Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

190
letter, to & kindly but only mildly enthusiastic reception.
The play, translated in 1651 from a uern.: n original, 3aO/ed
ho., a b; rb; ric warrior was reclucec to coceucy ty a young,
graceful and pious wife: it v,s, said The Illustrated London
iio;-rs. "highly moral but extremely wearisome, artless and
nonsensical" (6 September 1££3), and it had long been absent
from the English repertoire. Miss Andersen'a acting was
appropriate to the part of Pe.rthenia, which Vi-e. TJEIOS
described as "easily within the range" of an acties, who
happened to i.c gifted with ^retty and engaging v;rys w and
who could \:Q; r Gr^ek costume" in such a manner as not to
suggest a night dress". Although the newcozaer posses..od
"natural gifts of rare excellence, gifts of f,- co tuu, form
and act. on", tuere were shortcomings in her technique:
The elegant artificialit.,- of the American school,
a tendency to pose and self-conscious isic , to
smirk even, if the work nuy be permitted, os ecially
v^hen advc.ncinb to the footlights to receive a full
"er.sure of apjle.uso, v/ero fet-1 to such efforts of
sentiment a even so stilted r p^-ay conic oe mcc'.e
to yield.
(The Tines. 3 September)
Miss Anderson appeared "more co ;cerned wi