The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-31

Wide difference of opinion has always
existed among the critics Of the drama
as TO the proper degree of greatness TO
be assigned to Richard Mansfield as an
actor. John Corbin, for instance, always
declared he was our greatest; Alan Dale
insisted he was our worst.
! Whether he was our greatest actor or
not (and he certainly did a good many
good and artistic things better than any
other actor we have could have done
them), he was our most prominent and
most interesting and the accepted leader
of the theatre of our time. The principal
argument in refusing him recognition for
highest genius in the practise of his diff
cult and noble art has been the persistence
in his work of certain mannerisms, which,
It was contended. often initiated against
a full realization of much besides the &C.
centricitles of the actor himself. This con-
tention was not altogether without appar-
ent warrant, at least, in his extraordln-
arily outre performance of Brutus In
Julius Caesar But for the most part
there was the strongest evidence in all
his work of pronounced and versatile
abilities. Who that could run the emo
tional and artistic gamut represented in
such characters. so widely diverse and so
strongly marked individually, as Brummel,
Baron Chevrial, Shylock, Richard, Cyrano
de Bergerac and Ivan the Terrible, could
be without powers such as none are gifted
with but the elect among the g%eniuses of
histrionism.
There We're certain parts In which no
one, not even the cynical douhter, Alan
Dale, could deny him greatness. Such
were Beau Brummel and Baron Chevrial.
For the definition of the polish and the
insolence hiding the innate kindness of
! tho 4Poof hfq nuyn DppGOnnlity SnpcinllV be-
fitted him; 1t was as perfect a work Of
theatric portraiture as the stage of our
day has known. In "A Partisan Ro-
| nance" the character OF the heartless old
roue was conveyed with a degree Of ar
tistry seldom approached.
OF his other favorite parts. 1t may
be said there are few memories the thea
tre-goers of our day will hold more in
treasure than those of Mansfield in the
manly vigor and pathos of Cyrano; in
the volcanic passion OF the senile Ivan;
in the ironic. s~neering diabolism Of Rich
| ard: in the passionate protest of his Shy
dock, and the vivid horror Of his Jekyll and
HYDE. His final work, the memorable
production of Ibsen's peer Gynt" or last
season was a glorious failure, which en-
abled at least. however, the display OF the
range IF the actors interpretative powers,
from the freshness of youth to the decay
of age. Not the least of his contributions
10 our stage was his acquainting its fol-
lowers with little known masterpieces OF
other literatures such ms Moliere's The
Misanthrope,t' a service which only his
wide erudition and constant study enabled
him to perform.
Mansfield was not only al actor of great
power. but a splendidly informed stage
manager. As a work of tag decoration,
few productions Of our day have equalled
his mounting of Henry "" Never a
mere imitator or slave of tradition. he
was in all things willing 10 be a pioneer.
He it was who first introduced Shaw to
our stage. He il was who was always
willing. as in Peer Gynt." to undertake
what everyone told him was impossible.
In his death the stage has indeed lost
one whose work constantly and consist
emily dignifed and ennobled the art OF
the actor. It was a work not only for
the ennoblement of the stage, but for
every theatregoer who may have come
under the Christening or %quickening influ-
ence of his im~personations.
The Real Richard Mansfield.
The public really knew little Of the real
Richard Mansfield. A great deal has been
written about his fits Of temper, his quar-
rels, his i%mperious, dictatorial manner and
his austerity, but not much has been told
of Mansfield the lover of nature, children,
dogs and horses; of Mansfield the fun
lover and Joker; the entertainer whose lat
homes'' were a delight to the fortunate
ones who were his guests.
It's an old saying that n lover OF chill
dIen, dogs and horses mikes Il
friend. Mansfield was used to spend "a part
of every day in the Saddle, and a genial