Athens Theater

Of this well known actor who is to give his representaron of Mephisto in Goethe's great tragic drama nest Tnesday evening, the Chioago ínter Ooean says: Mr. John Griffitb, who is now playing the part of Mephisto in "Faust," at Havlin's, thongh but a young man, is a reraaikably capable aotor, as he may be jndged by bis woifc in this oharacter. There are a olear intelligenoe and a thoughtful direotion in his characterization tbat indícate artistio perception and refiective stndy, and he poesesses a marked degree of mental power to govern an exceptional amount of physioal forcé. He gives a rationally consistent representaron of Mephisto, keeping his performance on a jadiciously determined plane of '" sobiiety, avoiding the undignified tendenoy to burlesqne and bnffoonery 'that has been a gross faalt in the work of one or two aotors of eminence. Mr. Griffith reminds one of certain Germán artista in his artistio respect of the proprieties of dramatic license in dealing with Goetho's serious and mystical creation, the so-called comedy lines of the text being treated with a Bemi-cynicism instead of in the broad vein of drollery that tends to cheapen tha character. Mr. Girfflth has a fine face, indicative of intsllectnal decisión and clearness of apprehension, and in repose it is seen to be rather regular, tbough Btrong of feature and not handsome. He has great mobility, not only of face bnt of body, and has quite the figure for Mephisto, straight, lithe, slender, bnt well knir, ve!l proportioned, aud eugge8ting a streugtn beneath its grace. His voioe, thoogh not a robnstions one, is flrm. strong, resonrcefol, and is nsed -with judgment, ita flexible modnlations oocasionally swelÜDg to a roar that is qnite traditional, bnt is not altogether praiseworthy by standards of modern art.