New-York tribune., 1900-11-11
PART II.
TWELVE PAGES.
LONDON DRAMA.
rHE PRODUCTION OF "HEROD" AT HER
MAJESTYS THEATRE-A TRIUMPH
FOR Mr.. STEPHEN PHILLIPS
AND MR. TREE
London. Novemher 2.

London, November 2
Mr. Tree, II he perseveres in welIdoing, will
earn knighthood as e. reward for his services
N art In the absence Of Sir Henry Irving the
sreat master Of the art Of actiro nnd the
I,yceurn stage occupied Temporarily with uelo-
drama pure and simple. the hIgnest sLaIuar1s
Of the metropolitan stage are set at Her Maj
estv's Theatre. Mr. Tree opened his autumn
season with the most artistic and symmetrical
presentation Of Julius Caesar' which the pres
ent generation OF playgoers is likely to witness;
and now, following the example Of Sir Henry
Irving he has entered the realm of poetic
drama When Sir Henry produced the poetlcaI
dramas Of his friend Lord Tennyson-"The
Cup" Queen Mary. The Foresters" and
"Becket'-the risks Were not serious because
he was supported by the reputat ton and popu-
iartty Of the favorite English poet Mr. Tree
has introduced young poet. Mr.. Stephen Phil
lips, in e classical tragedy. and the undertaking
required courage, artistic discernment and faith
He is rewarded by a full measure of public ep-
probation, by the gratitude of all earnest and
sincere friends OF the drama and by the crea-
tion Of the most effective part which he has
ever acted the stage
Mr.. Stephen Phillips born near Oxford
his father being the preceutor of PETERBOROUGH
Cathedral He educated at the grammar
schools Of Stratford and Peterborough and
without having the advantages Of a university
course. was coached and crammed for the Civil
Service examinations The muses. wooed him
from official drudgery and without having anv
clear senee of the direction Of his talents he
Joined Mr.. Benson's Shakespearian company and
acted II small parts for several seasons in the
provinces Having convinced himself that he
had no marked talent for acting he became
tutor at large school where he remained for
six years. making during leisure hours a special
study OF Greek and English dramatic literature
Els ssazc essay in verse, Christ In Hades" re-
eeived Immediate recognition as a work rich in
promise: and he wrote his first play. "Paolo
and Francesca" which wes accepted by Mr.
Alexander. but he's not yet been enacted
'Eerod" Is the first work which enables play
goers to decide whether England has in him a
poetica1 drarnatist OF. the first rank Mr. Phil
lips is one OF the most modest and unaffected OF
men; he has high ideals and noble aspirations:
he has had arduous struggle in making his
way TO the front, but instead OF narrowing and
embittering him 1t has broadened and sweet
ened his nature. His distinguishing character
istdc is q love Of beauty.
ovERZEALoUS ADMIRERS.
Mr.. Phillips needs to be delivered from the
indiscretions Of some Of his overzeaIous ad-
mirers. He has been hailed prematurely and
without judgment as another Shakespeare He
knows the limitations of his powers, and does
not encourage such foolish adulation. In reality
he Is not EIizabethan, but a Greek. especially
in his love of symmetry. rhythm. grace and
beauty. "Herod" is not a naasterful composite
picture. OF human nature. with contrasts OF light
and shading. comic bypLay and tragic move
msnt- The art methods distinctly literary
and classic. The inspiration for the work is to
be found in the old Greek tragedies. The theme
is developed with Greek simplicity and direct
ness, and the action moves steadily to the pro-
determined tragic issue. In the love passages
between Herod and Marianne there is q true