The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-23
THEMES Of THE THEATRES.
BJORNSONS LATEST DRAMA rs A
PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY.
Built About New Sort OF "Hcsias Gsbler"
and Her Muititudinous Relauvcs--A
Mesfico-Legai View OF lbsen-Awful
Rumor That Croker's Now q Believer.

Meiico-Legai View OF lbsen-Awfu
Rumor That Croker's Now q Believer
Reports differ about Bjonstjerne Bjon-
sons new drama in three acts entitled
'Aw Storhove.' and lately produced at
the Deutsches Theatre, Berlin. The author
avoids the social problem this time and
let's loose the dogs OF psychological war
fare. In a former play, -Laboremus,
there Is a female bent on trouble making
She is a pianist, and throughout we are
given to understand that her touch on
the keyboard hypnotizes her hearers,
though to the audience Is not given an OPP
portunity to Judge for itself In Munich
FrAnlein Svoboda-an athletic name-was
this evil heroine. Lydia. who almost wrecked
the happiness OF an uncle and his nephew
Why will relatives hunt in couples?-but 1t
failed at the last.
In "Paa Storhove' the niece Of the afore-
said Lydia Is the factor Of destruction.
Her name Is Maria Ura and she ia a wonder
worker In the way OF mischief. She Ii
the wife Of a young man named Hans Urd.
who lives with his father and brother at
the Urd family estate in Storhove. As
some people attract evil about themselves,
like a cloud charged with electricity, only
to discharge IL, the life at this home Ii
not a happy one. Things happen. The
brothers, Hans and Knub, once fast friends.
became bosom foes; the sister OF their
dorfian, but il e only fact-business secrets
arc betrayed; fire Is discovered in the Office
Of the IRA chemical factory. Decidedly,
. tricksy hobgoblin is let loose on the
estate.
But II Is only a woman She is Maria.
She is handsome, selfish and a monster OF
destruction. Her particular tic Is the
upsetting of others plans. Altogether a
degenerate of the criminal type. Among
her pleasing pranks is the cutting Of water
pipes after she has fred a building, One,
however. Is cognizant Of her wickedness.
II is her husbands uncle-more Ollen-
dorff-and State Minister. In a strong
scene he gives her the option OF shutting
Oh the coil or going to prison. Her mother
in.law-what a strange play of relatives!-
helps her to escape. This mother Of her
husband Is the contrasting character to
the sinister impulses of the heroine. DR..
Bjomson has handled his intrigue with
unusual power. though his friends are sorry
to SEQ the hold IbSen has over him now
adays. II was quite otherwise a few years
ago when the two great men did not speak
even as they passed through the same
fjord This Nara Ura has for US a slight
Cooler. who had both the decency and
the courage to blow out her brains with
her fathers pistol.
DR.. ". j. O'Sullivan, the well-known
medico-legal expert, who can give you a
psychologist reason for everything on the
globe, even for Tammany Hall. has very
decided views on the drama OF gloom
So decided are these views and 20 meaty
that some have asked him to lecture at
the club-on one Of those duh nights-with
Father Ibsen as a theme. Don't imagine
the doctor believes any nonsense about
the decadence Of Ibsen-he knows the
chronological peculiarities OF the Scandi-
navian race too well: but he makes this
point, perhaps an obvious one, yet not al
ways put forward:
.lhsen is a strong man. He IL a thinker.
He Is probably the greatest maker of drama
IN the past century; but he will never be
popular In America. We get In our too
abort day all the tensenees OF tragedy. and
when night arrives. this tension must be
Others with music OF the theatre.
THE deadlest Wagner music drama Ii
not 90 wearing to the nerves as an Ibeen
play unrelieved by music. or the illusions
of art; Watch the result: Your over
never again. His brain cells charged with
nervous fluid. demand q relief, an explosion.
Instead Of getting his discharge In laughter
OF through the lulling OF harmony, the
cells are fur' her congeeted by the repressed
Henoe-argues the Ingenious doctor rbeen
will not do In New York, where we demand
lower pressure after shutdown.
However. In European cities, not the
capitals, In certa ain cities where the blood
news more sluggishly. where life's daily
interests are not multiple, an rbsen play,
with It's constant throwing up of suggestive
images. It's fierce absorbing Of the listeners
ego, Is a welcome diversion.
In intellectual circles 1t serves to divert
the mind as would novel, or a church festi-
val-or. why not a prizefght, Doctor
0'6uuivan2 This Is not bad reasoning.
We all knew that Richard Croker was
an ardent admirer Of Wagner, especially
Of Wotan, but that he reads fbsen with avid
ity at Vantage is rather disturbing to all
good politicians. When the news leaked
out At the club the one capital question
usi said the three Don Giordnnis. And II
b, furthermore. whispered that Mr.. Cookers
favorite play In not sGhosts"-he loathes
the title FOR personal reasons; or, A Dolls
House." but John Gabriel Borkmann.r
ing drama left when the news filtered as
far as Fourteenth street. War-worn sach-
ems upon whose veteran cheeks was
peeling the paint Of former scalp-dances
sat play In hand trying to elucidate its
meanings.
Now. In Tammany Hall symbolism pre-
walls. Every brave Is an idealist; so the
message from over-seas-for 80 these loyal
hearts (oh, 30 free from guile or suspicion!)
interpreted the Partially Of the Chief for
Ibeen-gavc pain to painting bosoms. John
Gabriel Borkmann.' 1t may be remembered,
relates the story Of a man once a power
who fell. fell from grace and prosperity.
After involuntary exile, he returned to his
house and In the upper floor paced the long
hall like a wolf imprisoned. The sound OF
his footsteps resound through the corridors
Of your brain long after you have laid the
book aside. These footsteps were heard
at the hall. Every thud reverberated In
the hearts OF the ones who wait.
Why John Gabriel Az poet Sarge
MAlloy tersely put Il:
Say. II the Chief walks that way up and |
down, up and down in the new shanty.
it's tine 10 quit. No Martinique In mine
II IL only fair TO add that the general
feeling in the club was that the mental
crisis would pass soon. All very WELL"
said another pessimist, but you fellows
don't know the name OF this here Nibsons,
or Ibsen's last play. do. for I bought
it at the book shop A murmur OF