New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-12
THE DRAMA.
CHARLES CoGHLAN's NEW DRAMA
"CfTTZEN PIERRE"


Theatre. appeared there last night. presenting q
new drama entitled Citizen Pierre" Of which hs
Is the author and In which he embodied the prf,
clpal character The re-entrance OF Mr. Coghla,
Il "A dramatic event Of the first importance for n
enables the public to excellent acting and thu
sight OF excellent acting Is ut once rare pleasure
and a permanent benefit. Mr. coghlans n.v
drama, which, TO extraordinary degree n
vibrant with action and beautiful with scenic d.,
play. was observed with deep interest and hailed
with frequent plsudits OF enthusiastic and well.
deserved admiration. The object OF the play ~
Citizen Pierre" IL threefoid to present iiuml-
native picture OF the French Revolution: TO arouse
and sustain feeling Of anxious. sympathetic sus-
pense on the part Of the spectator: and. IN ths
dramatic calculation Of romantic plot TO shox
effective contrasts Of character. together with
noble ideal OF conduct. All stories that relate "A
the Reign OF Terror necessarily move in more ~
less beaten track The time one Of tremendou,
political CONFUSION. and In such time the dr.s,
Of society rise 10 the surface. the powers OF evil
assume a balefu sovereignty. and acts OF hideous
wickedness done In tho name OF the law Mr.
Coghlans story. while II contains strokes az
original invention and II remarkable for its fresh
treatment of old historic theme. follows thu
inevitable course. Virtue and innocence cruelty
beset by potential and ur scrupuous depravity On.
counter deadly perils bu'. while involved IN a net,
work Of intrigue which has tragic issues they ar.
protected by vigilant and intrepid ingenuity and
ultimately they saved by heroic valor ana
sublime self-sacrihce: while incidentally. a touch
ing and instructive revelation Is accomplished OF
the full horror OF that terrific upheavsl Of thu
French people which not only prescribed the future
Of France but more less affected the political
condition Of the civilized world.
The chords that struck in this drama are
those Of romance pathos terror. and pity Ths
play is constructed with singular ingenuity and s
written in a concise and nervous style, withou, ths
If gArA 10
its action indeed setting remorseessly toward q
tragic close. seems here and there. 10 be soms
what arbitrarily forced. yet. on the whole ifs proc
OF development Is logical and natural. so that
In the last analysis. II seems round and perfect
chapter from the book Of memorable fate. me
place of the action is Paris. The time is in the
month OF June 1923 King Louis XVI was slaugh.
tered In January OF that year. and Queen Marie
Antonette in the following October. The persons
and deeds OF the play stand midway between these
two events. plot has been contrived. 10 hberp,s
the Queen from her prison IN the Temple. The pro-
moters OF this plot members OF the Roman
Catholic clergy. The principal agent In II IS
fower-girl named Heioise. Written directions %
tn the Queens procedure in making her escape.
have been enclosed in the caiyx OF carnaton. and
a bunch OF carnations. charged with this intel
ligence is TO be conveyed 10 the Queen. Htioisa
who is secretly loved by Pierre de Briard q
member Of the Kings guard. now a soldier OF the
Republc,-has been saved. by him. from molssta-
ton and insult by various ribaId patriots Pierre
who Is the hero Of the drama. may be described 40
a among vicious lunstIcs and gentle
man among ruffans II is made known that Pierre,
having influence with a certain General Lehei.
his comrade in the Royal Guard. but now Q
red republican,-hss befrended Hermance Dc
Vannes, the foster sister Of Helose. end that Her
nance in order to the life Of her father. and
also that OF her betrothed lover. Bertrand has be-
lo vi Of Lei h
trand. passing as her brother. under the name Of
Paul. The first act OF the drama skilfuly shows
the relations Of all these persons. and formuates
the plot for the Queens berstion.-a plot TO which
Paul is prvy, but Of which Pierre is ignorant.
In act second which Is devoted to an explanation
between Heoise and Pierre. and to the further
ance Of the royal plot It is contrived that Her.
nance against the will OF Heloise. shall be made
the bearer OF the discriminating carnations which
TO be carried TO the Queen. Pierre. meaptirs
has obtained passport. and has arranged TIM
Paul and Hermance can. II they are so minded
escape from France,-it being apprehended that
General Lebel. who Is sort OF Biuebeard, intends
his wife for the guotine The scheme for the
rescue OF the Queen Is discovered. and Hermancs
is condemned 10 death. In act third Htloise who
innocently, has been the means OF bringing this
awful doom upon her cherished friend refuses
10 betray the orignators Of the plot. withstands
the entreates Of Pierre tina, she will Hy with him
from France. and. when about TO be arrested by
the republican rabble swallows poison and so
dies Pierre who has endesvored to shield Heoiss
by pretending to be himself the chief conspirator,
baffied in his kindly purpose, repudiated by Paul.
who thinks him to be traitor and an enemy and
heart broken by the tragic ending OF his dream Of
love- now concentrates his energies upon the saliva
ton OF Paul and Hermance. There is an nterlude.
in which Paul vany endeavors to obtain the
friendly intercession OF Danton, 10 whom he DIS
closes his true name and history; and this passage
Is especially interesting for its portraiture Of the
famous tribune
The scene then shifts 10 the hall OF the con.
demned, IN the Conciergerie. where Hermancs 10
prisoner with scores OF other wretches who are
presently TO die; and the CHASTITY effect OF this
appalling picture is heightened by accessories Uhs
gambling OF turkeys. the ribadry OF soldiers the
stimulation OF wretchedness sickness. and death.
and the sound Of singing. mingled with the wall o.
amentation) which only too truthfuly denote tho
| frghtful suffering and all the hideous brutality
and woe Of that accursed place Paul. who has
obtained card OF admission and departure comes
10 the Conciergerie. intending TO perish with Her.
| nance but Pierre. who is possessed not only OF
similar card but OF passport for two persons also
penetrates into the prison. and at word ana V
an adrot subterfuge. accomplishes the dying Wish
| OF Heloise by sending Hermance and Paul upon
| the road to freedom. The mscreant Leoel, toF
| lowing Paul to the prison. intent upon his death
is stabbed there by OF the victims OF his crue
| treacfery. At the last the gate Is thrown wide
| open and voice is heard. calling one by one 'ne
names OF the condemned prisoners; and as tne
name OF Pierre de Briard is spoken. the ssit-lm
molsted hero. singing the refrain OF french
song. passes firmly and gayly out OF sisne
Mourn pour la patrie" That is the plsy-prsc'
ticaly original though. perhaps. family remini.
cent OF the Old Dumas novel Of lie Maison Rouge
| The character OF Pierre de Brard In MT CosT
| lans drama will inevitably suggest recolieet0n
| of Sidney Carton In THE Tale OF Two Clues
| Each of them figures In the Reign OF Terror LACE
| is lofty soul among miscreants and tranqu'i'
supreme over the tremor of terrible environment.
Each is cool and intrepid amid deadly pers. Eaea
Is fertile and expeditions In honorable craft Esen
aims at a benefcent purpose. Each lie love.
Each dies. self-sacrfced upon the suillotine' an1
in both cases the sacrifice Of life is made fcr tas