New-York tribune., 1891-05-14
THE DRAMA.
THE LIGHT THAT FAILED.

Tn Dalys Theatre last night one-act piece, ma0e
upon the basis and bearing the title Of Mr. Rudyard
Kipling's story called The Light That Faied hah us
arst representation and ii gained an auspcous well
come IL Is not strong In the dramatic element ous
n wins sympathy as the pictorial exposition OF
touching little episode in possible human experience
II consist partly Of monoogue and partly OF coloduy
and e shows character, not by means OF action bus
by means OF dialogue. Its incidents arc 'e" an~
simple and It's total result Is sentimental sl1aauon
The dramatist is sir. Courtney Thorpe-wno wooio
considerably improve his work II he would cut ou'
Tho word "damn, wherever 1t occurs That woru 10
neither pungent nor humorous and,-except In marine
,sage and for the general purpose OF navigatoh'-b
~ not invest with tho element OF strength.
The eliminating situation Of "The Light Ihat raiiu
has been exhibited with deeper sincerity more hucu,
10 nature and tenfold more power than are apparnS
In any work by Mr.. Klplng, in the mover VI '"o
Dead secretn by Wilkie Collins That Climax -
on,ar,e deviation IN a lover who has become blind
In this niece Dick who loves Masie, has been ap-
,r,sad that he Is liable to lose his sight lie asn'
Msisie 10 be his wife and his request Is reiuse"o
lady taking leave of him, to depart ior ra1i' oe
mrsue her studies artist The agitation 'a' No
suffers is fatal to his vision Marie Is appii. - H.
calamity and she comes back TO MIN anu a'o"s '
,,o He has been painting picture-an IDEAL hesu
h, hs model n bad tempered vagrant, despois .' III
q AZ m motveless wrath, and TINS crcumsVaioe 49,
occasion for white lie at the close Iha' is 'io
Tba dIalogue between Dick and Masie-aii ~ -
one side and nearly all vanity on inc oo'
sprightly and pretty, and an oppor'an' "a
yded for the actor to indicate consternauo'i on.
go. cal terror commingled with manly nrmheSs' ~
a. roment NJ his going blind. The Two "ohon IA
the niece are not cOnformaDe 10 ha'uo' "" -
fore are unsatisfactory. woman capao - 20 ~
an angel of love 10 man In ms mlSer' -
incapable of such gross and VAN seinenns s.o,o,s
MIN IN his day of health. human oeihs oe''Uns' %
ao,ad GIRL is a. distortion. She would not' III ino'
, barmed the picture, although she mlgn' hA'e
blackened the eyes Of her imagined rNai' fns,,.
~ something between this girl, Bessie anu -
friend Torpenlow is given at the sVar', ouo -
onmes Of it. and both Torpenlow and bessle arc
gaaa IN ooze ont of the piece in silent lnspi"v.
Mics Eleanor Lane who enacted Bessie oeio'o..
,,oou,ar mower q breadth OF style ana senoo "
nharacter thai could not fail TO impress anu " WIZ
respect. u -+,. 4.
MIR. Thorpe's embodiment OF the sras.
rr,arrable for ease and fuency. He diversaheo one
sSIoa ritb n fine fexibility Of demeanor, Win
freouent denotements Of playful humor, anu WIN
snbtIe indications of a considerable hnowedee VI VII"
trials of human experience ana tne lhha'o P"as
human life He was loud rather than intense uiousn,
I'm the scene of the binding stroke ana m inc
- the prs confession Of her love for MIN MS
-. orito snoiled the effect The serious bemisn In
,bts centleman,s acting is tone OF sacchailne
oteminacv. The feminine quality in mans haeuro
he sweet gentle patient Htnys' aSS eddUTes and
q.ac,sl il often its crOwnng excellence but ~ -
one thing to be feminine In spirit ana qule mUeb Charm
~ ~ NJ Tbnrnes acting-such intellect and such vsres
that the observer cannot but strongly Mlsn VINO euad
,be variabe Masie, while not seemingly touchea w
the emotion Of the experiences gave @ reDreen
live of the friendly Torpenlow and all the tour pa
were recalled with kindly applause alter tne ' se
tain This little piece will probably MAINTAIN lose %
liz literary merit is considerable and s tone u oas
of gentle feeling and refinement MISS hosna Mn,nss
had again an enthusiastic recepOion Ill NY
Bill and My Lord in Livery