New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-01
DRAMA.
MRS. FIsKE AS MARY OF MAGDALA.

From The Chicago Evening Post.
In Mary Of Magdala." by Paul Heyse Mrs
Fiske has found a play on which her genius Is not
orable triumph-hrst as an artist OF commanding
judge of beautiful costume and scenic illustration
Few players could appear in play founded on
and yet make the audience realize the sincerity
Mary of Magdala' could scarcely nave had
hearing.
The production. which is of the eOstliest. IS
beyond criticism. and the acting is exceedingly
good Add to this combination dramatic material RAJ
questonaby is-and you have union not ire
The story is told in fve acts. two of which take
place in room in the house of Mary OF MaS99aiia
luxury, is awaiting, with impatience some word or
first scene and that history makes this Mary en-
tirely different from the Mary OF Biblical tale;
thaS her hdo Vices and cruelty made
her sacrifice a torture. When he betrayed her, she
Then she entered into reckless living This her
way of revenge a world that had III treated
her; she made bend. and she ruined them
as others had despoiled her; This outline OF her
Poutius PLATE. who comes TO seek her favor.
Judas has become disciple Of ProP1edf' c %no
forts the IoWIy Judas beholds. in this leader, an
DOES mot paint Judas as the OF
the worlds traitors, but as patriot WhOse tsi5Ie
at Rome. makes him deliver the prophet into the
At the beginning the audience is made to feel a
keen interest great tragedy impends and tne
dramatic suspense is created before the first act
The second act shows the house Of Aqlus Fla
vus. whittier Mary has gone 70 eaten siiinpSSe OF
sG ProPm t anJ makes 1roposaI 10 Mary that
ss as Shall ' SGanV eu so that Plate be
new power has made itself felt IN Jerusalem; to
Mary, in a speech of wonderful force denounees
garden TO behold and TO speak with the prophet
h crowd S 6 at se t9e br e 81 rnns to
Flavius's house and there disciple repeats the
you. let him cast the FIRST stone Mary
me Iiebt e in his Sves that viii shine for eternity
and believes that she will be saved thereby.
act The mob passes to and fro resessIy The
tempting OF Judas takes place. Caiaphas plays
I@5a o Is nnWing to deiiyr the prophet into hos
who has begun to live spiritually, meets Judas,
in the prophet and seeks to cling to the woman
he loves. She rebukes him softly Thou art for
more more simple What more S " dramatic AS Mrs
Fiske read the line her audience would have risen
Judas determines TO betray his master. now that
In the fourth act Flavius bringing news that the
prophet has been given over to fanatscal hatred.
declares he the master. If Mary will agree
to submit TO him. He departs with the purpose to
return at midnight.
been washed away Is IN an agony OF doubt; nsr
~, ~ MI ~ TcSssibls is q ratnrn 20 tbs Old
shame When Fiavius comes she has a vision: as
she stands before the dark abyss the light from
those eyes that she had beheld in the garden
her not yield Mrs Fiske in that scene is at her
best and her best is the best Of the stage to-day.
Mountain crags form ravine. for the last act
The prophet has been crUcifed: Judas is out
cast; but his conscience renders him the most
miserable of beings. and the storm. that makes
the ravine hideOus with darkness and storm. seems
a fitting answer from heaven to hts perhdy. The
conclusion is of the most marvellous achieve
ments of StaSecraft. When Ii lightened the effect
was almost bTdins and the thunder was ter
Mary'S final exhibition of fealty, in her Scathing
rebuke of Caiaphas But IL Is too late: the deed is
done. Mary looks toward the mountain. She wei
comes death-and abSCluttOn.
Heyse evnceS the skilled master. Most TeVerent
is the treatment of theme there is never jarTtng
note. and the most enthusiastic regiOnist take
exception to an incident in the entire drama.
The construction Is remarkable. The lines
more musical than the blank verse of several
classics name. 1t is exaggeTatiOn 10
state that the scenic effects are the most superb
the stage has seen in many wears The room in
FIaviuss house with the beautiful background.
that makes the massive pillars the more mag
nicent and the rich cOlOring walls. ceiling. and
I'm tapestry and costumes, make a picture that
lingeT i'm the memory. Mary's room was a
counterfeit of Oriental splendOr, the square in
Jerusalem a Illusion of extreme beauty; and
the ravine unusually compelling biz Of stage
portraiture.
she was concerned in the handling of every scene
much she was in her own performance. tor
she was the producer. She shaded the lines with
genuine artistic skill At the conclusion Of the
second and fourth acts she reached her greatest
heights. These two passages make her Mary
great Mr. Powers Judas is worthy companion
Mrs. FiskeS Mary. and 1t merits the most
hearty COMMUNICATION. Mary OF Magdala' doubt
season.