New-York tribune., 1901-03-20
THE DRAMA.
ANOTHER SCISSORS DRAMA.
'MANON LESCAUT.r s.

The adventures of Manon Lescaut could bA
much more effectively presented in a two-volume
biography than in a drama-as the ATTEMPT 10
portray them. made last night at WaIIaek's
Theatre. clearly sigrihed Manon was one OF tho
numerous heroines of modern fiction who love nor
wisely but too many. and, in trying to arranee
her complicated amatory affairs. she speedily
drifted into trouble; and she remained there-amIa
various trials and vicissitudes.-untn her melan
choly decease Like that other sainted sufferer
Camille. she had gathered shells from day 10 a,v
for considerable period. before she beheId NJ
clseiy the substance of the ideal swain; but she
saw him at last, the Chevalier Louis de C;rierv
oy name She was treacherously parted from him.
she rejoined him just he was about to become a
clergyman; she finally annexed him, and in a plsn
itude OF bliss 1.-TWO souls with but single tbo1,gh,
two hearts that beat as oneO. this precious pa,r
opened gaming house. in AmIens and dwelt tbsra
as paramours. AT nrst they were prosperous and
happy. but presently Manon was pestered bv !.
superserviceabe priest, who adjured her 10 aba,
don her lover. and by a willy nbertine MARQUIS
who wished to ingratiate himself as thar lovers
substitute: and almost Immediately her adorsa
Louis killed gambler in a row over the ears
table. and thereupon was constrained to hide
himself. and the card shop had TO be closed
Later the hbertine Marquis. who tried 20 seizs
the person OF Manon, seriously punctlred nv
Louis, in duel. and Manon herself shot and killed
wicked. despotic old nobleman Count de Varnav
who had once been her lover. but who now hated
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thus Indirectly caused the suicide Of this noble
mans daughter. TO whom that odious but wealthy
rake had promised marriage. Louis and Manon
escaping from durance. then repaired to New-Or-
leans. where, presumably. they took to raising
hens: but the lbertine Marquis still pursued them
having recovered from his wound and they fled To
the brush. where Manon expired. This touching
tale of lust and slaughter, originally an emanaton
from the pen Of the Able Provost, has been emit
ornized for the stage by Mr.. T. B. Sayre and the
result is four-act fabric of love. murder and sud-
den death. as lawless ir It's composition as 1t is
painful and offensive In it's ingredients treating
the putrfd old theme of Illicit amatory relations
repeating much of the sophistry and trash that
arc in the later drama of La Dame Aux Came
Has; and so beginning at nothing and ending no
where. The impossibiity of many of the situations
and Incidents is only equalIed by the rhetorical
fustian of much of the dialogue; but after two
prolix acts of explanatory preparatiOn,-made I'D Of
exordiums inn-keeper. addresses to servants
disclosures by tipsy warriors, wranges of ladies'
perusal OF letters. haiE-breadth escapes and
vellous transitions of potential documents. occur
rences of accident. and sonorous and liberal de-
livery of autobiograp phcal recollectiOas-the play
eliminates in a cumulative series of narrowing
tiOns. amounting TO distinct melodramatc eli-
max This series includes an attempt criminal
assault woman, a duel. arrest. clever dis
cOmfiture of the magistrate. a related suicide,
murder. a dying curse. and sudden triumph Of
beIeaguered love at moment when all seems lost.
This compound surely is enough, even for the pal
that Graves red pepper.
Manon was assumed by Miss Shannon and Louis
de Grieux by Nr. KeIcey. two Of the most comey
and innocuOuS performers of the day As actors
these amiable persons suggest nothing more vital
than the wig-block and the fashiOn-plate Both OF
them probably. are in earnest; neither Of them i'm
parts the sense of earnestness. Miss Shannon is,
at some moments. prettily playful. and at other
moments childishly grieved but Of the effect that
trial and sorrow leave in the heart and mark upon
the face she gives intimatton,-for the reason
that she has no knowledge of it, An essentially
powerful actress might make something Of even
the diruse and wandering Manon Lescau.: an
actress whose countenance is infantile, whose
movements are graceless, whose gestures are awk-
ward. and whose personality seems made Of wood
can do nothing with it, Mr.. Kelcey can please
with attitudes. roll the flashing eye and ex-
pand the manly bosom. can pass with ease from
the department of silent menace 10 the furry Of
genteel agitation and the storm OF vocal tumult'
but somehow neither the calm nor the tempest is
impressive An excellent image Of cool crafty. yet
viperish villainy. was presented by Mr. FREDERICK
Perry as the Count de Varney. and this impersona-
ton served 10 fumine the whole representation
with certain ivid light of horror.
II is difficult to view with patience the absolutely
needless and useless obtrusion in theatrical form.
of stories of this order. Nothing is accomplished
by it, aside from the stimulation Of morbid curl
Osity The theme is vulgar: the persons are trivial;
implicated are for the part. the baSest in
human nature: and. when all is over. valuable
word has been spoken, and no salutary impart-
ment. of any kind. 10 the conduct of life. has
been either given suggested In point OF signif-
canoe the play of 'Manon Lescaut produced
only in order that pretty woman may cOnjure up
a fearful stimulation of sufrerings of which she has
no comprehension and retail calamities with which
she has no acquaintance.-fals far below the level
of an ordinary criminal court record Let the
reader reflect for example. on the subjoined note
taken from recent English paper:
a story of only too familiar type was told
the Essex Assizes yesterday in the course OF the
trial of Lucy Gould. servant girl. for the murder
of her child The girl, who came from Hamburg.
in May to Dovercourt where she was confined.
stated that she had been driven 20 kill the child De-
cause she had no money She also made state
ment that her master, the manager 20 a hrm at
Hamburg had sent her England After her ar
rest she teIegraphed 10 him. Am charged at Har-
wich with killing my child do come and help me-
but she received reply. The jury found her
guilty. but strongly recommended her 10 mercy
Sentence of death was passed"
That is the true article OF social tragedy. and IN
contrast with that such plays 'Manon Lescaut
exploiting sentimental woes. crazy criminallty.
and the affectaIion Of misery-are worse than
trivial W. W.
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