The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-01
EVENTS IN THE TBEATRRa
..,.. Gardens Joaa Lewrie. Brsnson How-
I'D. New Pfny, and Other Thinga


Mae Marie Gordon's attempt to embody
uiss Turnetts unique character Of Joan Loto-
:, has proved an artistic success, much TO my
.urprIse Tor was one Of the admirers Of Mise
no,don's talents who doubted her ability to
.,rresent with dramatic force 30 rugged and
massive on individuality.
Icame 10 the play with some fear OF the re-
.rn because. as was quite natural. / had
tanned a mental picture Of Joan from reading
no hook and expected to have that concept
.rashed by the player who is compelled 70 put
.ntinds Of wine into one bottle. so TO speak.
pa,hane I gave expression 10 my doubts before
30 NAV vas produced-at all events Miss Bur-
a., has written q letter. evidently designed for
,uhlioation. and aimed at some OF the critics OF
this performance
81 admit tshe says that some OF the crltl-
.,.ms have seen have been a kind OF revela-
zion 10 me. lThev we're probably designed TO
NJ begin to have confused feeling that
AMOR ALL TO many people the story only con-
yeved tho idea Of a brawny coal-heaving young
vomnu with dark hair. which was the principal
tas,ure Of her character. Miss Burnett seems
n overlook the fact that to do what Joan did.
woman must be brawny. and that life in and
about the pit does not usually develop the finer
oualities Of character and manner1
1T seems to have boon considered an outrage
hat YOU Miss Gordonl have represented her az
clean did not mean to represent her as dirty.
III did ldid mean. or did represent n that lie
my misfortune.
II, seems to me that dirt was in some sense q
,ssult Of circumstances. Why be afraid Of II
An angel Of light would smear his wings little
In colleryl
And though described her "a having dark
hair | have scarcely thought OF her hair ne
playing q very important part In her history.
NO but It does play an important part In her
character-that II in determining her character
Il the reader or spectator
Intended in depicting her. to write simply
oiAvomdn who in the midst OF coarseness and
brutality. was innately majestic and noble.
rstop little" The innate majesty and nobil-
hy Of the pit girl are obvious in the story-but
that is not the question. Rather this-when a
lady attempts 10 embody the pit girl, may not
the decacy Of her organization prevent her
from representing the texture Of pit girls
nobility You SEQ. heredty. development asso-
eiaton and physical Limitation are all worth
onsderngl
III SAYS Miss Burnett to Miss Gordon. you
depicted her rs coarse and without refinement.
you would depict some one else's Joan. not
nine
without certain coarseness, and made her re-
ened. as We all use and understand that word.
you would not depict the woman brought up in
Lfude condition. the'associate OF men, Of great
muscular ylgor and forced into a kind OF action
which requires less refinement than energy.l
'Asto the rough. dark dress you wear it is all
LIQUID desire. There are pit girls in Lanca-
tbire who dress wholly in male attire. l did
%, think 81 Joan as ono Of these.
but how could you help thinking OF her and
depicting her AS existing under conditions
which had brought this about and which, in
tpite Of her nobleness made her at times wear
amasculine manner. IL not a masculine habit 4
Concerning the statement that the dialect is
nc, bread enough. l can only say that 1t is MOI
broad enough In the book itself to be by any
means perfect My reason for not making it SC
was that had a sort Of impression that peopl,
would ike at least to be able to guess at wha
Joan Lovre was saying. Perhaps that may b,
your dea. toof"
This endeavor to get ntelligibility at the ex
rense Of truth may be pardonable but. after
Il it ia truth that the critic is after
| don't think Miss Burnett's letter IL specially
supplementary to Miss Gordon. whose instincts
In the part are remarkably true. and who has
embodied what is really characteristic in the
role without disturbing its sinewy fibre or max
ing too feminine.
or course the authors purpose was TO show
Inmate womanliness struggling against a brute
environment. and trumphing in spite OF IT,
Blu, how could there be any struggle unless the
nature q things about her affected herr
The truth is both these estimable artists are
afraid Of the word coarsenoss. It appears to
have been used 10y the critics in the sense Of
lareeness, but they have accepted it In the sense
o. cr1ssness
Whom ! SOW the posters representing Miss
Gordon laun,ily carrying heavy pick on her
Shoulder said 10 myself. this play is another
aromlt ~ the stage 70 present US with the para
Ok ~ pretty Woman doing manly things
lon know hat is an old trick OF the theatre.
for some unknown reason its Lottas always
lgiup their dimpled fists and knock down the
h'a'est Villain in the piece. And its weakest
women ALWAYS run 10 Mazeppa" and the
French Spy while they are young and take
hhaly 10 exhibitions Of the iron jaw and trapeze
when they get old.
ulthat Lass O. Lowrie's" was nothing OF the
tor'. Miss Gordon who ordinarily and with
ou' her pick. makes a charming picture In
Nhleh sehsibility and refinement determine the
INES and the expression OF her face. and sug-
Ees, The word delicacV, has somehow succeeded
~ * VIZ r9ie IN assuming not only the title but
We physical conformation the action the man
ssi ahl the air OF creature whose habits and
associations are executive and rude but whose
lhsslncts are gentle and kind.
lhure is heroic breadth TO the figure upon
ny ae s@ge which surprises me. and II unused
nc 70 near people say Why. Miss Gordon 10
AMpen larger woman than thought she was -
t ne lact ~ Joan LOlrrit must have been mus
NM strong and we get the impression that
,IhN Illusion is q very clever triumph. Prob
GUY eD5 me actress knows little or nothing OF anat-
~, ana could not tell II she tried how far
av uheopstious action Of the body would be de-
sfmlAru by lie such as Joan led And yet
ys - pu.s ~ evidence. by supreme instinct, the
se.i Qualities that reason and Imagination in T.
'eM me pit girl with
IL uneh she appears as the protector Of liz and
it'"Iy " defend her against rabble OF asaail-
NV NV ule NOBILITY Is not more apparent than the
ppnn55s.M courage and prowess. The same
Tsnv u .onspicuous when she leaps into the
snAll 70 save her lover
ss ~ d WoId Joan appears here rs a brave hon
~,tuotee. hearted girl. and her after attempts
be,.eg arc more IN the womanly line-to make
kev" ~ worthy ot her lover do not and cannot
T 1,. we same significance aud effect in stage
pulses w "'"'"'S 1" hcl cOuI1Reous I'M
, rd these reasons alone Miss Gordon has
e6s,s,irl h placing all that IL new in the
liz s, ,'I 81 loan wildly before us. Once seen
an ''son"iIIy Of the girl remains in the mem
mogr.e pay has been veryIsklliully made The
nfso'e' 'aken with the book affect only it, ar
Nfs1 W. Oh material. not its quality and the