New-York tribune., 1907-09-17
THE DRAMA.
JAMES oNEILL AS VIRGINIUs.
Lyric Theatre.

.,o.r of the serious plays that are especially
,,r,t,ent in this period exhibit morbid. wire
-o1-an prefix and d-eary analysis Of animal pro
,-s-,es and arnorous entanglernents. and Il Is
-,e--sl relief 70 turn from them 10 anything that
a, st-,nle and true. Even the pathetic old Roman
- hat is told II KnoDless heart-rending TRACE
~ ~ rvf-ginius'' ike burst Of sunshine.
=, contrast With such subjects as ara discussed N
,-.a II tne works Of Ibsen, Tolstoy. Sudernann,
- r,Annrrzio. That great tragedy,-revived
- right ar the Lyric Theatre, with MI James
r.,c.-l n the character Of the Roman Father, and
soe,ved with sympathetic rlaudits by a fine audi
e,oe-v1ile II Elances at losthsome aspect OF hu-
-rar nature, shown in the person OF Appus Claudi-
= exsr1rlifes. IN & way TO touch the heart and
oh7e TIE mind OF every auditor of its representa-
So oo,suruaste rnanliness. innste dignity. beau
,4s-1 raternal affection. and sublime herosm No
hosv cspzble or feeling can read "NtrElniGs' or
sae II even respectfully well acted without beng
-,ese stronger ard gentler.-and therefore better
,,ro,zh the influence that II exercises Of piteous
emotion All great tragedy operates upon the
mind IN way that IS closely kindred With the
oe-s-fze experience Of actual personal grief. and
+bs- ,s TIE reason why great tragedy is such
benefcert power IN the realm OF dramatic art
~ O-NeiE has done wisely FOR himself and bene-
s,ts for the public in revivng that noble play AZ
-reclsey this 1uncture in the affairs Of our stage
qualified by brilliant talent by enthusiasm and BY
The varied experience Of more than forty years OF
,rofessionaI endeavor and achievement. he IS able
q
enius spirit that is fervent with passion and IN
8 form that is lovely with art The subject is not
new 10 hin he was accustomed 20 act IN thls
NAV years ago. when Edwin Forrest was me
splendid Tirginius Of the hour and be has hiTlse1
scres Tirgirius many times before now He Goes
,o- cause such actors as Forrest, Brooke, Daven-
rort and Mccullough to be forgotten: he does no'
possess either the superb presence OF the eAlTaoI
dinary vocal power of those exceptional men; oUI
he possesses fire and feeling: his aspect IN rePose'
[f-
& shown in preserving the proportions OF the per
<a-nsnce: he shows alternate MOODS. the sNeet
rlavf1l hurnor. the quick temper and the oee' Ten
oerness Of the characte--rnuch aided t1erel1 oE MS
Celtic temperament; he strives for al the eirPa''c
points OF the part. and he speaks the oIahh verso
50 smoothly TO mako II seem d halura4 IAN
guase .
There Is tradition that 1Iacready, when he sa'd:
NY ohild-nay daaghter-who now knees 70 YOU
caused an effect Of pathos that could not be sur
passed and that has never been ella-ieo
made his auditors thrill the very centre OF their
hearts when. speaking Of. he cried, in his Won
derfUl, vibrant tones Is she here" Mccullough.
with fine poetic sense. impaired a certain appre-
hensTve tone Of vague presentir1ent TO the words
II which Nirg1nius speaks OF Things that may pos
sihv happen. before the war is ended TO which he
must depart: and that noble actor spoke, as it is
likely ever 10 be spoken again. the preoccuped
1nuru1ur fathers celestial affection: never
saw thee look 50 Ike thy mother. child, in all
NY life" Touches Of that kind were not discerni-
he il Mr.. ONeilTs representation: but II is
admirable work Of art-a work OF which he may
vel be proud and which the public. wherever he
goes VIII receive with sympathy and crown
honor. His treatment Of the passage in which Viz
ginius kindly bsnters his daughter about her draw
tng-pretending 70 mistake a portrait Of Icius
for of old Dentatus.-is especially happy. His
hurst of passion in the camp scene, is remarka-
by effective. His delverance OF Let the forum
wait for US is resonant and decisive. Some OF
the business and action. at the terrible crisis
n the Forum scene. when TIE agonzed father IS
constrained 70 Kill his beloved child II order 10
fave her from deflensnt. IS eloquent and sig
nfca1t. but the delivery Of the plea the multi
rHde became almost tncoherent because Of rapid
Nv and 70 the vast altitude and wild tempest Of
e-nonon IN that tremendous passage he did not.
ms occasion, rise. In the auxiliar or associate
Performances the conspicuous merits sincerity
q purpose and earuestness of endeavor. The rep
resenl tive OF Appius distinguished himself by
his del cry Of the hypocritcal speech 70 old Den
tatus- The scenery,-defcient OF artistic cornpo-
sition and meoWness OF tone.-is far too obvious
y new. is mostly gartsh. and there is too much
Of & The tragedy OF ''Virg1nius'' should not be
treated Is spectacle Absolute simplicity Is the
Keynote % it ". W