The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-09
HEROD AND MARIANNE.
Spectacular Presentation of Phillips
Drama.
London Letter in Philadelphia Record.

| London Letter in Philadelphia Record.
We nave had a splendid theatrical spec
tacle this week. Beerbohm Tree produced
at Her Majesty's the promised "Herod.'
| And spectacularly and in costume. 1 can
truly say he has "out-Heroded Herod.
The play deals with overmastering and
jealous love of Herod for his wife MARI,
anne. There are three acts, all played
without change of stage setting. But such
a wondrous setting has never before been
seen. The beautiful audience hambe of
the kings palace, with wide brazen steps
and broad terraces. Below lies the city OF
Jerusalem. and from 1t come crowd OF
richly dressed priests, picturesque CROWDS,
Roman and Jewish soldiers, in glttering
armor and breast plates, and finally wall
ing women who give an inspiring sombre-
ness to the scene, in which there Is no
monotony. Lights and shades playing per-
petually and changefully upon the people
and building, make one feel the chillness of
dawn, the heat of noon, the fall and cool
of evening and the night, all symbolical or
Herod's mighty and ill-starred life and
passion. Marianne is a princess OF the
house deposed by Herod; she has an adored
young brother, Aristobulos, whom Herod
makes high priest. The or
joy over this appointment hardly die away
when the counselor, Gadias. suggests that
the youth is a menace TO the throne. So
/ Herod orders him to be drowned, going
himself to visit the Court of Octavius, at
Rhodes. When he returns he learns that
Marianne knows of his fearful crime. and
that all her love is turned to
bitter hate and loathing. Herod's
despair is formed into jealous revenge
by his mother and sister. and the schem-
ing Gadias, until driven frantic by her
absolute refusal to return to him, he
sanctions Mariamne'S death. From that
moment until the end the whole play is
dominated by Herod's agonies of remorse.
which tear and rend him, and finally he is
bereft of reason and stricken with a most
horrible form of paralysis. In the first acts
Herod is the magnificent, in the strength
OF splendid manhood, every inch the king,
superbly dressed. In the last act, in the
same surrounding, he stands stark, speech
less, haggard, unkempt and lettering. He
sits, all unkempt, in blue linen, on the
throne, oblivious to all the efforts made
by mother and sister to soothe his dis
tempered mind. He sends message after
message TO Marianne, who, he is told
and believes, is only in a deep sleep. And
the end is where he stands by her bier.
not dying. Perhaps that IS the greatest
tragedy OF all-that he must live and may
some day remember with a restored mind
his awful crime. Mr.. Tree Is really mag
nifcent. In the first and second acts
rather theatric, but then Eastern mon
archs, even thirty years before Christ,
had an eye for effect In the third act
out of everyday blase emotion into a scene
and sentiment of madness. murder and al
most a pity for the mad king, suffering the
common misery Of all who dote, yet doubt,
suspect yet fondly love-"
Miss Maude Jeferis played Marianne
i~nadequately, but she looked a superb and
striking figure with her -henna-colored hair
hanging over her like a veil to her knees.
She makes her triumphal entry coming
slowly down the shining. brazen steps, with
the palm branches Of the shouting crowd
waving over her head, and she locks beau
tiful enough to make the madness OF
Herod' not only comprehensive but excus-
able. She wears a gown-no a r0be-Of gold
tissue, shot with rainbow CLEANS. and
ablaze with ropes of gems. A veil of gauze
falls like a rain of gold from her high
crown. and far behind her sweeps a
train of gold tissue. which is edged at
the bottom with amethyst and emerald
green velvefs divided BY a golden band.
when Herod is leaving for his visit to
Octavius, Marianne. knowing nothing
Of her brothers murder, still regards
him a. her adored usband For Their
parting b wears : rob Of whita ~