Life — December 14, 1893 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MR. IRVING'S “HENRY VIII.” AD he gone on general principles instead of basing his theory on an alleged cipher, Mr. Ignatius Donnelly might well have attributed “ Henry VIII." to some dramatist other than Shakspeare. It is most hard to believe that the same philosopher, universal genius though he might have been, who gave us * Hamlet” and “ Othello,” could also have been the mere describer, in dramatic form, of the episode pictured in Mr, Irving's latest American production, In Shakspeare’s own time the difference must have been even more distinct, owing to the limited possibility of spectacular effect, It is doubtless the greater possibility of this in our own day which recommends the play to Mr. Irving's genius Almost every line in Shakspeare’s greatest plays is pregnant with a thought, but “Henry VIII" is simply the dramatic narration of a historical episode. This episode, though, is one of the most important in its results to the whole English- speaking people and, in fact, to the whole world, It was the step that made possible progress to our present civilization and enlightenment, and this makes it worth the narration of a great dramatist and the picturing of a great manager. In the part of Cardinal Wolsey Mr, Irving presents the epitome of priest-craft, In manner and expression he is the embodiment of suave and intelligent treachery. In him seem vested all the vices and crimes charged to the Church of Rome. Although tainted with his peculiarities of delivery, his reading is that of the student, and makes patent all that the author meant to convey. In a few places, such, for instance, as his discovery of 74e Aéng among the maskers, and the moment when he reads his own letter to the Pope, he might convey his thought to the audience with more em- phasis, but the lack of it is a compliment to the spectator’s intelligence not likely to be resented. Miss Terry brings to Queen Katharine a gentle womanli- ness which makes her, though still a queen with all a queen's aken close to the sympa- thies of those who witness the struggle between her pride, her resentment, and her love. It is this thorough womanli- ness of Miss Terry’s which makes her gain sympathy where dignity, a suffering woman to be another would rouse only interest, and brings her actin; the court scene almost within the realm of actuality, Every individual in Mr. Irving’s company, from leading man to super, as always in his productions, conscientiously performs his duty as a unit in the entire picture. Mr. Terris realizes. perfectly the traditional conception of Henry V//1. Far from the least meritorious bit is Mr. Howe's summary of Wolsey's character. “1 SAY, JIM, IF DAD'S HAND WAS AS BIG AS THAT WE'D HAVE TO SUFFER!" ‘The staging is what we have come to regard as a matter of course at Mr, Irving's hands. That it shines less by con- trast is yet a tribute to him, for he has forced other managers to approach his standard, In perfection of detail, both of business and accessories, he is still first, and on this produc- tion there has been lavished everything that could make the stage-picture perfect, In fact the clision of the dialogue in the Westminster street scene argues that the spectacular is made almost too weighty an element for pure dramatic art, As an educational factor, as a stimulant to interest in his- tory, as an incentive to greater labor on the American stage, this production is most valuable. Metcalfe. A CASE FOR PSYCHICAL RESEARCH-ERS. said that he felt his Creator had endowed him with a hero’s spirit, and he believed he was destined to meet a hero's death—leading some wild charge or rescuing the perishing.” * And you've seen his premonition realized ?” “ Well, this paper says he was caught in a folding-bed.” ON'T talk to me,” said the lettuce to the turnip. have a heart and you haven't.” “1 don’t see how that can be,” replied the turnip, “ never get mashed, and | do.” comicbooks.com