The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-14
NEH PLAY
Is b SUCCESS
"The Garden of Gods. Jap
aneSe Drama Makes a Hit.
NOVELTY ITS AT FRACTIONS
1t DepectS CIeverIy a Bit of
Life in the Old Japan.

twenty minutes past twelve CLOCK
last night when the final curtain
fell upon The Darling of the Gods, -
the new japanese play by John Luther
Long and David Belesco. on the occa-
sion of its first performance in this city
in the Belasce theatre. The piece in its
present shape is too long for a single
evenings entertainment, but this inor-
dinate length-which will be diminishing
when the stage machinery is in better
working order-was the only serious
drawback to the enjoyment of one of the
most interesting plays and one of the
most elaborate and beautiful spectacles
seen hereabouts for many a long day.
That the production will prove as great
a popular as it is an artistic success is
beyond all doubt or question. Last night S
audience waited patiently until the end,
and testified to their pleasure in frequent
hearty and prolonged outbursts of ap-
plause.
The play in itself. although a very good
one of its kind, would scarcely be con-
sdered as an epoch maker, apart from
its sumptuous surroundings. The great
attraction OF the performance lies in its
novelty, in the splendor and veri-nili-
litude-of the accuracy of everything on
~ an expert could speak with authority
of its Japanese interiors and the ex-
traordinary attention to minute details
of native dress, habit and manner ex-
hibited in the stage ma nagement. To
say that the representation is in all re-
spects a faithful transcript of page of
life in the older Japan. would be ha-
zardous assertion; but at all events it is.
TO the lay observer, a credible reflection
OF it, and there are few moments when
the illusion of an Oriental atmosphere
is broken. The pictorial charm is inces-
SAINT. Nor is the story itself by any
means devoid of substantial dramatic
qualifications It belongs to a high order
of romantic tragedy and it is as full of
Imagination as ii is of stirring episodes.
The assigned period is that of the re-
preston of the Samuri, rem of whom,
under the leadership of the Daimio, Kara
oefy the power of the Emperor and main
tain themselves in the mountains as out
laws. Kara is under the obligations to
visit the Prince of Tosan. and the Minis
ter of War, Zak1uri, also a guest of the
Prince, sets an ambuscade for him.
From this he escapes. although badly
wounded in the encounter, and he takes
his place at the ceremonial feast, con-
cealing his hurts. With Oriental impas-
sivity and politeness. he listens to Yak
kuris smiling assurance that his life is
forfeit to the Emperor, and that he will
surely be slain on his departure. In the
face of the impending death he prepares
to leave the friendly shelter, but in
the moments Of farewell he faints and
falls, after recognizing in the daughter
of his host, the Princess Yo-San, the
the lovely maiden whom he had met al
ready in the recesses of the hills. and
loved at first sight, not knowing that she
reciprocated his passion. While the MUIR
derers lie in wait outside, the Princess,
a child of nature utterly ignorant of all
evil. with the aid Of a faithful mute.
carries the stricken warrior into her own
inviolable chambers. and there nurses
him back to life and health without
thought Of wrong. When Zakkuri and his
myrmidons trace the fugitive to his re-
emily to the gods thar she has never
seen him, remarking graveiy that il is
better to lie little than to suffer much.
She lies also to Kara. concealing from
him the fact that his comrades have been
risking their lives to communicate with
him while ne has been lying at the point
OF death. and assuring him that he has
been with her for two days only instead
OF forty
When he learns the truth he upbraids
her iercely. and starts to go. but soft
ened by her protestations finally con
sents to stay until the morrow But in
the meantime his retreat has been dis
and the lovers are surprised by
Yo-sans father. who is barely dissuaded
from killing her on the spot. but finally
contents himself with proclaiming her an
outcast. Kara. after a desperate resist
ance. falls into the hands OF Kakkuri.
and in the next scene. one Of the most
powerful in the piece. Yosan visits the
latter at the War once, and intercedes
for the life of her lover. The Minister
demands herself as the price. and when
she comprehends his offer; berates him
furiously, but later. when she realizes
that Kara's life is the forfeit. and when
she sees him led to a fiery torture. she
comedies everything even betraying the
hiding place Of the ten Samurai whom
zakkuri has to fnd under pain Of execu-
ton in twenty-four hours The next
scene Is at the ruined shrine in the noun
iains. where Kara has rejoined his com
rades. He relates mis- adventures. and is
forgiven for having broken his vows in
having any dealings with woman. but
hen Yo-ssn herself appears 70 warn
them. and * Is plain that she has betray-
ed them into the hands OF their enemies.
she is proclaimed an outcsst by them al
50. and thus becomes the sport OF a pitt
able fate. In a striking tahleaux the Sa-
mural go forth 70 face the foe in one
last hopeless charge. and IN the ensuing
scene the few survivors OF the struggle
commit hari-kari in The recesses of a
bamboo forest Kara last OF all dying
upon the breast OF Yo-ssa whom he
promises TO meet and forgive il The First
Celestial Heaven. after she has gone
through the reincsrnations Of . thousand
years. II Is al this point that the play
proper ends. but The poetic value of Il -
immensely heightened by a sort Of pan0-
ramic epilogue in two scenes without
words n the first Is seen The Rive II
Souls. flowing by the mountain that d.
vides the Heavens and the HeHs- shsd-
ovyy shapes ~ Yo-San and others feat on
10 the fulali1nent % this destiny.
through shining mists between towering
boundaries q forh.dding orags. ar ln-
sginativs vision which Is represented On
The stage with Extraordinary impressive
ness IN the second. On Tire summit q