The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-01
"EVERYMAN," MORALITY PLAY,
HOLDS A FINE AUDIENCE

An audience distinctly representative Of
the intellec,ual dcvelornent Of this COM
munity sat through one hundred impress
:iive minutes in witness TO the old morality
play of 'iIveryman' at the Odeon last
night.
There vas at the outset strong ele-
ment of curiosity as to what forra the
preachment of the worlds code of morals
would take-a curiosity whetted by the
arrangement; OF the broad stage into a
copy of a Spanish church yard of the Fiji
teenth Century. serene in rich color and
design. furnishing and decoration.
Two shaven monks came into the scene
about the time the audience was seated.
and. with measured steps. took places,
each az the extreme side OF the platform,
where. save on two occasions. when they
fell to their knees. they sat motionless on
low stools
There followed for the space OF three or
four minutes a murmur of distant music
old music that was playing when Column
bus set out for the Western seas.
The stage WIS lighted softly from the
rear OF the audience. while there passed
down the center aisle with quick. heavy
movement. a Messenger. This figure was
rolcd in the Garb OF Il medieval student.
The man was young. strong. and SO
deadly serious in mien that he carried
with him. in his unusual entrance through
the body of the house. Il complete impress
sion of the atmosphere that was TO ste
coed and continue while the play ran its
course. This Messenger addressed the
audience from a low pla tform before the
stage.
He explained in the quaint Chauce.ian
English in which the drama is rendered.
He was neither priest nor teacheT-nor
quite a man in TIE impression he gave.
Before the hcavy-voiced announcement
was at end, the audience was definite
" transpianted to another age and an al
tered state OF mind
Hard upon inc passing of the Messen,
ger. VINO took his course away as he hau
come-through the tody of the house
there came the voice of Adonai-God-
commanding Death TO summon Every
man.
And sliewe hym in my name
pylgrymaCc he must on hymn take
Whche he In wyse may escape.
hnd that he brynge with hym a sure rckeynSe
Without delay any taryonSc.
Dethc. skeleton with trumpet and
drum, makes raucuS entrance and de-
claims his purpose. With a trumpet BIAS
and the drum thrice beaten. he summons
E"erymdn. who comes in the type OF
fresh; Joyous youth. intent upon life and
It's pleasures.
F!veryman. played by young woman of
great beauty. dashes across the stage
hummins light song and playing upon
the strings Of Il Suitterr. He does not see
the terrifying figure of Dethe and not UNI
til he is halted does he make sign of fear
Even then. when Dethe stays him fierce
~ and demands that he bear him company
on a Tar journey. he laughs and moves as
if 10 leave Then Dcthe coldly tells him
he = he no ta.lN m
and only now, when called, must Every
man come.
1t is here that one-whether he be teach
er or pupi-iinds the commanding note of
the PLAY. for Eve:sman. in a voice that
rings with anguish. eNclains:
Oh Dethe. thou contest when
l had thee least in mind.
He has begun 10 realize the ultinat e
end of all that is mortal in him. hut SO
wcGded is he TO the devices of life that
lie pluckS courage from pause and
makes an offer of gold for his release. He
viii then and there pay thousand pounds
tor a day of grace Then does Dethe
make doleful answer:
clergyman, II may not Ice by wayc:
1 set not by gold. sylver. nor rychesse
Ne h. pope, enperour, kynge. duke. ne pryaces;
For. and wulde receive gyftes CRETE
All the worldc l mycht Ecte;
But r.iy C.S.ome is clenc contrary,
] Syve the no respite come hens and not tary
turns about him. seeking a companion for
the long. painful passage that lies before.
ite renenihcrS good friend. one Fellow
snip. -: fellow of infinite Jest Il man in
spanf,les and cap and bells. Everyman's
eyes BRIGHTEN
He looks across the black gap ahead of
MN and sees the red and gold OF his
friends raiment. Fellowship then makes
entrance; The audience. now quite under
tne spell of what is passing. turns its
mead as the nsIry fellow swarms down
-nsp
man as he comes. Surely here is happiness
Here Is Il companion for the far journey.
Fellowship would know the cause of his
friends grief.
Shewc me YOUR Erefe and save no more
Fer In fay;h and thou 20 to hell,
l Will not forsake the by the way
So ENeryman. hope once more alive sets
about with his tale. Fellowship. who has
soon starts with anxiety; then, with i'm
patience. lie bounds from his stool and
dasnes Gown the steps and away. whence
he came. Not he for such journey, Ev-
cfyman must look elsewhere
Thus does the play proceed. One by one
We have concrete fo:ms in representation
OF varied human fualities-one IMPLYING
Riches. and known as Goodies: another a
beautiful woman standing in representa-
ton OF Knowledge; others for the Senses
the rive Wits: another for Strength, and
one Tor Beauty.
Out of this great following which Ev-
cry man mas, there appears Good Dedes"
who, sadly in neglect. lies weak upon The
ground 1t is. no; until Knowledge ard
Confession, by their ministrations, lend
of the other swarm Of qualities fall away
or rush precpitately from the scene. gees
straight to the grave side and is strong in
life after the cover has been placed above
Everyman's bowed head.
There were times last nigh:-nany of
them-when the silence was so positive
that the traditional dropping, of a min
would have shocked the tympanun, The
audience lest its sense of location: ana
whatever of humorous thought there may
have been as the first of the quaint figures,
heavy meaning Of the great life story was
unfolded
The, figures, headed by Everyman;, his
eyes upon the cross. passed away from