New-York tribune., 1907-12-07
SIGNOR NOVELLI AT HIS BEST.
Lyric Theatre.

The engagement OF SignoT NovelH at the Lyric
Theatre continues. in great activity. and 1t con-
unues to hold the public attention On Thursday
night the eminent Italian actor appeared as Cor
RADIO, in 'Morte Civile,' and last night he repre-
sented Louis XI- In those characters of serious
drama he is seen at his best Both of those imper-
sonatiOns have been reviewed in this column, and 1t
seems only essential to reiterate former 1udg
ment- The play of 'Aforte Civile."-now called The
Outiaw."-s not well constructed,-its movement
being impeded by much explanatory conversation
The persons involved in it recount to each other
facts and circumstances with which the audience is
already acquainted. When however. an under
standing is finally effected. the situation that ensues
is both dramatic and pathetic Corrado, the miser-
able convict esc6red from prison, disgraced man.
a fugitive and utlaw-death stricken, likewise,
with incurahe disease,-must choose between
avowal OF his Identity to his daughter (who
during his long absence, has grown to womanhood)
or the renunciation by silence, Of his place as a
father. Between those alternatives the wretched
man collapses and mserably dies. with his secret
unspoken. Signor Novelli. before. touch
ingly signifies, in the aspect Of the convict, the
terrible suffering through which he has lived: de-
notes, IN manner at once picturesque and dra-
maticelly effective q nature that is intensely pas
sionate and dangerously impetuous; expresses 1eai-
ousy in a mood OF :erocIous menace; and thorough
ly impersonates a character naturally formidable.
and made impacable by injustice and almost cha
otc by misery. The quality that the impersona-
ton lacks is innate magnanmitv- The picture OF
collapse and death is pitiable, but the condition
OF the all times more forlorn than II
is intrinsically pathetic. The hard attributes are
indicated perfectly we'll The power surpasses the
feeling In primal essence.-before he was In any
way afflicted.-this Corrado would have been some
what Signor NovellFs performance
nevertheless. is potential in its effect on the emo
tions. and it wins unrestricted admiration for It's
copous excellence in the matter OF expressive pam
tomirne. In the highly theatrical character OF
Louis XI there is abundance o. that same
Numinative Tnnutae of detail The personality re-
vealed is a great one not nnateiy royal: not
doInin8ntly intellectual; sympathetic. so as 10
the feelings: neither rcmorse. self-confIct
agony is denoted: but there is Ii flne repose
in the portrayal. scarcely ever broken by that
efuson so characteristic not only Of this actor put
OF almost all the Continental actors who have
appeared here: and the performance Is Instinct
with the authority of a robust amino 2tuTe ana
Of an actor whom long and varied experience
has made acting a property OF easiness' Ihose
two enIbodiments, Corrado and Louis brilliantly
manifest Signor Novelis talents and resources as
serious actor. while his impersonations of Petru-
chic and Ceronte. which will be given this after
noon and this evening, show him at his supreme
height In comedy. "Morte Ctviie' viii be once re-
peated next week but the remaining nights Of the
engagement which will end December Il. are
TO be devoted 10 a round of parts, including Nero
anu Macbeth. '" w