New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-05
THE DHA MA.
THE FIFTH A'ENUE THEATRE.

A dramatic work Of god purpose and import was
brought forward for re first time here. at the
Fifth Avenue Theatre, asst night. 1t is called In
Mzzoura" and is written by Augustus Thomas.
whose best claim to recognition hitherto has been
derived from "Alabam." AS the case with
the previous play "In 1izzoura is meritorous not
because Of originality its story or especial lnge-
nuity in the grouping IF incidents. but because of
the skill with which Cd stories are treated In the
retelng and the devOpment of character In the
pei sons involved. A god play must tell story.
but II need not be a lew story. Also 1t must tell
II by action, and the ction should seemingly arise
from and express BE character of the people
IN the story. The pesons on the stage last night
were not overwhelmed with the consciousness
Of their completed states of mind that they
had to spend the INST OF their time in anayzing
and in explaining o,ne another the intricate men
tai processes WHEREBY they were prevented from
doing ANYTHING Pigs dealing with persons of this
sort have been rathr common for the last few sea-
sons They are TO write. because 1t ~ neces-
sary only 10 divide ne expression of morbid mood
between two actor and then TO sum up The phil
osophy of life by The banging OF the door behind
the man. as the roman falls upon chair or the
floor in tears lBt audiences made up Of people
with hearts and empathes rather than pure clock
work mentality not care so much for ;he plays
as Mr. Thomas himself has learned by trying both
kinds.
Now. therefce. he wisely deals with human
beings who interest the spectator because he him
self has KNOW their prototypes The characters
feel In accordance with their natures. their feelings
prompt their actions the feelings OF the spectator
are correspodingly aroused appeal is made TO
the emotions and the end of the play is accom-
plished TIL story is perhaps not altogether prob
able and tie ending of It, If IL should really hap
pen might not be altogether happy. but ii looks
happy and is the kind of ending that the audience
wants Suh a woman as Kate Vernon would
scarcely md her indifference to a man like Jim
Radburn growing rapidly into love. even when
watered H the dew of gratitude, and love of such
momentay growth would possibly be fraL Yet The
dramatic unities. though their absolute authority
Is out If date will assert themselves sometimes,
the audtnce must be made 20 know that Nat Yer
non did learn 10 love Jim Radburn. so the only way
s 81 iSa IT, ''"'" VI -. .r' 49,.
centra figure of the play, wins sympathy by ms ms
Womsnlv sentieness interests through The simple
story OF his love and his sacrifice, and amuses by
the duties of his office he has shot many men but
neve- killed one. and he holds that shefl mas no
he craws two guns at once lie sacnnces, any
thing and everything for girl who nhh h,n ,d rs
her love in return. but not expecting 1t. and when
i to him az last he accepts as humbly rs as
deep feeling By Nat {. Goodwin. II is NOR seri-
ous pa-t than those In which he has been wont 10
present himself before this public. A good player
Of character comedy has ALMOST 9%ays 'h nro %s
that he has the qualifications for something better
and more lasting than anything tha- he has hither-
10 done Perhaps Jim Radburn Is only the begin
ming of IT, but even II he should go no further. his
present position is worth attaining
Miss Mabel Amber has always oeen pleasing
personality on The stage and she is so now. Her
part however is unfortunate. The weakest spot In
this play is It's heroine Her dominant quality Is
dislike OF her home surroundings acquired by go
ing away TO school. She loves a man whom every
body else instnctively hates for noagparent reason
except that he wears city clothes. The love OF "a
good man with real heart seems thrown away
upon her She may have fine womtnly traits mixed
up with the others but they are lot the ones that
are shown to the audience. The tharacter OF the
Old blacksmith, his wife his younger daughter ana
his apprentice are carefully and effectively drawn
with many delightful touches Of mmor. They are
excellently played by Burr Mclnosh, Mrs Jean
Clara Walters, Miss Minnie DWree and Louis
Payne.