New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-25
ANOTHER DEsICCATED NOVEL.
AUDREY

fabric remotely and very dimly resembling
play has been made out OF the novel Of Audrey,
one OF the crude compositions Of Miss Mary John
ston and this vas ser forth. last night, at the
Madison Square Theatre, with Miss Eleanor Rob
son n its principal part. In the novel which. II
IS understood. has been widely read. the heroine,
Audrey. Is slain. az the close, by a jealous and
ruthless haIf-Indan l)ver. named Hugon, who re-
senrs her preference for the young Nrgtrian, Mar
maduke Harvard IN the play the Indian lover
Stays himself and Audrey and Harvard are left in
The prospect OF immediate connubiaI bliss. The
scene IS aid IN Virginia, about the beginning Of the
eighteenth century, and the play shows In what
manner the course Of true love temporarily ran
rough fer the forest waif and her aristocrade
sweetheart--this swain being somewhat infirn OF
purpose, and another damsel. Miss Evelyn BYRD.
intervening for a while as 10 cause some slight
alteration in MS affections. IN scene,-that OF
picturesque ballroom, Audrey. who has been
brought Lhither by Marnaduke is subjected 70 re-
preach and social indignty; and in another that OF
colonial church, she is openly stigmatzed, by
bgo,ed preacher Her superb spirit and her stead
last endurance. under these whips and
scorns of propriety and persecution. and
her Gdelty 10 her love and TO her lover con-
stitUte the substance and significance Of the play.
The relations Of the chief persons in this tale
such have been used in fiction from time i'm
material" but they recur under slightly novel
circumstances 1.-THE circumstances would, perhaps,
seem more novel, II Cooper's Leatherstocking
stories had never been read and this presentnent
Of them occasionally practical purpose for
Miss Eleanor Robson. who invested the ideal Of the
forest waif with plquant beauty and expressed her
emotions II a strain Of melodous huency and a
dsneanor OF alternate calm and fire. She has a
sngularly sweet voice. a manner that is sometimes
confdng and sometimes inpetuous; her personality
IS exceptionally interesting; and. though deficient
in power she is lucommonly felicitous in the de-
noteEnent OF passionate feeling. The play affords
her slight opportunity for action. More than half Of
It's SIX acts masses away before anything is done,
except TO enceavor 70 illustrate, oy small
tax and scenery the manners and Gus
toms OF Colonial virginia Too many persons
cucumber the scene and far TOO many words en-
caEnber the thin and feeble movement Not till the
end OF the church scene did Miss Robson have any
true occasion. but therein her cry OF sorrow ana
In her repulse Of her Indian suitor.-she struck a
true chord Of pathos and passion. It is pity that
a. actress so clever should not have good vehicle
Tor her talents In this most Of the situations
are puerfle na9v OF the incidents are trivial and
NE language IS a hux OF chatter Harvard is SEN
tsntious prig: Hugon a spasmOcic absUrdity. Old
DaTdea has one moment of dramatic life, when he
breaks up church service. but for the rest ne
s impossible The muddle, in this as in so many
Other cases comes from the fact that drau.atst
moose TO be fettered by novel instead Of starting
rom the post OF their own invention. with many
eo4ored life for a subject and art for a means.
Mss Robson made distinct and suspicious per-
,'Hai. success, but audrey play is worth
4ss " W.