New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-18
THE STEPPING STONE' AT THE STANDARD.

1.-THE STEPPING STONE AT THE STANDARD
1t is hard for the public to take Sydney Rosenteld
seriously, and he has not made the task easier BY
his play called The Stepping Stone" which was first
seen at the STANDARD Theatre last evening. Mr..
Rosenfelds name has been much associated with
the Jingle Of topical songs and the puns Of comcopers
books that playgoers naturally hesitate to accept
moro ambitious labors on his part in tho
spirit In which he offers them for verdict.
His conspicuous falling is that he cannot rid himself
Of the inconse1uence the uncertainty, the vagaries
Of the HOpperian and the Wisonian pieces which he
has prepared for the singing comedians. This de-
feet obvious in "A Possible Case" and was
serious obstruction TO o metropolitan success for that
play. II pervades The Stepping Stonc' also. Mr.
Rosenfeld to lie unable to make the stories OF
his pieces clear and consistent. lie is constantly
losing sight of the end (which he started out to reach
His methods fuzzy or wOolly. lie
has not studied life with penetration,
and he fails lamcntably in Characterization. The
people in 1.-THE stepping stone' are anything but
comedy types. In fact, they are impossible shadows
The chief part upon which the whole intrigue hangs
l. that of Thurman NOyeS, a masculine combination
NJ the supposed traits of Bavasky and Diss Debar
Like both these notorious deluders OF shallow dupes
Moves is corpulent in body and scant IN SOUL lie Is
gross greedy sensual betrayer OF women, leech OK
rich widows parasite and mpostor OF the vilest SORT
Around this wretched creature cluster mob OF
magnetic power.o But Mr. Resented has been
wholly unsuccessful i'm making OF Noycs the sOrt
OF man who could enchain amy cohSiueidoie n""ioer
of victims by hypnotlsm, or by any subtle nnucice'
This false prophet displays exceptional intensity,
gives no impression of reserved lorce' He IL
oleaginous and odous-hat is all After career
OF varied rascality and deception Mr. Rosemem
redeems the fellow in a supcriuous last act full o.
false sentiment and bathos, through an awakening
in his coarse and brutal soul Of affection LOT
neglected child. The scene is Incredible ana INC
act is impossible.
The cast contains less than fifteen speaking
parts most of them insu1erably tedious Ihese
people stray in and out of the rooms IN manner as
amless and mysterious they were all the astral
bodies about which NOyess disciples gable huently.
such action as creeps slowly onward in peFturoed
and devious fashion ranges from Finn
ave- In New-IOri to glen IN the
Black Forest but the journey is merely
70 give the scene painter chance (Which that person
IMPROVES but stability for there Is 10 sufficient excuse
for taking the players across the Atlantic adequate
motives tor action or Tor much OF the co|eISdIoh 'd'
roes on are difficult To- discover.
Mr. ROsenfeld's purpose having been, no doubt, to
writ. an effective satire on thcOsophy, clalfyoy.
ance7 and kindred representations, he tell into the f3al
wandering in clOudand during four acts instead
of condcnsng his incidents and shortening ms
dialogue into three. But he has not the qualhcauOn
writing truly effective SATIRE on any peiuslDn OF
Ills arrow-hght is far to feeble for genuine SATIRE.
The company contains some well known names Gu,
none of the acting good enough 70 merit espccal
mention. 4 large house applauded al Spacious inter-
vols and with gentle pity called oft the author after
the second act. No remarks were made. There
was no need Of them.