New-York tribune., 1902-01-14
THE DRAMA.
MRS. CAMPBELL AT THE REPUBLIC.

''MAGDA"
Mrs Patrick Campbell appeared at the Republic
Theatre last night. acting the chief part in Mr..
SUdermaun' play Of ''Magda. named in the orig
inaI. "Hemath. and her proceedings were OBJ
served with interested attention by large audi
The play Of ''Magda." which has led a
sporadic life on our stage for eight years and is
considerably better known than it ought be, H.
lustrates propositions. First. that prudent
for a young woman become a wife before she
becomes a mother and. secondly that parents
should exercise irrational tyranny in the man
aGement Of their children. It does not require
much pen and ink Rip Van Wrinkle calls it. 70
formulate these truisms, but Mr. sudermann has
spread his thin treacle Of pattude broad
face. that his 'Magda, despite the that il
contains interviews and Colloquies that
well constructed and effective.-is c0nsummate
bore. The story of the play is indeicate, and be-
cause il is indelicate IT ras attracted some notice
The character Of the heroine has been understood
10 typify the new woman. that is TO say, the
woman who purposes 10 take an independent course
in all things. and far possible, II
she a lawless mainland this impression has
helped to invest the play with certain sort Of
aIIurement In London all such pieces as "Magda'
viewed with special favor by d sicky class Of
fantastic frfvoIities and degenerates known among
themselves, as the souls" In America they
Of course congeniaI TO cranks.
Analysis Of the character OF Magda has more
than been made in this place and comment
or that old subject must necessarily follow a
beaten track. Magda represents conceit perver-
sity. mulish seIf-wiu, bad temper, Unbalanced
mind. unprtnciped conduct. the self-induIgence Of
the caprcious voiupJUary. and the spirit Of revolt
against all restraints. whether OF convention duty.
or common sense. She is vain. selfish il-bred.
eager for admiration. and intent. IN a thoroughly
pig-headed fashion, on having her own way, with
regard 10 either cost or consequence She in
egotisul, and in actual life she would be
insufferabIe.-makiug trouble for herself and for
everybody around her She rebels against aus
father; leaves her home; suffers seduction and
abandonment; gives birth TO ilegtimate child
thereby imparting 10 another wretched being the
burden Of her own folly. weakness, and sin; attains
theatrical distincton-that colossal and celestial
crown Of greatness!-and then she returns 70 her
fathers house "a proceeding as needless as it is
foolish and incredible to find that her Hcentious
,etrayer is her fathers intimate friend wither
him with her for his belated advances, while
thanking him for having emancipated her spirit.
through the blessing OF maternity, and 10 shock
her cholertc old sire into a fatal apopexy by the
ul-tempered, wantOn false innuendo that she has
been leading life Of sexual degradation and shame.
Il would not easy imagine more repelent
type OF everything that is unlovey in feminine
nature and grossly and wantonly waywaTd in femi-
nine conduct
The purpose in presenting this type Of headlong
womanhood, was, Of course. TO construct such sit
uatiors as are naturally sequent upon amorovv -~
trgue Those situations strained but that Of
the prosperous prodigal Magdas return To her
primitive, straitaced home is Of sharp contrast
and OF rather mischievous piquant vtvaciJy, and
now become a respectable sanctmonious hypo-
crfte-is replete with the force of mordant
tempt and satirica bitterness. while that Of the
interview between Magda father, the stern. stall
wart, imperious German officer. and this whited
sepuchre OF vice diffuses certain potentiaIIty Of
anxious suspense. The play. however contains
dramatic clements Of exceptional strength its fibre
is coarse its atmosphere is dull. its ddactcism is
rudimentary. and its general impairment 10 the
spectator is that OF annoyance and distress Magda
first revealed 70 the local public by Nine.
Modjeska, who made her Of genius. and.
by investing the character with undue elevation
and refinement. rendered its meaning completely
inapplicable TO the average Of women-and this is a
play that must Justify its existence ethical
grounds if that existence IS to be justified all.
The part has since been conspicuously acted by
Nine. Bernhardt. Mime. Duse Mrs Fiske,-
Fske giving the and therefore the best.
performance Of it that has yet IT, seen.
Mrs. Patrick Campbell brings to Ma gda the ad-
vantages of delicate personal beauty Of peculiar
type and the e-pert facility of ripe experience.
Tall 1.-THE. slender alert in movement nervous.
restless impetuous. possessed of expressive
couEtenance and Of voice that is singular rather
than sympathetic apt at posing, and proficient in
sudden swirs of vehement motion and fervent
oduacity, this actress readily imparts the impress
sion Of nature that is peculiar distinctive. ener-
getic and potential. Excessive sensibility seems
be the predominant attribute of her acting and
this combined with a certain wild strange
self-absorption, OF mind in which fancy
ceeds reason and ali voltion is governed by impul-
that Of Magda's arrival home. there abundant
expression Of physical exuberance reckless hariy,
frivolous character, there neither
sweetness humor. Mrs. Campbell seems 70
have but little comedy and be essentially seri-
Gus actress in vein that is bizarre, fantastic, and
more less distraught Her expression Of scorn
and contempt, in Magdas interview with the hcen-
tious charlatan. her utterance OF sarcasm in the
bitter, icy. mordant mockery of him. her proud
exuItation in defeating. repelling. and degrading
him, and her impassioned vOlubity In declaimine
about womans advancement under the sharp dig
cipllne OF sin and sorrow revealed her powers at
their best showing her be thoroughly com
petent performer in that intense spasmodc
school which, both in America and Eng
Iand. has attained such a considerable
prominence since drawing walls began 20
be succeed with dinner plates poetical htera-
ture to be peopled with blessed damosels." In
those passionate speeches to Keller (Which ntrin-
sically. are all hummery and fustian) she mani
tested more power Of design than OF execution but
enough Of fervor 10 create illusion of sincerity;
and this in Magda, is indeed success. Mrs. Camp
bells artistic character and professional rank as
actress. however have long been established