New-York tribune., 1907-01-29
THE DRAMA.
ELLEN TERRY AT THE EMPIRE.
Genius and Trash.

The welcome accorded to Miss Terry when she
appeared last night the Empire stage was as
might have been expected. that Of afTectionate ad
ynration. expressing itself in a joyful turuult OF
long continued applause. The great actress still
charms without effort. stil creates illusion by
spOntaneity and poetic grace stin interests the
mind and fouches the heart. Few players have
ever appeared who could strongly commend
themselves 10 the sympathy Of an audience The
sllurenent is that OF PERSONAL---VERY. which some
Of the elements are q sumptuous figure; a hand
some face; rich expressive voice; free ana
oopious delivery; sweetly careless demeanor; a
strange, erratic' gypsy-like spirit that
ventonality 10 the winds; and a Joyous vitality
that seems the inexhaustibls fountain Of rnirth
Miss Terry has acted many and strongly con-
trasted parts. and thereby has decisvely displayed
her extraordinary faculty OF impersonation No
one acquainted with her brilliant professional
career can forget her remarkable achievement IN
8 range OF parts extending from Queen Katharine
20 Nance Oldheld. and connprehendIng among
others, Beatrice. Portia. Juliet, Imogen. Viola
Opheia' Desdemona. Cordelia, Olivia EIlaine
and Lady Macbeth Her acting has been uneuual
is always true OF genius, but no one OF her
performances ever lacked authority syrnuetrv
feeling, charm. the quality and force Of character
snd the beauty OF natural art. Throughout all OF
them however. the dominant attribute has been
the individuality. the woman's nature the poten-
Tisl something that could not and cannot he de-
fined and that no auditor wished TO resist
in Miss Terry's performance last night-thar OF
Lacy Cecily Maynfiete, IN Mr. q. B. Shaw's farcical
play of Captain Brassbound's Conversion. that
same attribute obvious as ever and as posi-
lively victorious The play is trash but the actress
eniivens il with her abounding animal spirits and
makes IL the cheerful medium for an exposition OF
gay, frank, resolute. expeditions womanhood The
part IS one that might have suited Mrs John
Wood in her heyday OF fun and freedom when she
was the perfect exponent OF piouant merry mis-
chief Miss Terry invested it with Importance and
commended II 10 favor. The fable relates 10 an
adventure IN Africa, among MosleIn fanatics Lady
Naynfete and q pompous relative Of hers are
captured there, and the sprightly volatile but
clever and capable proves equal TO the
emergency and effects their release incidentally
subduing the cynical spirit Of pirate named Cap
tain BrassbOund, whose brass binding proves IN
effective 10 resist the dart OF Cupid but who
escapes matrimOny. There IS some niuble dialogue
in the play, and the characters Of the Lady and the
Captain aftOrd piQuant of rafting Vivac
fly and imperturbable compOsure AS a safirical
skt Al loW-class melodrama the play IS moderately
significant. AS q skt al law order, and respect
ability, which are the actual objects OF its satire
i is nl-natured, irrational. incOherent. vapid, and
IaIne The sentimental part ofsit IS rank stupidity
u affords but little opportunity for acting, every
part in 4 being less silly. Mr. Rudge Hard
Eng did the best that could be done with a pompous
prig. Mr.. James Carew made a good impressicn as
Captain Brassbound, at the beginning, but became
necessarily, very nGrd and dull a the close AIr
George Elton acted cockney rough with extreme
fidelity, eXemplifylng vulgar impudence and max
ing il momentarily comic Miss Terrys felicitous
blErney was ali that saved the play from utter
failure.