R530426A. Colombe’s Birthday.
The Daily News, 26 April 1853, p. 6.
As reprinted in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 19, 379.
Haymarket.—Mr. Browning’s play, Colombe’s Birthday, was produced with success at this theatre, last night. This piece, though new to the stage, is not new to the public. It formed one of a number of plays and poems which were published in a serial form some ten or twelve years ago, under the somewhat mystical title of “Bells and Pomegranates,” and have been deservedly esteemed works of much poetical beauty. Like other productions of the same author, Colombe’s Birthday is a dramatic poem, rather than a play, and seems to have been intended, by the author himself, rather for the closet than the stage. At all events, it is much better fitted for private perusal than for theatrical representation. Like most of the works belonging to the class which has been called “the unacted drama”—a class which includes some of the noblest poems in our language—it is very deficient in the rather vulgar, but yet essential elements of stage effect,—plot and incident. It can scarcely, indeed, be said to have a story; but is rather a series of situations and dialogues, elaborately and highly finished, with the view of tracing the growth and development of sentiment and feeling. In these dialogues there is much thought, and occasionally much passion; but there is a want of action—the attention is not arrested by a chain of interesting events. As is generally the case, too, with poems in the form of plays, the language is often too poetical; and Mr. Browning’s blank verse is sometimes so involved and obscure, that, as spoken on the stage, much of its meaning must necessarily escape the audience. On the other hand, there are many beauties, which must give pleasure in whatever form they are presented—whether to the reader or to the spectator. The heroine is a charming character—finely imagined and painted with exquisite delicacy. Miss Helen Faucit entered completely into its spirit, and displayed all its loveliness. Valence, the young advocate, too, is a happy creation, and some of the features of the character were well brought out by Mr. Sullivan, who, however, lacked refinement. The other parts were respectably filled, and the piece was carefully got up. Its reception was such as we had expected. Much of it moved slowly and heavily; but the principal points were much applauded, and there was a warm demonstration of favour at the fall of the curtain. It had, in short, a succes d’estime; all that, on the stage, it can possibly have; though, as well as the other works of the author, it is entitled to a distinguished place in our dramatic literature.
Reviewed:
Colombe’s Birthday (RB), performance, London, 25 April 1853.
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