New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-08
THE DRAMA-MUSIC
SAINTS AND SINNERS.

and successful plays Eager had aroused
with reference to the merit OF this work New scenery
and a OF uncommon strength and worth had been
provided for it. The prestige OF its London success had
been duly proclaimed. It's author known to haye
left busy hauuts in London AMI to have crossed tn,
Atlantic Ocean for the purpose OF experimenting II,
rehearsals The public anticipation WAS thus excited
in no common degree 1t is always prudent Ia
start with such preminaros of promise and agitation:
but size result OF last nights performance than
Justified all that said or hoped to the SOlid merit
Of this new drama. 1t is OF the best new play,
that have been produced within period
OF many years. 1t contains all the clements that 20 70
the construction Of good play Its story represent.
alive and interesting. Its incidents are effective, and
at the same rational Its characters actual
human beings set they are types which have ueel s..
lected with II view to diversity and pun.
| gency OF attributes and to the avoidance O,
! the commonplace. It, persons made 10
sneak and act according their several natures Ii,
plot is developed by action and not by narrative. In
the showing OF many Individual persons who related
TO other. in the circumstances Of ate moving on.
ward beneath the pressure OF experience which sim
u.taueously controls them all, but which affect,
each one in different manner 1t Is remarkably
iictous and 20 SeriH 1t has huDor as well paihos
and It exceptional for the sincerity and warmth It's
literary style.
saints and sinners" has not however, been written
for the satisfaction OF an artistic TASTE The note tia.
+ sounded ia this drama the note o. actual humanity
The author has lived among tins people Of his
time IIe has observed them closely. and he ia
not afraid to depict theit actual passions and to lay
bare the motives and the workings OF the actual human
heart Noth.ng could be simpler the theme that
he has selected for dramatic illustration. In one form
or another II has perYadel fiction ever
since fiction existed as tho TRANSPORTATION
| Of fact good woman is beloved
by good and she accepts his love; but she be-
comes infatuated with brilliant rascal and By him she
/ n fafl,
she at length vn!icated and reunited to her faithful
lover There Is nothing absolutely new in this fabric d
experience it is by tho selection and handbag OF
ais Characters, by tHis skitul framing
Of situations by his faithful and bold port1iturc Of
feeling ami by his invariably opposite and appropriate
language that the author OF saints and snneis" las
impaired bis work freshness AMI force OF sual
ty The drama that viii not only interest lille
spassng but that must convey a'utary moniton
10 many human hearts. Nothing in art, however sue
ceeds by virtue OF prccept Morality, being inherent ia
the universal natural laws which affect and control all
things something that may always be left to Itself
! Tor II operates Ike the principle OF gray.tation
invariably and inces5antIy. whether men and women
! viii or no. A play mast succeed by itS vitality
of interest and not by It's didacuc!sn THIS vitality Is
possessed by SAINTS and Sun RS. ANA for that reason
il has succeeded. Tho author asserts no new doctrine
Dy his implication that human creatures axe not neccs
/ sariiy lost in sin because they have erred
through the violence OF honest human emo
/ uon, or by his suggestion that saints may
sometimes prove T. be hypocriJs. TIc mora tenor Of
his piece charity, aud except hat Re omits to make the
villain justify himself IN his thought, Tie alplca
| ton OF TINS charity has becn mvariable
Analysis OF the piece from its artistic s!le
/ VIII PROBABLY rest at last upon situation
as rs supcrative merit. The Ggst act d!scosos the
couutry parsol in his home, auI reveals his handsome
Dut somewhat caprciou, aud irrcsOIute daughter IN
young wonans common aemmt-th' necessity OF choice
between good fellow whom her hcar iustuctye.y trusts
but does love and bad fellow whom her heart loves
