New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-10
psIMER.s NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FLEMING.

, PAINER'S TUFATRE-MAR3AREI FLEMING.
II would be n privilege 70 refrain from comment
on this production but unhappily in these cases the
choice of silence Is not permitted. Margaret Flem-
ng- IL not play. and therefore the tonsiuershoh
Of II as n play is impossible Preparations for
play are. indeed. shown In IL. The first cohoquy IN
dicates that there is an opportunity for something
to happen and subsequent cOilOquy, near the middle
o. fie piece when the husband meets the vile
at the home Of his dead paramount. again inspires
mOmentary expectation; but nothing occurs EXCEPT
tableau. The work Is long c0nveIlatloh' III
rrupted from time to time by the falling of curtain
This conversation dscloses a certain posture oil or
eumstances and thereupon 1t announces moral ne
posture OF circumstances is one that has been useu II
fiction ever since fiction existed. The moral is pau
tude. husband has committed adultery hls vic
discovers that fact The disruption OF their ~eooeu e
ensues and misery falls I'm different ways, upon Dot
chaotic picture suggestive OF this misery Is furnsheu
the body Of pIayand at the last II Is seated li'
sinfdelity 10 husband is bad as II Is III WIFE,
and the sooner this is universally understood ue
btier n will be for the whole human race" Portions
he human race care not at all ab0ut this subject ana
would hear unmoved that IL had been agtaied' Dus
h Boston this sentiment was received with approval
AMI the piece which inculcates so much novel Uuoh
rssd sch favor that il had to be Immediately taken
vt Of town Hence its arrival yesterday afternoon az
hlncr's Tneatre-where II seen with good+natured
rsenee aid occasional applause by considerable
ssmblage, mostly female.
Dramatic authors who have illustrated the SuoJect
adultery have usually endeavored to display O'
neans OF the expedients Of action. They nave sur
raaded Il with romance, and they have aIspis3ea us
onsequences In situations Of active power IL Is not
snder any circumstances a welcome subject for pay
st eommngled strangers to contemplate but no"
md than il has been made tOleable upon the stage ny
expert treatment Mr.. James HerDe the au-
e% Of Margaret Fleming is not IN TINS
Instance, a dramatic author. but a preacher and Mr.
hernes method OF illustrating his subject Is parity
photographic and partly exhortatory HIS espehen'
picture and his work teens with the commonplace
objects and incidents Of domestic life severaf
babies introduced, and at one time the stage IS
repce with bath-tub and sponges, baby pins ana
diapers. scented soap and powder pun, towels ana
eafminative and this parapheFnala OF the nursery -
exploited with abundance Of that soft nonsense VI
sfate which always sounds well beside the cradle anu
Always makes people SICK IN puph' ~.
Indicates Mr. Herne's drift. lie mas
been reading the tedious compositions OF
Mr. Ibsen and he thinks that Mr.. 1bsen is worthy "
imitation. Every man to his taste. But somethihg
much more striking and Interesting than tbls ue VI
margaret Fleming" will have 10 be MANUFACTURER w
se an audience possessing any taste 1or uie ai"in
~n he converted 70 acceptance Of this fashoh I'D 'e
naHag Of plays
THIS piece is not without CLEANS OF suggesuoh
bat Il Is immeas ureaby urolix tedious and trivial and
Mefefore II Is nnocuOus. The obnoxious uhhe Is u'e
eoc'rhe that uDderIes 1t. If that should ever DC
sheiy accepted all art and all poetry would necessary
t&isn from the stage Such indeed, is the ofiit VI
.snsu. In every of its forms. Shakespeare n'ae
nA US that II is the end and sm of the drama 10
LOG the mirror up to nature he did not mean 'a' ''
aror Is TO be held up TO an ash-barre or 10 paid
.M o. fnlls. Nature includes remapce Na'ufe
.aeuoss the Imagination and the ideal The moment
oeeomes the business OF the stage TO copy the com
snpAees Of everyday life. that mSment the Stage
sones shperhuous-for those commonplaces I'LL every
~ and every street. The moment IL Is generaIy
- Eactcally arranged that actors are to behave upon
ns8e literally a. men and women behave Ia