The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-21

to both the statement that some day eacl
will write a great play. Occasionally. an
over enthusiastic reviewer departs from
this usualness long enough to proclaim the
prophecy realized in the la est effort oil
one or the other, but generally returns to
his former condition of expectancy imme-
dlately that the piece selected is taken out
OF range. Mr.. Thomas has come no nearer
to greatness than he did when he produced
In Mizsoura." Mr. Fitch, who has not
even approached 10 within that distance.
promises more. for the first principle of
this greatness is newness, and the author
OF Arms and the Man" always has been
bold in his defiance of the conventionalities.
Thus matters stand At present.
In Chicago, the several erudite gentle
men who contribute theatrical resumes to
the papers. practically were unanimous in
declaring Sappho" seems no reason
to deviate from the spelling OF Alphcnse
Daudet-the often anticipated chariot of
the muses. which was to carry Mr.. Fitch
TO Immortality II would appear now that
these personages were mistaken. Sap
pho is best described as being adequate
nous costuming. marvellous effects and set
tings so ponderous that the management is
enabled to provide an orchestral concert
while each is being put together. Most of
all, II gives Olga Nethersole unbOunded
chances for the fin de steele emotionaIism
which is constituted in rolling walk and
a strained voice. Miss Nethersole. though
bit inclined to eXaggerate this tendency OF
the period undeniably is an artist of the
utmost cleverness and intelligence. In that
IL displays her talents to advantage, Sap
pho" serves well. There Is scant proba-
bility that it win be anything bat con-
spicuOus New York success. But IL is not
not great play.
When searching for a drug mixed
with other substances or liquids. the chem
list initially separates the potion desired
from all that is foreign to 1t. An analysis
of "Sappho" might be conducted best upon
a similar plan. Imagine the drama written
by the Invention" OF Oscar Wilde. being
presented by an excellent stock company
Rob it OF the combined outputs of Ernest
Albert the scene painter and OF Margue-
rite Harrington. the costumer. Replace
Miss Nethersole with some woman wholly
efficient but quite free from dominating
personality and commanding genius-with
Sarah TruaX or Maud Odell or Blanche
Bates. There can be little doubt that the
result would prove n performance or occa-
sional strength and yirility. but tedious
and rather inconsequential, withal An
swer may be made to the effect that a me-
diocre production could not but ruin any
play. And yet. this coniectured cast being
quite capable. the test is not an unfair one.
Subjected to it, Held by the Enemy and
IaI. natI
continued in popularity.
As a matter OF fact, beyond the fashion
in which he has altered the title there is
not much unhackneyed In the "Sappho" of
clyde Fitch. The beaten path has been the
road to profit selected. The piece seems
decided admixture OF Camille" and
ZaZa." II has moments in which a couch
and a cough would make another Dumas
out of Alphonse Daudet's |
heroine and an Armand from his hero.
More frequently, the spectator finds Miss |
Nethersole's hair reddening and her man.
Ter eoarsening until she closely resembles |
he music hall siren of-say David Be- |
assoc. The story Of the Offering must have |
leen conventional; since the publication of |
he novel there have been enough thieves |
o render 1t SO. But the method by which |
is treated shows all the precision Of such |
m unsweryable dramatic carpenter as Is |
eugene Presbrey.
Ihere are the inevitable low comedy |
haracters, TO which Mr.. Fitch has sacri-
iced number Of the most iovable In
iiyiduals in the book. There is the
isual complement of other personages.
)oubting their usualness. compare Toto
With Florianne, Alice Dore with Alice
iorel, Uncle Cesaire with the Due de
'Hssac. and even Jean GaussIn with