but lnstinctey doubts. The second act very sweety
/ EXHIBITS and strongly eDiorces the beauti-
! fu affection existing between the father and his
/ daughter; but when the second curtain falls
/ the gr has been ured away by her bctrayer. Then
comes situation OF great pathos-when the fond aud
gentle old Gle syman, waiting FOR his daughter IN their
home. evening waiting for heI accepted lover
apuriLed ot daughters flight with seiUccr anIis
compelled TO SKATER the Young lovers hope and lie
with the death blow Of this depOrdblc calamity The
presents the sinful girl and her paramOur. at
scotch inn. AMI II Is now that tie man who has
wrousel really loves her ana would 10 her rglt but
that he already has living wiie-a worse condition OF
circumstances which adds new elements o. torment a
climax Of almost trac misery. II i that the father
APP To claim his child and now that the lover whom
has wronged seeks her bctaycr ana IS
Jaicd by the cir Of harmng what lac loves Tlis >lus
lou likewise has been managed with excellent skill. The
]
effort keep daughters secret and to renste uer in
the home from which 7he He'd and IN the accustomed re-
utiOls and pursuits of her former domestic aud social
NE In thi, he is thwarted by OF the hypocTicai
saints deacon OF his church. who has II VAN eAdeIY-
/ cred 70 compel hin to be,ray financial trust. Ala
critical father is compelled TO ayOW the mis-
fortune and oncdness II his daughter anu together
they are driven from homo and friends. The close Is
the restitution OF the pastor to his church aud hotA ana
the OF the reprnant aud yncAed sIrI with her
honest and lover stroIg nc lental sltuaiou
toward the end presents the clergyman bereadlns MS
enemy. whose hypocrisy has been unmasked and WHO
/ flying for his life from an Infatuated mob.
Analysis OF this piece viii further pause urOn It's re-
marble variety of charactcr the deep and accurate
knowledge that displays OF the nature ana the work
/ uss Of human IassiOu. " \ yOung wOn!an's heart
/ cNcllims MaS,rWacr in The liunchOack. Is nota
stone to rarNc pu~y on. TO say What II Is no. now
cvcr Is easier tn4n 10 say what II L. IN this py
tue hcrune mas ucen drawn with singular fidelity 10 hts
Her innate dssrmcd bS lrresOu,Oh Eef u' lnc-
PERCEPTION of light % goodness, ana % sAc-y "eF
misrust OF brilliant eNl coul led VITA heg mcap1o 20
It's fascination her natural strong desire q. love
yet her lack ot tie courage OF love- her horror OF Ia
yet her propensity 10 ccilcttc W'th "lhseI' e' Vt
like caprlcuisness nov SaGcy ana volatile, 40" sehu@
cDnndug tender. her deep woman Ike strength
both ot principle ana 81 Alec'lo' @'e eNtcsseu WI
udrkble iu!nc,s and felicity The Oh cicgy man Is de-
pictod yrtu0uS aud sweet yet hc Is made piIuAnt
with human cldtactcllalicN HSA - are aLost s'Ccu
ricl,ies, and thus Is redeemed from ihSipHlty iAs
part Il acted by MI oIoddar; AMI t'e gracious ana
gentle figure presents Will always be cherished IA
the memory Of this dramatic period Toe cnararter OF
WHY, rrupnUus, Cra>I ing. Lnkit dLu NordIY man.
who nevertheless approves OF himself ana not
sciousy a scIuudre The picture OF what paSNy, Ia tue
mind 0t tae scIucer-the a~aheLhS OF his heart as
consequence Of accomplished passion been arawn
with subtle touch, AMI II Is ar ",Ore true 10 nature
than more conycnOnal aud usual method 81 deal
ug with this subject The litte deacon VINO Keeps mo
grocers shop aud constantly mvcighs against tEe CO.
operative ana tic dodderng old sot ODsqnosy
attendant the fIiuge at TINS pathetic story DdOous
over with gGrrlty and thlrSuUg Tor dram OF "loi.
dawn VITA delicate skill, ana are m5y 10 lo'ns
dramatic These parts were ninety pa" ca "
Mr. Elucson ana Mr. DIyldsv, a"d the latter III V"F'cu
lar lruic one OF tue conspicuous hit Ot the nlEhi
lust OF IrUpcrtOn i Visible IL the auluoI %
ustncnt Of the relations OF his minor y"tIao'e' 20
10 n osr OF more essential Importance ahd ne LIS
| c,ntrivrd that the current OF his dramatic story
shall flow thruu. diversified rUral AID home scehtI},
of A pictorial, Characteristic, ana almost luNatItJB
! L.. 1880 - ~ - LL