Henry Irving, Actor and Manager. By William Archer. (Field and
Tuer.)—This is a careful and, we should say, a just criticism of a great actor, of a very different quality from the hurried remarks which have to be put together between the close of a performance and the time when a morning paper goes to press. It is, indeed, one of Mr. Archer's points that the first impression made by Mr. Irving has to be corrected by repeated observation. The justice of the remark that in comedy the acting of Mr. Irving is "in no sense exhilarating," will be generally acknowledged. His restlessness is another peculiarity that is remarked upon ; a third is his mannerism of pronunciation. On this point, Mr. Archer remarks, with a witty severity that is not wholly undeserved, "A fatal proclivity to speak- ing in unknown tongues seems to be connected with the very name of Irving." The want of mimetic power is a defect which is less obvious. Yet we see that there is much troth in the remark that "his greatest triumphs are projections of himself, not reflections of the world around him." But it is a defect which, as Mr. Archer says, has been seen in other great actors.
Previous page
