New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-23
THE HEART OF MARYLAND"

The Herald Square Theatre was full 70 the edges
last evening when David Belasco's new play, The
Heart Of Maryland" seen for the first time
in this city and the audience contained hundreds
OF Mr.. Belasco's impassioned friends. who made
great oeal IF noise There were strong situations
IN the piece for which applause was easily excited
and the tumult Of praise from the house was Kept
w foi long time with a mighty volume or SOUND.
Recalls there in plenty. and the author was
urged so heartily say something that he uttered
few modest words He seemed TO feel an en-
barrass.ng sentiment Of gratitude 70 those VINO
brought their hands together so many times and 50
vigorously
The play is fairly entitled to few good words
for ingenuity for stirring meiodramatic strokes and
scenes and for striking climaxes. But 1t lacks
depth. sincerity and conviction. The author does
not give the impression that he is truly in earnest
From beginning 10 end ne falls TO hide himself In
his theme The listener finds 1t hard TO avoid the
idea that the writer is peering through almost every
passage to not what power 1t may have upon the
audience Mr.. Belasco is always the deviser. he
contriyer the constructor OF Illusions and stage
tricks His characters not c.ose to nature. and
he does get near TO actual ne
His villain is too grotesquely diabo.ical SO
hdeous fend could never have been In fact
colonel commanding a regiment in the
regular forces of the Southern Confederacy
Mr. Belasco has not studied the annals of our
Civil War with dfligent care. The enormties which
ne puts the stage as perpetrated Dy hiiItarE
men Of high rank never committed by officers
who wore the recognized uniform Of the Confederate
Army QuantrelTs guerllas and the bushwhackers
and f-eebooters and assassins who used the opp0r-
tlni,cs afforded by the war 10 Indulge the most
:rgntful passions human beings are capable OF
may have been guilty OF such villanies az MI
Belasco attributes to his Colonel Fulton Thorpe.
But nothing OF the sort ever possible IN mary
land when the Confederate soldiers under th'il
most famous generals met the Federal troops; T.,
Mr. BelascO cannot restrain himself ne mus II
frf~~D will
There is altogether too much OF the WIG ana snI,n
ing melodrama Of the extreme type IN ms hea,i oi
Maryland" There is also far TOO Inuch OF MT
Leslie Carter who has dyed her abundant tresses W
a hue OF so violent red to suggest the cdInas.
OF Magenta and Soferlno. II the inanaSehsii9 o.
the Herald Square Theatre could De persuaGeS 10
clap an extinguisher upon the CORY locks OF MiS'
Leslie Carter, the Heart OF Maryland HishI c 0
rnue 70 beat for some time IN THIS CAPITA. pu.
such head hair that would stop almost any
timepece ever put together, and ii bodies serious
Danger to this pay. ..,. ,o
NJ. Belasco ought TO go TO work Instantly upon
his drama with an adze and tomanawk. VIVA
unnagging industry and effort in cleaViis ahd CUT
ting he may be able in time 10 make clear; are.
and somewhat Impressive affair OF II. But az
present IL IL involved, tangled ana cohiuseL "a.
cast contains a number Of wen-known names ous
no especially effective acting was cone o! any u
the actors or actresses las night