The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-16
IT'S Plot
IS OFFENSIVE
DuSe in Her Interpretation
of d'AmunzioS Play.
AS A BLIND WOMAN
Great italian Actress Adds TO
Her Fame.
AS A BLIND WOMAN

IulullInenL OF Her SelI-lmpOSeQ mission,
presented the second in the series OF
her d'Annunzio plays "Citta Morta.
a work horrible In conception ruthless
in execution poisonous in spirit but full
O. tragic power, poetic agination, and
literary spIendor. Deriving its fnspira ton
remotely from the old Greek ira gedy,
and having for its scene The plain OF
- Argos, it IS extremely successful in its
nita ton Of the classic note, and of the
fIassic atmosphere. IN these respects
in its purely literary respects. il is d
masterpiece. The genius that CLOVIS in its
long descriptive passages is indisputable.
and the dramatic intuition displayed in
the marshaIing Of conflicting emotions
nothing less than wonderful. But the
spirit that dominates it ali is affected
with the sickly faint Of modern degen-
eracy- Ia the horrors of the ancient
mythology there is the redeeming quail
ity Of perfect frankness and robust viz
fifty. There is no effort to ind for lust
e philosophic justification. In the present
instance, in to a minute study OF
fncestuous passion, all the resources of
eloquence are employed, as in la Clio
conda in benaII Of the thesis that genius
IN man has its natural any in woman,
and that no law, human or divine ought
TO be allowed 70 stand in the way OF
their foreordained union. In other words
manifest destiny is sufficient excuse for
the qualification of Illicit passion More
over, these propositions are supported not
by appeals 10 reason. but 10y the rhap-
sOdies Of a pronigate and debased mag
ination.
1t must be evident that no good pur-
pose could be served by dwelling at any
considerable length upon the details of
such play as "Citta Morta." The story
Of it in brief outline is as follows: The
principal personages are Leonardo, an
enthusiastic archaeologist, his sister Bian-
"a, Alessandro, a poet. and his blind
wife, Anna. An Of them are bound by
ties of the closest intimacy and they have
Journeyed TO the neighborhood of Argos,
to search for the tombs Of the Atridae
Anna who is a seeress. suspects. and
Justly. that Blanca and her husband
are in love with each other. and in the
opening scene. most eloquently and cum
ningly written, she probes the girl, who
is conscious but innocent, with subtle
questions Blanca, more or less truth
fully ascribes her agitation TO anxiety
L. and treating her with coldness. Pres
emily Alessandro arrives, and Anna. per
ceiving Biancas trepidation. encourag es
them TO talk. still intent upon discoy-
ering the relations existing between them.
The conversation is interrupted by
great shouting among the excavators at
a distance. and q little later by the hur-
Tied entrance eff Leonardo dusty. fran
tic with excitement who. in q speech of
extraordinary descriptive power. relates
how he has found the sought-for tombs,
and the bodies of Agamemnon. Cassan-
ORA. and a whole host of other Homeric
persOnages. The extraordinary descrip-
tive power of d'Annunzio is nowhere ex-
hibited than in this passage.
In the second act Blanca is arranging
the various trophies the great treasure OF
golden armor, weapons vessels and or
naments found in the tombs, when she
Is surprised by Alessandro. who. trans
ported by her beauty forthwith breaks
into a passionate declaration of his love.
and in the familiar d'Annunzio fashion
dilates upon the necessity of her sur
render for the perfection of his genius.
Rarely has the coarsencss of sensual de
sire been yelled under more eloquent or
smpassioned speech. AT the critical mo-
men when Blanca is on the point of yield
ing. Anna enters and leads her away.
leaving Alessandro TO confront Leonardo.
Here the situation. though abominable. is
singularly adroit. Alessandro thinks that
Leonardo suspects his passion for Blanca
and Is proceeding nerN ously TO explain
his position, when Leonardo in another
eloquent and maniacal passage. .confesses /
that his feverish unrest is due 20 an in
ccstuous passion for his sister. Con-
corning this situation il is only necessary
70 note that Alessandro hears the con
sion. not with disgust. but with compass
zion and pity. Such Is the drama OF the
decadence.
Meanwhile Anna. loving Blanca deeply. /
and convinced that she is pining for love
OF Alessaudro. has resolved to commit
suicide in order that there may be no
obstacle TO their union. Moreover. in
furtherance of this altruisuc design. she
UNDERTAKES to inform Leonardo OF the
true state Of his sisters affections Then
follows a scene of double misconception
Leonardo. believing that Anna has faith
oned his secret. exhibits great agitation
which she attributes 10 his sympathy
lN4 4ie-i sell many tnll
hends that il is her husband Of whom she
IS speaking, and promises 10 return TO the !
subject or the morrow. Next Blanca. /
comes to Anna. seeking her protection. /
and implorins her TO flee from some inn /
pending danger. A lons rhapsodicaI scene 1
ensues between the TWO women after /
which Blanca, partly pacihed. resolves 1
70 await her brother and bare her heart +.
20 him. IN due course Alessaudro sp~ I
pears. with murder in Isis soul. and to +
him Blanca appeals with many caresses /
TO take her away 70 some retreat where +
they may be alone. Thereupon. as the 4
only way Of keeping her pure. DE leads I
her out into the night and browns her 4
IN a fountain-t0 which frequent refer !
encA has been made throughout The play /
and there. in the last act. he is found +
BY Alessandro. raVing over the body. /
a little later the blind woman joins the .
two men, ard coming in contaca with the 4
slead girl. suddenly comprehends the
sTUn significance OF the tragedy. and
slfrieks aloud i see. see" So this ends
this ghastly piece. the latest product OK
q diseased and morbid fancy. II there