Arizona republican., 1903-08-19
THE LIGHT THAT FAILED"

The oft-repeated prediction that the day of the book-play Is ended is hardly borne out by the really wonderful suc- cess iii London of Constance Fletcher's dramatic version of Rudyard Kipling's "The Light That Failed" which Forbes Robertson and Gertrude Elliott will! present in this country next season un- der the direction of i<law & Erlanger opening in Buffalo, September 18th.
 That the name of Kipling is one to conjure with goes without saying Adapters of novels to the stage found that of Dickens very potent seventy wears ago as . novelist behind drama But Dickens was very unfairly treated by the Stirlings. Montchieffs and Lacys. who took his stories. even before their serial publication was finished, and constructed some really awful plays from tLem, making a denouement of their own. From that day 10 this there has been more or less fault finding witE book-plays as incomplete, unsatisfying and lacking in the elements which full fill the expectations of the readers Of the stories. This complaint has been particularly strong during the past few years.
 But Constance Fletcher, who writes under the pen name of George Elem ing" has, in the opinion of London critics. adapted ''The Light That Fail cd to the stage with notable skill and dramatic power. The prologue and the three acts are brought together deftly. character in each instance is graphically portrayed and interest in the touching story is maintained with out abatement to the very end.
 Without apparently striving for it. there is a delightful atmosphere of reality about the entire piece, while the dialogue, being in the main Rudyard Kipling's own, is refreshingly virile. Seldom has piece been done that in ali it's features kept the audience enchain- ed as this one does. An old Royal Acad emy student and a painter and exhibi- tor at the Royal Academy, MT. Robert son is just the man to sustain the part of Dick Heldar.
 In the camp scene of the prologue. Dick Heldar. who has sabre cut across the eyes, and who frets under his binding bandage. is the object of generally kindly solicitude. his friend Torpenhow especially constituting him self his nurse. Maisie is spoken Of, for the artists know the lady. who is q hard working student of their art, and the auditor Is informed. in A. charm ingly natural way, that Dick is her sultor.
 MT. Aubrey Smiths Torpenhow. strong character sympathetically real ized, accentuates this most engaging prologue, in which. of course. MT. Rob- ertson's fine impersonation of Dick Hcldar occupies a prominent place. Sounds of firing rouse the specials" who hurry off to witness the engage ment. Unable 10 withstand the tempta- tion to join them, Dick tears off the bandage. The curtain descends on his dearly bought temporary power of sight.
 The rest of the story, told in three acts and four scenes. is so simple and undertaking it could be told in half dozen lines. Heldar loves Maisie, but she refuses his offer of marriage and determines to win fame as an artist on her own account. Dick worships her. They are driven conflictingly to a sort of trial of artistic strength. She will paint a "Melancholia, rather than marry Dick. and he will paint one against her