New-York tribune., 1901-12-31
THE RETURN OF THE CHRISTIAN"
ACADEMY THEATRE

4 picturesque and effective representation Of Mr.
Hall Gaines theatrical preachment called The
Christian" made last night at the Academy
Mr Edward J Morgan irnpersonating John Storm,
of which he the first and best performer. and
Miss Elsie Leslie acting Glory Quayle. This piece
was first presented here on October 10 1895. the
Knickerbocker Theatre, with Miss Viola Allen as
Glory. and since then il has pervaded the land. 1t
addresses itself the admirers of the didactic
drama and its survival seems to indicate that
these persons constitute considerable class OF the
playgoing populace AS a reformatory treatise upon
the times this work disparages the Christian char
acter by presenting homicidal fanatic as its rep
resentative: disparages the Christian Church by
presenting SNUG and oily time-server and spe
oious hypocrie its potentially official exponent;
and Through implication) dlsparages the stage,
by presenting the licentious atmosphere Of Lon
don music hail its usual environment. AS
play, however ii contains several strong scenes
the most important Of them being q sort of para
phrase OF the sacrifcisl passage in the fifth
Of "Othello"-a cleverly exhibits the opera
o. love, al first dormant but subsequently active
and passionate in the hearts and minds Of two
thusiasts the religious and the other artistic,
bur both essentially human
Mr.. Morgan's inpersonation Of John Storm has
frcrn the first oeen in many respects. admira bic.
sn6 IL has everywhere ELECTED cordial commends-
tfon- The Gctor. by his strong and splendid per
sonslity.--c6mbining power with a strange mood
ness that has the effect Of mystery.-does much TO
redeem an essentially unsymrathetic and repelent
part. lover who wishes and undertakes TO kill
the woman whom he loves, because in that way he
thinks he her from the clutches of a
lbertne and her soul from future punish
Tnent, is. obviously a maniac-and this is what
Storm becomes. when at length his passion for
forming and regulating the world has ripened into
disease The character is dreadfullv distorted
Mr- Morgan. considerably modifying the harsh and
stony manner with which he played this part at
the beginning, makes il fine with chivalry and at
some moments lovable with tenderness; in the
oenunciation Of the vicious crowd that is led ana
typihed by Lord IRE he rises 10 superb altitude
OF passionate eloquence and noble scorn and ar all
points his embodiment is clear and consistent i'm
personstion Mr.. Morgan is capable Of much bet
Ter things than John Storm, but this performance
aions sffces 10 establish him among the best ac-
tc-s Of the day.
The actress Of Glory ouavle must at the outset
present creature Of the lonely mountain and the
rugged seashore hardy. bold, and wild (as aptly
designated by Sir Walter Scott a girl of affuent
vitality and energy, sensitive and ina ginative TO
whom opening life is a gloriouc mystery and the
untried tumut of the great world strange and
Irresistible attraction-so that she cannot at once
heed the promptngs OF her heart. driven
hy irresistible impulse mingle with the nluI-
ttude and plunge into the brilliant struggle of
active life. Later under the stress Of bitter ex-
perience. this artless, Uniformed mind developed
by suffering must be shown in its rise a noble
stature Of dignity and in its revelation OF itself
IS int-insicallv resolute and noble This ideal
was perfectly Wen indicated by Miss Elsie Leslie
whose adnira ble command Of her powers and
whose complete familiarity with the stage concur
in q performance of remarkable spontaneity and
grace The imrersonation bad the advantage of
fresh, joyous, happy youth, sympathetic voice
and musical vocalsm. and in the preliminary pict-
ure Of wild freedom and frolic. of girsh caprice
end wsyward uncertainty OF feeling and of pur-
pose, Miss Leslie showed herself to be thorough
g natural actress-born to the art and admirably
hslned 10 conceal every Vestige of artifce and
trort The subsequent struggle in the girls mind
after she has become ''actress."-a struggle
pet~een secret love and yet unyieldng vanity
was denoted with peculiar skill and in Glory's
parting from Storm. when at length he declares
ms INTENDED repudsto Of her. Miss Leslie struck
Iie uue note of pathos The scene Of the at
tempted homicide is Of course dominated by
storm and at this point Mr.. Morgan putting forth
poolelous force. carries all before hin--as indeed
He mas invariably done. since first he acted this
part ana as ne would not fail TO do. when asso-
ciateo Win any less potential actress than q Mrs
bo"ers or Matilda Heron. Yet even here Miss
i-es4le was apIe 10 create the effect of physical
terror suodued by spiritual control and the abun-
"eht unth OF Womanike passion. The supporting
oaS' Is elcient. Lord IRE being particularly well
scled oy Edward Emery. the rotund and easy-going
episcopal archdeacon being made painfully real by
FRANK Roberts and the hearty Scottish dame being
1@"shuuny Jocund in the person of Georgia Dick
eon. Inc scenic setting especially of the seacoast
u Man. is excellent