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MRS. LANGTRY AS 14LADY MACBETH”Mrs. Langtry’s much-talked-about revival of 14Macbeth” at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York, appears to be, on the whole, distinctly successful. The New York papers devote a good deal of space to it, but naturally they are not quite so enthusiastic about Mrs. Langtry's performance as they were recently about that of Miss Anderson in14 A Winter’s Tale ; ” for Miss Anderson is a native American, and the 44 Jersey Lily ” is not.In some respects (says the New York World, to which we are indebted for the following remarks) the actress’s impersonation of the strong and exacting character of Lady Macbeth was gratifying in its evidences of breadth and firmness of grasp and strenuous intellectual endeavour. In other respects it failed to realize in expression the almost virile determination of character and tragic vehemence that are inextricably associated with the role. In a broad sense Mrs. Langtry furnished not only a pleasingly interesting but a strikingly picturesque Lady Macbeth. She does not attempt to disturb the old-fashioned conception of the character. She won her audience at the very start in the letter scene. It was in some respects a surprise. The reading was not theatric. She did not spout it; she made it reflective and meditative, and in the subsequent scene with her husband it was perceived at once that she intended to carry out her conception of the part on the lines of naturalism, and not on the lines of theatric conventionality. In the dagger scene she preserved the same mean of naturalness. In the banquet scene and the sleep-walking scene she read her lines not only with an admirable intelligence with respect to their subtlest meaning ; but she preserved throughout the character of the woman in her dignity, her determination, and her purpose. Here and there, in what may be called the heroic phases of the declamation, it was evident that the vibration of her talent was not large enough to sustain the tragic convention; her climaxes lacked the blare and colour of theatric “thrills,” but her meaning was unmistakable and her purpose was felt. It was generally acknowledged at the end of the sleep-walking scene that she had surprised even her own admirers in her grasp and her exposition of the difficult role, without taking it beyond the boundaries of modern naturalism.It may be said in a general way that Mrs. Langtry gave, on the whole, a most excellent performance of the play. Her own share in it was received with favour and generous commendation ; and the production itself was marked throughout by intelligence, good taste, and an ensemble that was numerous, effective, and resplendent. The supernaturalism of the play was preserved most admirably, and, although the porter’s scene was cut, the knocking at the gate was startling, and save that the introduction of a chorus of monks into the scene of the discovery of Duncan’s murder came near ruining it, the whole episode was stirring and effective. .
Newspaper Details
London St James Gazette An Evening Review and Record of News
London, Middlesex, GB
Thu, Feb 07, 1889
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
David B.
CA 02 Sep 2017
Other Publications Near London, Middlesex
Bingleys Journal
Arminian Magazine
London Daily Mail
London Stars and Stripes
London Daily Universal Register
