The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-12

Alderman drama bearing the romantic title
Before Sunrise" was produced at tho Thala
Theatre last evening. It is from the pen Of
Gerhardt Hauptman. and has been for some
time one Of the reigning sensations Of the
Berlin theatre world. But It's title is extreme
~ misleading. for It belongs to the radical
"Tendenz" school. and appeals quite rs
strongly to the thinking public as did 1.-THE
Lost Paradise" which in some RESPECTS It re-
sembles
Krause Herr Riss) is a rich landholder..
whose love Of liquor has made him a slavering
drunkard. He. lis married to second wife
FRAU K6thschaferl who is also too fond OF tho
wine cup.
Hoffman. 3 civil engineer. the principal char
acter OF the play. is Krduse's son-in-law. but
his wife has persisted through inherent love OF
drink. Another daughter. Helen Frl. Bodo-
covcsl is Just home from school at
the opening Of the play. Hoffman, left
BY the besettinG sin OF his father-in.law
In full charge OF the estate. is living gay and
luxurious life when the drama begins. He
has defrauded the owners OF the land out Of
valuable mining interests. and sees the poor
peasantry OF the estate sink lower and lower
~ poverty and degradation while he runfYs
ms champagne and smokes his Havana
this point he Is visited by an old college
friend Alfred LON Herr Wenkhaual. n radical
o. The radicals. Alfred has been in America,
ho "es G Sa fna 81
norado. lie calls his friends attention to
s ns sGTriels position Of ths rrasnntry their
S iEoa and shelter. md warns him TINT an nwfu!
amy amy Oh reGk,GninG Is coming hotman laughs at
tnT from the bottom
the work ingmun. but insists that reform must
Proceed e 4 . from ne top toward the bottom"
over to selfish amusements. and Iaughs
:, ssbe scErn the SOLEMN words q his old
s srmoG iodte bnt Hr'rn listens with wonder
shea she aTakens TO tho terrible reality around
t goes s' out @Ha to fr Gs Sympathy and later her
Pay its tile be s su sHfse $ %sd
iSs H, d1 ia,,her; erazed With artak;
H. WITH ths TO ali te .; door, "a and the wrstehsa
m INTO Tho house 81 al I ,a Tshhfn inc t day
tSsa MsIt Inc n, nghtnsaes begin to sps and
,. cut o, their, wrctched hovsls and mako ready
To- Tor ne days laHor-the women going
7 &he W shs their ias tS9's p a"a
i Esq., TT,s az, TSmrsss himself 81 SHOOTING
me %ce aas1 Hes nPSa r
tks thI, snunetlng Of the men In the mines. In
~ suilIu act there IL half q quarrel between
miCgntan and 10th. and the latter ia
sSm NSsiht 70 understand that. his absence
nohdiu be preferable to his company
ca, ne Is abont to leave the house Helen inter
ofr .s mn and ayows her interest In his dream
Sscia'uuIm. entreats him to stay. and ends by
Msat,ahs her love for him. In the fourth act
tnMypma" frightened by his hasty action. re-.
and hs tho prevent Ahrfs departure.
in gh; seems between Helen and Alfred.
ma mTien ne audience Is treated to genuine
fI RoSuan,ion oiG!rllsh innocence md naivett.
uran.suSc oyifs played the ingenue with a nat
house, Wt ana sweetness that fairly carried ts
e snps b sea sct oB Sa sss
is strong play to- sombre ending Ion,
aedndflhtnG that Helen is the offspring OF parents
strhn Dueiu 70 dipsomania, nbandons her. and she
isbahdgles herself. and Hoffman is left unpun-
ALL and al the reforms preached about by
Ina e at same TO naught. Such IL a crude out
end VI ms drama. which from beginning to
dce, rs rs iull Of terrible earnestness and
SIRsr human interest. 1t Is question whether
sdantngs sunrise can DO so successfully
.TTShpse npto American tastes and prejudices as
ia thhe pst PARADISE" has been, hut certain IL
IyWa',nls Sncia istic DRAMA" as il is called
munb author; teaches many wholesome and
ed as,h Needed lessons. II was admirably act
bslda y evening by the Thalia company and
var, w me me end Herr Worth's Holman gave a
setsr saoag Presentation Of repellant char
hypoc ssd ELECTED much applause The
u introdHni the age was dashed By
"aoouctaon OF .. canting and