The morning call., 1894-03-06
PRINCE OF ULSTER
The Presentation of "The
O'NeilI."
HARRISON'S NEW DRAMA.
1t Is a Good but 1t Is Not a
Great Play.
O'NEILL IN THE TITLE ROLE
Did Justice to the Author and to
What is Going On
at Other Houses.
o'NEILL IN THE TITLE ROLE


well last evening, was the leading feature
in the present theatrical week. The work
is an ambitious one and the author has
brought to it historic research. a poetic
temperament, as wei! as a dramatic in
stnct, tempered and formed by the facul-
ties of industry and perseverance, which.
DO insure material success, must always be
the landmarks of genius. He has given MS
good but not a great play; one that.
like all works of similar pretenson for the
stage. will stand pruning. revision. and in
some measure, reconstruction. 1t was
received by a fashionable audience. In
fact the auditorium held what might be
called q clubhouse" The Bohemian,
Chit Chat and Cosmos were empty, and all
the members were there in full evening
costume. Mr.. Harrison occupied a seat
behind the recall entrance, on the o. p.
side Of the stage, from which he was fire.
quently brought OUT by the plaudts of the
audience. and once after The bridge scene
to make a speech, which he did in terse
and appropriate language. thanking those
who called him as IAN IrShDan from an
Irish heart" His little speak was not
loug, about two or three lines. like one OF
Napoleon's letters, but it was effective
and told
The central figure in the drama was, of
course. Mr.. James O'NeIl, as the Prince
of Ulster. The play was written for him.
Mr.. Harrison bad him on his mind and on
his pen all through the various scenes. We
must say he justified his attention to the
uttermost. O'Neill carried himself like an
Irish Prince of the time when Ireland
could boast of such men in her history
the times of which Thomas Davis wrote :
o, for the swords OF other days,
%. for the men who bore them.
ha uirb ss,oo
cadence that kept the audience silent in
an apprecatiye listening. The text is well
written, involved somewhat in its con-
sruction, after the manner of Sheridan
Knowles IN his "Viginius' and 1.-The
Hunchbach." but il was at the same time
rhythmieal and full of expression.
A few selections may be made by way
of illustration. Thus, when the O'NeiIl is
first inspired BY love for Lady Geraldine
Butler. the ward of Sussex, he expresses
his feelings in The following lines:
There is fragrance in this softened air.
a most sweet perfume in the atmosphere
Melodious winds through whispering leaves in
tone.
And unsteady breathe their evening song
There's magic here Some Subtle, secret force
Dom hoid my wanderng sense IN strange control
Within the hour myself hath ceased TO be-
I'm newly born into glad new world.
New dreams, new hopes. new thoughtsi What
means this change?
Way, I'll not fright this new found happiness
BY idle inquisition.
IFindlng glove dropped by Geraluinel
Here's the secret. The great alchemlSt Love
HATH beaten down my guards and stormed my
Within this shield she hid her lily hand;
Henceforth III wear IL as talisman.
Again. when the body of his moth er,
slaughtered by the English sOdieTy, is
borne into his presence. he makes this
apoStrOphe:
Thou pregnant hell. unrreight thy Iegionry.
Thou mother earth, release Thy lnpious crew.
Thou heavy air eject puiSsant haIet
Thou cruel sea, O'ertop thy guardian rocks
Aud overthrow this ruthless Sassenach
The oath he imposes on his henchme 10
avenge the death Is in equally powerful
language.
Lord OF free hearts inSpirer OF free thoughts
TO thee and in thy name this oath we take.
nor love nor life, nor peace shall stay our hands,
Until this isle is free OF English foes.
II by one word or thought we rail herein.
Then may our souls in life he dead or dwell
Forever I'm the depths or neither hell:
May our sons and daughters be aecursed
And our proud names go down 10 infamy
IA things all too vile to be remembered.
In Holy Mary's name bid you swear.
And so on all through. The text being
suited TO the situation. the actor gave
uiterance TO il in the most impressive
manner. He is especially impressive in
his interview with Elizabeth of England in
the last act, and the great speech of the
interview beginning:
The ills which make he sum of all our pain
Are varied as the changing hues OF day
Was splendidly delivered. Whatever may
be thought of the general features of Mr.
Harris0n's play, it must be conceded that
Mr.. O'Neill IN his treatment of the lead
ing character did justice to the author and
himself.
The most important act in the piece is
the hrst, both on account of the exciting
business crowded into IL. and the charm
ing scenic picture in which it is set In
1act. IL is EMBARRASSED with richness. is
he u Neill finds the jog OF his life in Lady
Geraldine. and just while this sweet con-
seriousness is dawning upon him he hears
the news of his mothers death by the
hands OF those who are the com patriots of
his new-found love. The situation is a
difficult one to handle, but the author has
managed 1t with considerable skill. Love
ana death follow each other like the
shadow follows the substance. but love
1nds It's way out of the darkness The
night and escape over the bridge
is another exciting episode, ana the scene
at the court of Elizabeth. where the O'Neiil
end the Queen are brought face 10 face is
strong as well as full of significance 10 the
futdre political fortunes of distracted Ire
lano. Inc other scenes are minor in their
character and ssOme what slender. Thew
need revision and two of them NAV with
advantage be compacted into one The
settings were meager, also, and as in
terlors, inconsistent. 1t looked as if the
strength OF the scenic artist and the stage
manager had exhausted itself in the first
ac:, and with the exception of the three
prominent features mentioned, these i'm
portant gentlemen had paused to breathe.
ID. j. Stewart has done we'll with the
music, especially with the Introductory
march, which is original in its composition
ana has Characteristic freedom in its
now. Mr. Mills. as an old harper, sings
at the portal of the O'Neiil castle neat
little song called "The Shamrock" the
Iioretto Of which was written by Mr.. Har-
1Ison and the music by George Hall, the
turkish Consul in this city Then there
IS qnartet-Messrs. Fortescne, Mills.
Jones and Van Orten-who sing a nice
smooth easy number that would fl a mod
ern drawlng-room rather than camp OF
wild Irish soldiers during the time of the
" Nelll; but 1t is pleasant 10 the ear and
can De pardoned On that account.
Inc costumes approach as near bistori-
cal accuracy as possible in color and de.
sign, considering the requirements of the
modern stage. aud were worn with n GER
tain degree of grace. O'Nein looked
every inch an Irish Prince in his romantic
attire; but why did Mr.. Morgan. even
though one Of the followers ~ SnSsa1