New-York tribune., 1902-01-19
THE DRAMA.
MRS. CAMPBELL AT THE REPUBLIC.
BEYOND HUMAN POWER"

BEYOND HUMAN POWER"
II Mrs. Patrick Campbell were either great
actress or a great woman.-that is 10 say II the
denotements OF her acting, OF those OF her person
ality, were such 70 elevate the behoIder with q
sense OF suDerlative ability superative natural
gifts there might be a reason for resigned ac-
ceptance Of her sedulous presentation Of noxious
or dismal, or crazy plays. Greatness palliates de-
fects- The reader Of Swift. for example is willing
70 endure the lstressfuI ullsanthrop Of that great
writer, IN consideration Of his wonderful genius
But Mrs. Campbell IS neither exceptional an
actress nor extraordinary as a woman. Her pro-
fessional equipment. gained in many years Of ex-
pertences IS, indeed. ample for many purposes and
she possesses the more or less winning charm OF
personal oddly; but there Is neither glamour IN
her proceedings nor magic IN hersel: divert at
ieHton from the excessively Iugubrious. morbid.
duh and sometimes pernicious character OF the
dramas IN which she has chosen TO appear. and
either 70 those plays think Of them is 10
suffer. Yesterday Mrs. Campbell presented a colo
guy. IN two parts, called Beyond Human Power"
and therein she inpersonat-d bedrldden female
who is afflicted with partial paralysis This re-
creshlng fabric was made by Mr. Bjornsterne Born
son, one Of the dramatic apostles or Mr.. Iosen-
and therefore as a natural consequence, an author
bent upon being singular, any and every cost
Nj Bjornson IS, Of course a writer OF ability: no.
body doubts that. but probably II will not be
thought that his ability has been wisely en-
pioyed IN this instance-tor this piece IS nothing
essay on Christianity and Christian Science. a
picture and dialogue frelKhted with the discIos-
ure (which seems have been considered no
mentousl that Il Is quite beyond human power
through the agency OF prayer 20 arres, the prog
ress OF fatal disease There may be other mean
ings secreted IN the reCesses or this intricate and
long winded composition, but this is the most con
splcuous one, and obviously, an impairment %
This kind IS more compatible with a medical treat
ise or with sermon than II is with play. In
practical effect the performance OF II was a prayer
meeting. with calcums-only needing a final doxo-
ogy 10 make Il perfect
The scene OF this crazy exposition IS a town OF
northern Norway. and the characters implicated in
Il consist Of one bishop, preachers one man
and Ave women One Of the preachers purports 10
be a worker OF miracles. This saint has healed sey-
eral diseased persons and he proposes TO heal
his sick wife invalid who has long been disabled
The IS 70 be effected by prayer. The suffering
wife.-who devOteLHy loves her husband and more :
than half believes in his power 70 work miracle
IS sympathetic with his design responsive his
ecstatic conviction tand so eventually she - moved
by hts hypnotic fOrceJ His and daughter. on !
the contrary, from whom he has expected "o-opera-
tive aid IN his prisons find themselves !ncapacitated
by doubt, and, IN this dilemma after wearisome /
and plattudinous inquiry 70 the constituents OF
Christianity, he concludes that he must win his /
victory alone. and thereupon he retires into his
church. pray. The progress Of his devotion IS /
announced by the tolling OF a bell. and presently /
MS Wlte La-IS INTO trance OF SllIuDtF A7 Ttll0SF
being so complete that even the tumult caused by /
a landslide lvery well done 10 uoisel does not /
break II. The landslide Il IS declared. has spared I
the church. and this incident, coupled with that 0f
invald's lapse into sleep Is accepted as mir
acIe vouchsafed by Heaven IN answer 10 The .
preachers prayer. The bishop and seven parsons /
then assemble and. pending the expected recovery /
OF The paralytlc.-who Is 10 rise and walkthey in .
duge q protracted debate on the possibility and .
nature Of miracles a debate IN which many differ
ent views are enunciated mostly in THAI style OF .
loquacious top-ofty, bumbe-bee sorority 20 which I
pulpit performers are commonly addicted This /
controversy aimless. prohtless and wofuiy stupid I
rnercituIly closed by the entrance OF the patient
clad in q beautiful nghtgOwn, and perfectly pos /
sessed Of her powers OF locomotiou- The preacher |
is summoned from the church. The neghbors cius-
about the house. The congregation chants .
Hale!ujah. All seems TO be well But the trance .
machinery has spent its force The wife falls dead
Of paralysis the husband falls dead, OF disappoint-
ment: the play falls dead Of innate absurdity; ana
the audience very nearly falls dead, Of fatigue.
Mr Bjornson's drama,-f drama It can be called
which contains only two moments OF anything like .
action.-has been translated into smooth and ex-
pressive English by Miss Jessie Muir, and several
OF its passages OF narrative and description are
notably pictorial and eloquent; while even IN the .
debate on miracles there are occasional touches .
Of pIngent phraseoogy such as impart Il .
momentary bliss Of relief from rhapsodicaI folly .
Perhaps there was a little agnostic mischief IN .
the authors purpose,-a slight intention OF satre-
when writing that colloquy OF the ecclesiastical .
synod. Upon the serious themes involved in the .
piece there is no need Of extended comment No .
intelligent person believes that anything has ever
happened in this world. or will happen, or
ever can happen that is in absolute accordance
with the laws O nature. Christianty,-the spirit .
en- nbodied IN the character Of its founder,is not
mystery nor does il depend on miracles. Diseases
that exist only the Imagination can, doubtless,
be alleviated or cured, by effort Of the viii.
Cheer OF mind is propitious to health Of body.
Twice two is four. There needs no ghost come
from Norway 10 tell US this The play is not desii-
tute Of interest a miniature sketch OF Norwegian
life and likewise II a curiosity. But SICK
woman lying IN bed is out Of place in d theatre
and when fanatical enthusiasm. however amiaoe'
has turned a into god he should not be pre-
sented as a type of Christian character.
The acting marked by profound sincerity
Mrs Campbells eocution, IN her level speaking.
and until she excited. excelled any display
Of intelligence and skill that she has yet made;
but as Mrs Sang she seemed a remarkably
heaIthfuI invalid and it pleasant TO observe
that even in death her beauty remained unim-
paired Mr. T4theradge, heavy-going but correct
actor manifested a temperament of uncommon
benignitv and sweetness, and filed. indeed, true
ideal OF the bland impra cIicable deeply religious
crank A dlsputatious parson, with a prediction
for common sense was skilfUlly embodied by Mr
George Arliss whose presence thus cast CLEAN OF
Beyond Human Power" will be repeated here