New-York tribune., 1902-01-25
THE DRAMA.
MRS CAMPBELL AT THE REPUBLIC.

MARIANA"
Mrs Campbel's Interpretation Of Mr.. Echegary's
Mariana given last night at the Republic is pre-
clsely what ii might have been expected TO be-a
liueter OF levity, breeze of coquetry and spasm
OF hysterical excitement. In seeing Mariana the
observer sees the wooing-and what came Of it-of
sophisticated, egotistical. arrogant selfish and
a4losetnsr intoerabie young woman. by a feather
otaiiieu' IeVerlsh, impetuous young man. stupidity
infatuated and crazy with passion The greater
patt Oh the play Is an inquiry whether Mariana
Will or Will not. accede TO her lovers solicit
taton' and Il appears TO be expected that the
a'or VIII view with anxious suspense the
eaPrlcious perturbatons of her mind and the way
ward vacillations of her conduct At some mo-
ments she is seen to be propitious. AZ others bs-
aspect is disclosed as that of ominous menace In
''iIlduohs are given that she has Inherited from
wicked 1atner and weak sinful, unfortunate
mother deceased. certain legaces of inherent evil
cynical distrust OF all goodness and a propensity
10 De heartess and cruel. Altogether she is mani
tested as something refulgent portentous n,vs-
terious. potential and infammatory causing mas
culine combustion at every turn Anguish in the
male BOSOM halls her approach and havoc attends
her footsteps
Ihe execution done upon Marianas lover Daniel
this being the burden Of the play. is shown to be
quite plutul-for that unfortunate is "distlTd
almost 10 jelly in her presence and when at length
she accepts his homage he becomes a pulp This
situation being arranged, the full purpose of her
dellneauon stands revealed-the purpose Of creating
climax OF hysteria and comprehensive crash. Ap-
prtsed by adroity managed incident that her
Daniels disreputable father was her mothers Sc
ducer. she dscards Daniel and weds his rival-au
this with precipitation that both Of
tnem-to the inevitable end (as matters in plays
OF this high-pressure kind that Daniel shall
visit her her bridal night and that both shall
he slain by her ruthless. irplacabe husband Thus
the venerable Mr.. Echegary has Illustrated in
what manner the completely irrational conduct of
a morbid woman can diffuse misery and occasion
-fnr aria
Daniel in twenty different ways without even once
taking up her Pablo had she been minded so TO
do, and there would have been no resultant catas-
trophe- The play lacks movement and incident,
and Is more notable for a kind Of Ibsensm of dis
QUESTION than for dramatic vitality; but it shows
keen perception Of character and facile skill in
the portrayal Of manners; and indeed its author
has long been known clever dramatist. AS
study of feminine nature. Mariana is radically
diseased, and as presentment OF the much abused
passion of love it is libel and caricature. Such
stuff. however, usually finds audience senti-
mentalism is a common malady; but. to the health
ful mind, Mariana will seem very much as
The Lady OF Lyons did Artemas Wards dis
gusted Mormon elder. who arose and walked
out. with mis- twenty-four wives. saying that he
would not sit and play where made
such a cussed fuss one woman II might be
added-still further 10 employ the forcible Ian
guage of this saint-that there is special edh-
cation in seeing one woman make such a cussed
fuss over herself.
Mrs. Campbelrs artistic display OF female fas
cnatons, Mariana, easily be contemplated
with composure. The actress is somewhat mature
for such part hut her peculiarities suit with il,
and she embodies a good ideal of a woman of many
moods and caprices. The part requires nerves
rather than brains, To he sunshine moment
and cloud the next. 20 blow hot and cold. 10 be
proud. capriciOus irritable, gay and now
ful, sometimes 10 repress excitement and sometimes
o give il free way. and at the last 10 plunge
hesdlong into deliriuul-That is 10 be Mariana
Mrs Campbell easily do all this; and all
this produces no other effect than that Of
travaRant theatrical srtihce. There Is no ee-
ment Of nobility or charm in the character.
and there IS element Of either power
beauty IN the performance. There is abundance of
glitter and OF grace IN il; there occasional
caressinE tones; there occasional touches
OF demure mischief. there Is, toward the last a
gimmer Of pathos there is the merit Of exact and
fine intelligence throughout The eocution-more
especially in the delivery Of tive there is
fervor Of vitality that never faltArs. The
is IN earnest and ear1estQess will always win
esteem. Notwithstanding even the Jog and the Jolly
OF crazy plays. Among the auxiliary PLAYERS Mr.
George Arliss conspicuous for the character
and involuntary humor with which he inpersonated
a garrulous antiquarian and IN that way bright
ened duh and tedious drama. ". ".