Ealing ana Sar-llous age bur subtle
revelation. both humorous ard pathetic Of the
or5g rai character OF thc man simple resoIute ia
r7e7i5. kiadly narrow in kuowledge and the votar-
2 routine bat born solder and thoroughly spen-
cid With martial pride. I'm Los = civilian I'm
sss-5sUau-'' he says, when asking for e military
salute over his grave; aud the voice which Henry
irving speaks that plea.-a voice more expressive
ard touching than words can tell.-conveys the
whole honest character and the whole fororn situs-
son and prints them in memory forever. The
assumption OF Ma Ihias-rn Die the corner
stone ~ Henry Irving's professional fame.-shows
s poetic image Of remorse. and develops the strife
% conscience and wiz in naturally splendid
n.nd that has arrayed itself against the eternal
isw @ -etribUtive justice The plav o. The Bells
called me,0drama. but essentially, it is tragedy
TO- surely u expresses well any tragedy that
written the attributes and the potency OF
rtrv end terror This art Of Henri Irving.-the skill
- absolute iTrpersonation.-ap in everv de-
tail of II: the charm that % his personality a
subtle magic which by involuntary iutirnation Of
inherent goodness and grace aUakens profound
sympathy and holds the feelings in continuous fas
cinstion The artistic portrayal o. fallen human
nature never j. truly effective without the sugges
rs01 OF the height fr0f- which II falls and thus
even vickedness derives its potency out Of the
goodness from which IL has lapsed- II Matthias
we're merely q murderer. he would signify nothing
more than any other common type % depravty
Il IS because OF fire original Qualty,-the attri-
bures Of mind imagiusti tenderness. genial hu-
usnirv. and roma nce-ths- he j. seen with awe
and pity En- the long struggle with grief and dread
and the nitiiass Nemesis Of doom In Henry Irv-
iuE's embodiment OF him there are, Furthermore.
many picturesque elements. and pervading every
fibre or II. there IS 4 magnificent authority. the
cousuuuzte force q executive art In many ways
f. IS example 10 the student 81 acting in all
ways IL is a prodigy q achievement The astonish-
ing opposition Of contrasted excellence IN these two
performance Brewster and Matthias, has scarcely
ever been matched, in all the long record OF the
stage. and IN ting the scope and value OF this
actors the observer will not fail TO remember
hat also he ranges from DR.. Primrose TO King
Louis and from Don Quixote TO Macbeth. The
numerous audience last night. recalled him many
times. with great enthusiasm deeply felt and en-
rir1Fr- 7lrefffe5 II