New-York tribune., 1902-10-28
THE JUDGMENT OF KING SOLOMON.

THE il DGMENT OF KING SOLOMON.
A drama Of much greater scenic pretentousness
than Is usUal at the American Theatre produced
at that house yesterday, for the hrst time
stage called The Judgment Of King Solomon
This drama. which has been widely advertised
based on the well known Biblical incident is the
work OF Dore Davidson, who adopted his idea for
Il from a pantomimic representation ~ the Incl
dent that he saw IN France. The Biblical subject
and the promised splendor OF the production COM
rined 20 draw a large audience 10 the American
Theatre. many of whom were strangers 20 that
house.
The author Of the drama very evidently had
'Ben Hur" in his vision while he wrote The
Judgment Il King solomon" for the story Is
ofttn but an excuse for scenery and mechanical
erects the plsv than half spectacle.
There are nine changes Of scene IN the four acts;
there Is a sand storm in the desert. which. clear
ing away. discloses host Of angels singing in
the sky: there is Solomons temple wh-ol. in one of
his troubled dreams. crumbles and falls in smoke
and fire. there are professions and rites around
the altar. with little Eighth-ave. children having
their first taste of stage hfe, and there are Vet
more angels, real and pssteboard All this was,
perhaps. be expected; hut the changes were 30
cumsily handled and the scene shifters required
50 much light and made 80 much noise doing their
VoIk that ii was hardly effective One rather put
I'D with It and watched the treatment OF the story.
The story concerned Naamah ana Rebecca. two
girls of the tribe Of Benjamin. Before the play be-
gan Rebecca had been drugged and seduced by
King solomon, and was concealing her shame. In
the opening act Naamsh IS induced 10 take the
drug also. and is carried unconscious into the pal
Of the king The curtain fell whispers
through the audience Of. Knockout drops"
A son results. both 70 Rebecca and Naamah. and
both women are banished from the tribe But the
king, having lost his lawful and repented Of
his sins-thanks the stage angels-desires 20 find
another heir. and hearing that of these girls
he has wronged Is a mother. sends forth Manassas,
the villain. fnd mother and child. To Manassas
promised power and station by Rebecca IL he
VIII bring her TO the king, his path is plain He
mus; kin the other child.
Then occurs scene Of real power. inevitably
strong. 70 be sure but well handled. BY accident
Rebecoa comes with her child the hut where
nirht ana. ignorant Of Manssses's plans, puts her
child sleep in the victims crib. Manassas creePs
IN when all are asleep and strikes the blow Then
Rebecca wakes 10 discover her own child murdered
where il lay For this instant the play 10
real strength. and Miss Lillian Bayer who PLAYED
Rebecca. for this instant had the audience in her
power.
OF course the dead baby and the living were then
transposed-Naamah meanwhile sleeping with won
derfuI soundness and IN the last act the situation
was ready for the Biblical story OF King Solo
mons Judgment. Incidentally he made Naamah
his wife and queen At the end. Such is the story,
the play tells with respectful 81 not inspired Ian
gusge though, hut with rather too much badness
in the opening scenes 20 be pleasant and too many
Interruptions n angels. Better acted ana better
staged II might be made as interesting as Ben
Hur" and in spots, far more emotionally appeal