New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-14
THE ORA MA.
THE MUsKETEERs" AT THE BROAD


The trend ~ recent fiction has been largely tow
ara the display Of amazing individuals. female as
well rs male.-from Allan Quatermain to Francis
Cludle and from She 70 Phroso-who rise superior
alike the changes Of fortune the caprces Of cir
cumstanca and the laws OF nature; for whom life
has no failures and death terror. for whom the
soraphim and the cherubim continually do cheer.
and for whom, after prodiges o. valor and OF sue
cess. the holy estate Of matrmony makes
a hssfu end These exceptional beings
mount upon church-spires swing forth upon
iron shutters. descend ny lishtnns-rods. per
meate NJ will through the bowels OF the earth,
equally mt homo cliffs and in caves can
destroy hundreds OF panopNed adversares with a
shot or a sword-stroke: and they seem never to
pay taxes and never N require the use OF SOAP
Under these circumstances their popularity. Ike
their condition. Is perennial The guardsner Of the
old Dumas novels long ago took the lead OF this
phalanx OF heroes and now that the Of adj
venture IS rolling over stage Il IS the most
natural thing I'm the world that they should once
more assert their supremacy. 4 little while ago
they arrived at the Knlckerbocker Theatre: las,
night. in great effulGence. they emerged IN the
broadway In both houses they have been vel
coined. but at tho Broadway they have better
deserved their welcome and II ought at once to he
said that the greeting accorded them was OF
iufirloaG enthusiasm.
Viewed actual human beings Athos Porthos.
Aramis and D'Artagnan Impossible. but viewed
as fanclful creatures IL the theatre they are de-
! l!ehtful: and II Is long since they have been 60
| well shown rs they are by Mr. James O'NeiU and
| his associates I'm MI sydney Grundy's capital
play. The tide % public favor certainly will tend
toward this Professionalism the drama IS singular
! Is direct and fluent In movement clearly and Of
fectively comprehensive Of the chief dramatic points
! Of the original story. and tcrsely and pungently
written; the stage setting IS sumptuous and tho
acting especially that OF Mr.. OMEN as J. A.
/ taGnan. Miss Blanche Bates the wicked Coun-
| tess and Edmund Collier Porthos Is richly in
spired with the spirit Of the Dumas novel. 90 that.
as this performance proceeded. the eye was p'e1sod
and the mind was satisfied with tho scarcely once
! broken sustainment Of an almost perfect illusion.
| Mr.. Grundy's elimination NJ Fonton IS a decided
! Improvement, and his management of the terrible
: scene OF seductive trenchery and hysteric fury IN
! which at last the Countess is brought 70 bay IS In
the highest degree dramatic and it was superbly
acted.
Tie triumph ~ Miss Blanche Bates in this har-
rowing and most exacting situation. should he -
corded one OF genuine and remarkable power
! Amid oil the extravaganza Of the thoatri al
| scheme. tho plotting Cardinal the eavesdroppine
the secret panel. the talk OF an imperiied Queen
! an infatuated noble the States welfare. and the
| rewards q falsehood. and all the stuff and non
| sense Of o. wild and whirlnG novel.-she made
| her auditors forget the theatre. and yield them
! selves completely 10 the charm of n bad woman
superb In her beauty and. sirenllke, lurins honor
10 destruction with The Internal witchery Of sensua
love. AS % her study 90 the human nature or TINS
/ balefu woman there may be question. nooody
can steep the soul In evil without leaving some
record OF 70 IN the face. and Miss Bates. until The
roorner+ ~ the frorzv evinced no inward struggle
and no sign o. pain. but. as To the hriliancy and
the power Of tho acting. there could be no question
/ whatever A new actress has arisen 70 adorn ON
/ stage and AZ last the new theatrical generation
| NAV have = reason for It's enthusiasm. Miss Bates
! was recalled many times.
Mr. O'Neiu. though lmpeded by heavy cold
which caused him manifest suffering. and wh''n
! somewhat impaired his usually sweet and meo-
| dious delivery carried every one Ok D'Artagnan $
| situations with sparkling buoyancy, and very
| gracefully embodied a winning ideal Of gay and
dauntless youth. strength, and honor The crown
| ing beauty Of his performance IS sympathy. lie
! seemed sincere N eyorything-and 10 do that wIta
/ DArtagnan IS 20 achieve unequvocal success. NOT
since the best days OF John Brougham has tne
| town seen an embodiment so charming with MIN
rled spriehtllness. reck.essness and humor Il al
| most makes the story probable. W. W.