The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-18
ANUS ENEMA
"OIivia."

..,od for ID BY tho lovers OF tho good and simple
Tor onc am not surprised ut thia, for have
,,,iced that the Americans. in the matter Of
ssatrical entertainment. like theirs good and
.,m,le lassoed from the present. and not dug
~ from the pnst. We have not vcneration
,sonsh for old things TO put up with them on
ne staro when they do not interest US deeply.
W. urofcss TO believe that all stage literature.
~, ombodying in eublimity those supreme
,a.sions which remain elemental in oil condi-
,,ons Of society Hts itself TO the time in which IL
vas produced. and ought to remain there.
ve heard this said with q good deal OF care
lss Impotence when Clara Morris revived tho
once great play Of Evadnc." and tried to re-
,,sonige and vitalizc II TO live in our atmos-
,ne,c and failed. We voted IL cmincntly his
,orical slightly prcposterous. and altogether
heavy
I.t me not however. waste my surprise on
ue Americans when tho English people who
have admired willss play 10 ardently and long
ARE entitled 10 = little Of 1t.
WHY should they admire III
l. II because their admiration Of Goldsmith is
,ounquestioning and hnbtual that they cannot
withdraw il, even when the proportion Of Gold
smith to Willis If M one TO tcnY
4. because this old pastoral feeds an osthetic
,ensuousne.s in It's quaint colors its homcly
morality it, yoeman attire. and hcdgerow
beauty generally
l. itbccause pastoral simplicity and honesty.
and huNom passion unsophistocated are the
greatest novelties that can be placed before the
public Of cur day
Iconts- that | think these were operative
causes with our cousins.
But they will not affect US We shall go TO sec
he ray. and weigh it ruthlossly with our scnsi-
hiie- and our judgment in tho same scales
with Camille and Diplomacy and A
Celebrated Case and. as Americans. we have
Astubtorn sense that story writing. like ship
building and horse breeding. has progressed
during hundred years. We have but one
repy for all those musty and eminent authori-
tes who declared that 90 Tom Jones" was the
t.st novel ever wrliten-and 1t is that they had
oct read Vanity Fair and Monte Cristo "
and David Coppoiied'
There Is method u testing the excellence Of
"Oiyia that il simple and summary. pro-
toso to apply IT, Let Us ondeavor to find out.
II We can. what Wills tried 10 do. Then let US
determine II we can how completely he did il.
md in how far the representation undid ii,
One need not study deeply to learn that the
playwright was trying 10 make tho narrated love.
grief desvair AMI Happiness Of the story dram
nc. by showing these elements In action. sub
iect TO the limitations Of character. time and
condition II he had tried 10 do less than that
be- would be- unworthy u the name Of play
wright
But It was not necessary 10 go back 10 the
Primrose family for these 'elemenis scantily
enough exhibited in Goldsmith's chaste tale.
but burst X from every story ot our own day.
The plot and situations q The Vicar Of Wake
6ed, when Judged with reference TO stage re-
Quromen,s. are such as any ingenious tlay-
wright can multiply for himself in unlimited
Quantities. bu1om. vital. and Needless cir
Allows herself 10 be deceived by prolgate
kyer She wakes W TO misery. Her fathers
heart lie torn. But everything, is made right by
The interposition Of a secret and powerful
mend who turns out TO be the good prince Of
The legend The interests involved in this sim.
tle myth are not Of that passionate grandeur Oh
poetic magnitude that ,defy time and place
They belong 10 the English race at a designated
period
A. the charm Of the story was not In its com
tleNity or originality Of plot nor in its move
combination Of incidents. hut resided in it'
Pure reflection Of the spirit and color Of III,
times a ragged as,oral simplicity not only %
character Int Of circumHtance-Mr.W Wills must
Think have undertaken to reproduce this loca
nlor.
He may havo said to himself. l cannot max
ter"at play out Of this material which will tx
etc the multitude. but will make an efiecty,
It'll, drama whose story will interest and who's
delicious old English air will soothe and charm
everybody"
Two things. Judging from the American rep
res' ntation OF the play. prevented the consum
nation Of these excellent intentions.
One was Mr.. Will-s inability to create al
'fe"tiye drama where the conditions limi,a
hol- and the material itself were already ere
st"d.
The other was the inability OF the players I,
reproduce the English characteristics in thoi
tctug.
lIass lightly over tho fact that the play Il
onIaratiyely ineffective, because il wants sus'
rn-e and mystery. Any tyro can see that Mr.
Wills puts the key Of his plot in our hands IL
Tie first act 10y disclosing who Mr.. BTehH is.
Vnthcatrc as Goldsmith was, ho did not DC
ta,
And not only is this fatal TO suspended inter.
e' Tut IL working out is somewhat irrational
ihSsmuch a. NJ. BWclW. who is instantly
recognized by gypsy, comparative stranger
huhsnown all through 10 his own nephew.
Iass this because in an English water color
Ndo not look for French imposts. According
bhe scheme Of the playwright We are asked IL
overlook the little improbahilities Of relation
h'I and action In consideration Of the verities
condition and tho poetry Of environment.
ihe gooi genius OF this pastoral can afford TO
"aulhe lreachy under the apple trees. lie
Would not presume 70 he in an ordinary room.
Iei US cone then 10 the yerities Of condition.
Behold what las been done FOR the play by the