The times., 1899-12-26

rue, and yet, when one dsIves deeper. il is
hot. The thread of the story has not been
itfrled straight from logical beginning 10
inVeterate end, but has been DETECTED some
distance to this side, perhaps for scenic e.
iect or 10 that, probably with the idea OF
giving Sir Henry greater o3porturity
nevertheless, this seif-same thread is both
.ong and elastic. II may be stretched. bat
II remains unbroken. The pictures com
posing the presentation are hume Gus AMI
various, but their subject is Identical and
being drawn. CineOmatograph- like. rapil!y
before the vision, they resolve themselves
into life and motion-of a single set of
characters in a single setting. TIE stTuc-
Jure builded for the OfIering is uniied
and seqUential one, composed OF strong
dramatic incidents. each OF which kears
C.. that directly before it and all OF which
( approach q culmiRative climax higher and
mere imposing than any thai have pre-
ceded it.
YietoTien Sardou has used no scaRt
amount Of matter that was not altogether
Indispensable; he has used none that is
without its influence on his work Thus,
! the observer may comment that the en-
| tire second act might be omitted and the
! piece remain expIicabie-may even term
| that portion of the tragedy simply sump-
/ tuOus and brilliant padding. He grows to
realize, however that without the first
view of the two included, the spectator
could claim failure to be impressed with
| the horrors among which the authors ere
atious move and which have not been
equaled since the days of Nero or of
! Tamorlane; grows TO realize that, without
/ the second the auditor hardly could get
/ full IDEA of the glowing aTdor' and cool
! ferocty' with which this Frenchman like
! Coleridge, endows Robespierre. The same
! understanding will come with contempla-
1 on oF IN, tod
! ''Robespierre" is a legitimate succession Of
| powerfully pregnant spectacles; an atmos-
| pheric product in which as in '.Cyrano de
| Bergerac," the force of suggestion is para
| mount; a hstrionic vehicle that, though
/ not to be favorably compared with
! Thomas a Beckett or several like efforts
is quite worthy TO stand alone. It is a
| triumph OF word painter, not Of scene
painter.
The tale opens by the way. in the Forest
Of Ntontmorency where Clarisse de Malu-
/ con- with her niece and her SON. has taken
| refuge from the manifold terrors of Paris.
! The boy, Olivier. Is learning trade ana
| the three live happily together Benjamin
/ Vaughan, of the English House Of Com
! mons sent from his party with mission
TO Robespierre. strolls into the wood. and
! while waiting to keep his appointment, sees
| Clarisse, whom he knows we'll. There is
q
! Vaughan discloses that in looking over
certain records. he has discovered Olivier
! to have been borne out of wedlock. ClaTisse
! eoufesseS that the records spoke truth and
! the coming OF Robespierre prompting her.
! adds that the would-be dictator is his
! rather. Robespierre had been secretary at
/ her house. they had loved, her shame had
/ followed, and. despite his willingness to
marry her, the pIebeian had been driven
I
! She had written, but Robespierre was am
bilious even then, and had not answered.
/ FL SC things told, Clarisse returns to her
I cottage and there enters the man OF whom
/ ali France is in dread. The political con-
/ ference comes to naught Vaughan walks
/ away RObespierre remains to meet pic
/ mic party, the promises Of which have led
/ him to name Montmorency as a rendez-
! yous. Meanwhile secret agents inform him
/ of the acquaintance between the English
| man and the women Fearful that either
may have learned OF Vaughan's errand. he
! orders their capture, While the tyrant and
! his guests are preparing their lunch under
! the trees the pleasurc-seekers hear the
/ screams of CIarisse and of her ward who
/ have been seized by the myrmidons What
/ IS that? asks girl stopping in the act
! Of garlanding her host NO consequence. -
| replies RobesDierre IaughingIy pfnehing
! her chin. couple OF Royalists have been
! arrested.
After an intermission, one sees Clarisse
| and Marie Therese her niece, in the
| prison Port Libre Olivier. searches for and
/ finds them there. He is witness to count
/ less elties-watches the female tenants
mounting an imprOvised scaffold that they
/ may acquire ease for reaching the real:
/ hears read list of the condemned. and
notes the unspeakable horrors following
| 4 wife, having her husband torn from her
makes avoWal Of loyalty to the King thai
! she may die with him; a soldier who
! thinks himself called is confronted By an
/ other man, who has stepped forward. and
/ takes the place Of his naTnesake mother
| IS separated from her infant child Olivier
maddened goes forth 10 the square de la
! Revolution Robespierre is the centre OF
/ Il spectacle not unlike that historic affair
( of January s, 1894. at which the wOuld-be
dictator burned James Dayid's pasteboard
statues Of Atheism and Ambition to dis
close Wisdom. The former advocate is
surrounded by a cheering throng Olivier
( denounces him and is carried OF
BY these stages the auditor is brought
TO the most marvellous portion of the play
"a portion in which Sir Henry lrving's
genius flares triumphant, and blinds the
eyes TO the magnitude OF all other things
! RobesDierre has the prisoner brought be-
fore him. 4 search disciOsss letters and
from these, the captor learns that the cap
tive IS his son. The by-standers are sent
from the room. RCbespierre has known
that anxiety for his mother was the cause
CT OliYters boldness; now he knows that
the woman he has loved is In terrible dan
ger. He endeavors to find out the place
of her confinement. Olivier dreading that
the tyrant viii use his information in
quest Of vengeance, refuses to speak /
Robespierre pleads, insists, begs. threat [
ems, implores The lad Is Cbdurate Fin /
ally an accident gives the agonized man
that for which he is seeking. Olivier |
! heartbroken, faints. Tenderly the father (
bathes his temples, and then, realizing
that sudden pardon only would bring sus-
picion, reCCvers his wonted harshness as /
the soldiery enter TO take the boy away /
The episode is Wonderful--it is wonder |
fully acted.
Apprised of their whereabouts. Robes |
pierre rescues Clarisse and Marie Therese |
from Port Libre and assigns them quar- /
ters in the Rue du Martrois, where the |
following scene occurs. He sends an en- |
misary 10 Contrive the escape of Olivier /
The messenger returns without fulfilling /
his errand. And as the tumbrils pass
down the street on their way to the gull /
lOtine, MaXmilien Robespierre and Clar- |
isse du Malucon. reunited in their terror !
look through the blinds in d happily vain
effort to recognize their son. Failing. the
'incorruptible" himself undertakes a |
round Of the prisons. and, at the Concier-
gerie, is surrounded by the ghosts of his
victims. The Incident reminiscent of the |
tent affair from Richard Ill" gives op-
DOrtIujtV for lust such marvellous WORK