New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

PRESIDENT CROMWELL. A Drama. BY p. GEORGE 6aeII
ALFRED TOWNSEND q Gath") syo, PnVaeey
Printed,.
Mr.. Townsend pleads, in his brief preface the
privilege of poetry, to pass beyond the lhes "a
strict historical truth in an historical play and 10
make use of purelv fictitious situations and coin
cidences for the purpose of emphasizing the char-
acters with which tho dramatist deals, ana Illus
trating the spirit of the time and society IN whoh
they act The plea is sound and 1T cannon la'liy
be said that he has here abused his privilege Even
those who fail to recognize Iii Cromwell tho nisU
rough casted Auglo-SaXOn President, ana WIN Ian
considerably short of Mr. Townsends lerNol III
their estimate of the Protector, may cohii'cnu i''
choice of literary material The drama may Dc
REGARDED as an Offset to Mr.. Wlllss Charles L.
made familiar here by the genius OF Henry lrNlhs
In both PLAYS the Protector and the hlhs uio
brought into close personal relations; only IN INC
work of Mr. Wills the representative OF royal'y 10
the less unworthy, and the more uhlor'"u"'o VI
the Charleses and the sympathy OF inc Spoov
ia invited for him alone, While Mr. Townsend ex-
hibits the meanest qualities of the second Chaiio'
and sets them in effective contrast against rugseu
sincerity natriotism and magnanimity IN MS great
rival Tho later play aceords better WIN tle
nonular conception of Justice than the other Inc
exed and hunted Charles is introduced IN disguise
into Whitehall itself, where he Is concerheu Ill an
intrigue in Cromwelrs very famlly-a complicated
donble plot. aiming at his marriage with the RIO
tector's daughter Frances Ia scheme tor when
there is substantial authority and also at from
wells assassination. He appears as Trivial u's
solute base and repulsve adventurer, who owes MS
head nj last TO the observation-disclosures of Oliver By
placing these two thoroughly antipathetc eharac-
tiers in situations where their natures act ana react
upon each other and throw light upon each others
strength and weakness, the author obtains oppor
tunity for striking dramatic effects While the de
yeopment of the cOuspracics woven into the plot
ana the discontinue OF the criminals, involve sew
era exciting scenes capable in rformance OF brill
liant spectacular arrangen ents. so far as Clom-
well Is concerned the chief interest of tho drama
lies in the exhibition f til powerful influences
driving him toward the assumpti n of the royal
title. and his triumph over all TIL SO temptations
when in Westminster Hall he finally refused the
crown, offered him by Par lament With this IN
cident the play c oses The sketch of the Protec-
tors elder daughter Bird -et Teton, is strongly con
ceiyed. and the weakness aud csc ta worthless
ness of Fleetwood whom she mar les for her second
husband is well indicated. John Milton is repre-
sented in picturesque but not pleasant light; and
although the device of making him, in his blind
ness. fall in luve with "a voice-and marry it's
pursued with ingenuity, we should like the play
better if this ep sode omitted In action how
ever no doubt the need Of variety would justify
scenes which in reading might seem unnecessary