The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-17

own again and be once more a nation
as proud, as famed and as luminous as
OF yore
In accord with the policy of the
founders OF the literary theater entirely
new plays were presented this season,
the authors being also different. The
plays presented were The Last Feast
OF the Fianna," by Miss Alice Mii8an;
"Maeve," by Edward Martyn, and Tho
Bending OF the Bough," by George
Moore The first two opened the sea-
son and altcrnated during the week with
MIR. Moorc's play. "Thc Last Feast OF
the Fianna" is little drama which oc-
cupicd only twenty minutes in its per-
tornanccs, but is a charming bit OF
work, possessing antiquarian as we'll as
artistic interest, being reminiscent OF
the famous "Ossian Phadrig" dialogues.
Fionn, captain OF the Fianna; his son,
Oisin; Grainnc, the high kings daugh-
ter; Diarmuld O'Duibnc, whom
Grainne compelled to marry her, after
she had been rejected by Oisin; Niamh,
a fairy woman from Tir-nan-Oge, the
land OF the ever young. The dialogue
is couchcd in that very descriptive style
OF prose poetry, such as runs through
the Ossianic translations or Inventions
The scene in the banqucting hall OF
Fionn i'll a fort near the sea, was very
picturesque and appealing to the imagi-
nation, presenting as it did the king
and queen and court and fine group
ing OF cup bearers and attendants, brave
warriors and bondswomcn. all richly at
tired in ancient Gaelic costume One
OF the most charming passages in the
little play is that in which Niamh de-
scribcs the charms OF Tir-nan-Ogc, to
which she wants Oisin to fly with her
| He is obduratc at first, but when she
rccitcs to him the charms Of the music
in the land Of the ever young and illus
trates her word pictures with melodies
waited across the sea he finally yields.
The piece was received with much en-
thusiasm and Miss Mlligan had to ap-
pear before the curtain.
Next came Edward Martyrs two-act
drama, "Macvc." This piece, to quote
the Frccman's Journal, "is a psyche
logical drama which is delightfully."- fan
ciiul and iairylillc. 1t is much richer
in the imaginative lore than The
Heather Field by the. same writer
produced last ycar--in fact, it is entirely
founded on dreams The moral OF the
play is writ large over the whole OF the
narrative. 'Macvc' is a parable play.
and a pretticr parable has seldom been
constructed than is uniodcd in the day
dreams OF Nlacvc O'Ileyncs. The char
actcr OF the heroine typihcs Il noble
spirit in a person or people who would
prefer to quit the world rather than
barter Irish high ideals ior English un-
worthy matcrialism." L." Scarcely once
docs Macvc sink to the level OF an ordi-
nary, undermining human being. Her
| y,
when her father talks about the rcstora-
ton Of his princcly dignity she replies
with spirit: rs not the royalty OF your
race acknowledged? What place would
you occupy amid grotcsquc world Of
plutocrats and shopkccper pccrs?" The
play is allcgorical of Ireland and as
Mr.. Yates says, there is no more inter
csting person in modern drama than the
wrctchcd old woman, Peg lncrncy, a
type OF the Irish nation, poor and rag
gcd, begging from door to door in this
life; while in the life OF dreams she
rcigncd as the beautiful Queen Macve.
George Moorc's play, "rhc Bending
Of the Bough,' is of an entirely different
order from the two already mentioned.
1t is a satire dealing with certain phases
OF contemporary Irish life, full OF life
and point and OF biting irony It's
story ccntcrs around the financial rca-
tons movement OF the robbery OF Ire
land by her predominant partner
through ovcrtaxation. OF some Sis 5,ooo,-
900 annually. 1t is free OF clements OF
scnsationalism and vulgarity, its author
showing the rare dramatic power OF
making living, powerful situations out
OF the interests Of public life and the
weakness of classes. The characters
are broadly and yet SO clearly and skill
fully drawn that nearly everyone in the
audience believed he knew, personally
or by rcputc, some individuals who had
sat for the portraits presented. Truly
to one intimate with the political and
social life OF the country the temptation
is strong to brand with real names the
imaginary characters.
George Moore is the son of George
Henry Moore, who died years since
who was an eloquent defender OF his
country in the English parliament and
whose natonalism was never hidden or
doubted in old Fcnian days, though ii
is not understood he ever belonged to
that organization. Strange to say, the
son. the author OF "Thc Bending OF the
Bough,' who has for years been one oi
the literary lions of London, has not
until OF late shown any of the patriotism
or national fire OF his father In fact
he has been regarded as too willing
l. =,