New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-03
The DRAMA.
MISS BARRYMORE IN IBSEN.
Lyceum Theatre.

Miss Ethel Barrymore appeared last night as
nora in "A Dolls House" at the Lyceum Theatre.
lu that simple announcement lies the story Of
" young woman's ambition and an AUDIENCES
PRISE Miss barrymore has always occupied cosey
corner in public regard; she has been petted and
pictured and praised. But that she could play
part IKE Nora, part to which Sorma and Odilon,
N1rs' F1ske and Duse gave their best powers-well.
me young woman getting bit ambitious, that's
al! However 1t would be nice to watch her at
1Snpt so to the Lyceum Theatre last night went
the doubters. Suffice it to say. doubt gave way to
dStonishment, establishment to applause. and at the
0iose or the second act the young actress ana her
company were called again and again
mat the company (and the stage manager) de-
served their share of the greeting it is essential
10 insist on at once Ibsen himself turned with
scorn on the actress who told him he wrote great
parts shouting that he did not write parts but
pays. sane narration of the story a clean-cut
HahdIng Of all characters desire on the part of
everybody TO give the play Il hearing for its own
sake Is the first requirement Of a successful per-
iorLance Of the Ibsen drama. That this require
Heht was met last night, met not so fully perhaps.
as by Mrs Fis<e but still met squarely and honest
~ ala much to contribute to the surprise, and to
WIN the unfaltering and breathess attention of the
audience
In Miss Barrymores performance were to be
noted the qualities of girsh Hghtness and ire
sponsibilty, and of womanly sweetness and feel
ing TO a degree many of her maturer predecessors
IN the part have not attained AS the ego awoke
she denoted Noras dawning recognition Of the
complexities of life and the claims of the individual
with precision and yet with originality. Never did
she suggest other Noras; always she was, If you
will, Miss Barrymore. But II a Miss Barry
more impersonatiug at last denotng things strange
and moving not of herself, but another. The Mira
Gle had happened, She threw into the climax Of
the second act, the dance, q nervous abandon and
q wealth OF physical force which We're astonishing
and brought down the curtain audience
thrilled and delighted.
In the last act it must be recorded, Miss Barry
more failed 70 hold the pace. Action here gives
way to discussion Nora has been awakened and
wishes ito talk things seriously" Miss
Barrymore struck the keynote OF the act finely in
her announcement that she going to Change
her dolls dress" There the dignity Of an
awakened and outraged individuality in her tone
and in her face. But thereafter the situation fell
in interest she did have the intellectual force
of Mrs. Fiske TO hold it the level and her de-
parture without pathos
Bruce McRae gave capitaIIy IfeIike impersona-
ton of Helmer. The character seemed not so much
a carcature of petty masculine vanity picture
of weak. unconsciOusly hypoCriticaI human being.
Only Mr.. McRae made ineXcusable mistake IN
the last act of delivering his speech Nora while
she is in the next room, as If it sOlOquy to
the audience. The audience knew better knew
that Ibsen whatever his matter, has not that sort
Of q manner Edgar Selwyn played DR.. Rank with
understanding. but the Krogstad of Joseph Brennan
failed TO loom in the play with sinister emphasis