New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-27
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
STORM-BEATEN.

The presentation of character, wrought uDon
by experience and displayed in its development under
dramatic circumstances would to be the poper OBJ
ect OF theatrical literature and histronc art The best
plays certainly are those which accomplish that result
Another kind Of play-by means the best but some
| times efective and popular-is that which aims simply
ana solely, TO tell story by OF stage pictures.
Mr. Buchanans Storm Beaten Is play of this kind
He made 1t out OF one Of his novels-thus telling over
again. through theatrical expedIentsa tale that he had
already told in narrative 1t is tale kindred with that
Of The Frozen Deep and It makes much the same sot
OF play. The chief person in 1t is brave chiyalrous
resolue, intrepid young fellow, whose sister has been
seduced and abandoned by a scoundrel and who de
termines TO pursue and does pursue, her seducer
through many peTilOus scenes,-beng resolved 10 KIN
him. but at last, rejecting the opportunity OF revenge
and giving strong practical illustration OF magnani-
nous charity.
This Is not a very brilliant scheme Nevertheless Mr.
Buchanan has treated IL to present In Its evolution
several OF highly pictorial and striking char
acter several surprising and effective Incidents and
taken altogether drama that feeds the eyes, excites
teres holds the spectators mind in peasurable
pense and leaves comfortable impression of virtue tr-
umphant vice-through the miraculous nterposi-
ton of fortunate chance. "StOrnBeaten was brought
ont here last night in the Union Square Theatre where
It's performance which lasted till late hour,
eagerly viewed and cordially liked and applauded bya
large audience such not even the cest and dearest
patty and enthusiasm.
There is not much for comment on the play. It's
story for the mOstipar is fancul and wild. The main
OccuTrences-put forward of course, credible facts
such do not and could not anywhere upon
this earth Their realm is fiction, and only In that realm
they appropriate admissible To read about them
would be pleasant enough To see them is to DO half
amused at their absurdy aud half ast0nished at their
bodness at length thought reposcs in the tolerant
admission that II such things could really be- they
tainly would be most narrowing and pathetic. The in
cidcnts are chiefly prepOsterOs besides being mostly
hackneyed ingredients of old melO drama; but Mr.
Buchanan has sused them with the fancy and the feel
ing OF poet and It becomes easily possibly TO view his
work ideal picture, a romance, and not ~ the
pretended transcript OF actual life Indeed the people In
IL essentially idcalfOr anybody quite virtuOs
Ar. Christian ChrstdnSoa "a double-bareed saint.
his imply it would be difficult To find this
side of Heaven; and meaDcr ruthless, detesabe.
and altogether nefariOus rascal than Mr. Richad Or
chardSOn has seldom been eXtant this side OF the egond
recy opposite These the cOntrastcd parties. and
the rest in like manner with little exception either
cardinal virtues cardinal vices perSOnncd in the
land. and :partIy the North Atlantic. The ir2t
reason that the authors invention seems about tho
mlaIc OF me WORK 10 nave made SpismSdc 'a mo
IRONS. In ships hold and tue villain sets fire to the ship
himself and the woman he loves being on board, ana
the oceanand then the ship strikes iceberg Fright
full SuferingS are endured and terrible things happen 10
ccctcd when he hero Is plghtcd ia BarimOny TO tho
ady whom the villain has been pursuing and the villain
goes home and marries the girl whom lac had formerly
There is in this work the moral intention to teach tho
ftility and wckedness of the feeling of revenge. Bg
which if is framed win do more 10 carry than is riia
and obvious morality Spectators who like sensational
stage effects may here hnd them, abundantly provided
English landscape the painter has been less successful.
Mr. MaSton The scenic artist was called d, out Tire
their first appearance leaders of the Union Square
TheatTe Company last night ... ,.,., .u,,s ,,..
enthusiasm. Earnest applause rewarded the strong
sketch Of the ghteonSly resentful old Pane Chredns.
by Mrs. +. j. Philips Among the minor hits OF me
night was the hearty saiorlad done with capital song
by Charles Stanley Mr. W. n Leyaan gave pleasant
and Miss Eoise Willis presented IN Pqgant and charm
s Sd Se m pro.V d bTG aTion to pc S
he does this with sweet and gentle dignity Miss Eiser
true at at every y point and marked by lovely reposc and
bold and precise execution Miss Maud Harrison car.
seems less exactly ntted than T. f. for Iairta
one difficult scene that OF the betrayed girls con-
fcssion to the pest she carried the unanimous plaud,
ism be and fno as the feelcs unqaostionaby is@or tho
contrsted elements however proved successful and tho
drama has doubtless entered On prosperous run.
but suitably rough and he was welcomed with special
good will. Mr., j. T.. whiting gave most ungrate!u
character in easy but made it at least pleas
ant as art IT, not as morals or humanity.
Storm Beaten WAS INST produced, on -MafCu ~,
1888, at tho Adephi Theatre, London. Mr. Charles
Warner played ChriSidHson. and Mr.. Barnes played
OrchdrdSOR. Here, produced last night, the cast
stands is fOllows
Squire orchardson of the Willows. go. John Parsoro
Dame Of tie Fen Farm Mrs. T. j. fEP;
Christian (hrisansOn. her Mckee RANKIN
Katie ChristiansOn, her daughter Maud Harrison
MI Seton Wesleyan preacher. II. stOdtsTt
Priscilla sefton his daughter Enie Ellsier
Jacob Marvel, cObbler Charles Collins
sally Marvel, his daughter EOise Willis
JabeZ Greene, shepherd William III. seymour
Johnnie Downs, a sailor Charles stanley
cap AIN l.. >. HlggnbOthani. I l.. 1ul0h
Quiycy
Carpenter. william MOrss
sexton .Ly sander lnOinpsOn
Jacob Foraker. 7 II. WtisUa
Madge SOmers Annie
Lucy hODefts NJ uFrthNaH
May Budd Fannie t;iett-
Ruth. Lillian Gresr
Jennie jansen. Evelyn Champne5s
Annie Forester. Louise Hamblin
MRS. NORTON-GOWERS DEBUT