The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-16
OF the Latest in Drama
GOoDWINE NEW PLAY.

| 20 nave convinced all MS western c11llCs
| Of his right to be seriously considered in
a serious role. They also continent
Clyde Fitch most emphatically upon his
four act play, with it's curious blen OF
has invented pastoral love story for
| his historical hero, and thus provided
| Mr.. Goodwin with an opportunity to in
| troduce himself in comedy first before
| rising to the tragic heights that conclude
with patriotic martyrdom. Hale is pre-
| scented, according to the Chicago Chron-
| icle, in four aspects: First, as the kindly
schoolmaster of New London, next as
the dignified and heroic officer of the
revolutionary forces, last as the patriot
in whose eyes no sacrifice is too great
| and who knows his shameful death will
be sanctified by the cause for which he
| dies. The fourth aspect of Hale is that
of the impetuous young lover. The crucial
test of Mr.. Goodwin's fitness for this
role lay, Of course in his treatment of
Hale as the lover and as the martyr.
In the pening act Nathan Hale is
teaching school in New London, Conn.
He is in love with the prettiest lass in
the school, Alice Adams maxine Elliott)
He is given to keeping her in nominally
to punish her. She returns his love, and
the act closes with the plighting OF their
troth. There is d good deal of innocent,
joyous comedy in this schoolhouse scene.
The scholars are ardent young patriots,
and Alice Adams herself leads the way
by drawing a picture on the blackboard
Of the British redcoats running away
from the Americans-which furnishes
Hale with mother excuse for keeping her
in. Hale's explanation of his apparent
persecution of Alice is cunningly humor-
Gus. Il WISH he says. that life were
one long recess and that could keep you
in forever" And again he says: My
love for you has all the kisses the stars
have given the sky since the night was
made"
Act two introduces US to the home of
Alice's uncle, an American officer Col
onel knowlton, on Harlem Heights. Alice
Adams is waiting anxiously for news of
Nathan Hale, who is now a captain in
KnowltOn is a fine character, more truly
breathing the spirit of 1776 than anyone
in the play. Hale arrives and there is
a charming love scene between Alice and
him. Her cOquetry and his jealousy are
very humOrously set one against the
other. There is a council of war to con-
slider Genera Washington'ls request for a
volunteer to go into the British lines and
spy out their plans of attack One by
one the officers explain that the name of
spy carries with him too much obloquy
for them. Still Colonel Knowlton with
deep emotion, pleads for a volunteer.
Nathan Hale, who has been sitting in sill
ence in the rear walks forward and SAYS:
III be the volunteer. His sweetheart
Alice makes a passionate appeal to him to
relent. She even threatens that ali love
is over between them if he takes his life
in his hands as spy. But Hale stands
like rock-a splendid picture of deter
mination and patriotic devotion. Alice
falls to the ground fainting, the officers
salute Hale with profound reverence and
as he goeI out the curtain falls.
In act three Nathan Hale is at work
as a spy. At an inn he is recognized by
a renegade American serving King
George, and denounced, but manages
to throw off the charge. Fitzroy, who
Adams. and to feed his passions for re-
venge he conceives the idea of sending
for the girl to come over to see Nathan
Hale, whom he reports wounded. The
plot works. She comes, but has been
warned of Hale's danger There is a
fine situation when Hale and his be-
loved Alice are confronted with each
other, yet she pretends not to know
him. But FitZroy secretes himself where
he can see them, and Hale's impatience
to hear if she still loves him reveals
the truth. Hale is arrested. Fitzroy
tries to embrace Alice. Hale dashes at
him, and in the wild struggle not only
floors him, but a sentinel besides Alice
and Hale escapes on the latter's horse
and the act ends. Grim history steps
in, however, with the last act Hale
has been captured and it is his last night
on earth. There is the terrible painful
parting of Alice and Nathan. and then
the audience is transported to the
orchard, where the hangsman awaits the
hero. The dawn creeps through the
apple laden boughs. the drums roll. the
redcoats appear, and Hale. standing be-
meath the moose, makes his last speech,
the historic one so pregnant with sublime
patriotism: Il only regret that I have
but one life to lose for my country"
The scene of parting between Hale and
Alice Adams was carried with extraordi-
nary effect by Mr.. Goodwin and Miss Ell
lott. The last scene is said to be a beau
tiful veiw of the old Rutger orchard
where Hale was executed. 1t is a master
piece of scene painting by Mr.. Ernest Al
bert. Maxine Elliott's sister. Gertrude.
is reported to have made a hit as a sort of
doll baby school girl.