New-York tribune., 1903-02-15


tions are then only trick of the dramatst, who
is cutting play pattern, not setting forth life
upon the stage. Your writer of melodrama is no
farther from life than is Mr.. Fitch in 1.-The Frsky
Mrs. Johnson" and hence no farther from the real
aim and end of literature.
Beginning tomorrow night, Broadway will see
one of the most remarkable outbursts of musical
comedy in its history. Shows that before
the sparrow dares will take the sush of February
with ragtime. and in the majority of the theatres
will heard the sound of beaten brass and patter
of chorus slippers. In theatre, indeed negro
organization will hold forth in song and dance, and
in another Miss Cahin will sing new song written
for her by the coored team of Cole and Johnson
To balance this, there will be the much heralded
production of Resurrection and few dramas
which still hold the boards. The manager who re-
Gently predicted that the day of musical comedy
was passed was discovered yesterday taking pas
sage South America.
AT the Victoria Theatre Tuesday night will be
produced for the first time in America a drama
bearing its title of the most imaginative
words in the English language, built from novel
by of the worlds most eminent and wide reach
ing living writer's and featuring star-Miss
Blanche Walsh. This version Of Tolstoy's ''Resur-
rection" is in the main the version which
3eer5onm Tree will produce the same night in
London, coincident with the Tooth performance In
Paris CT the original French version. Miss Walsh
will be supported by Joseph Haworth.
From a technically artistic ground Tostoys
novel. and TO lesser degree the play Ito lesser
degree because the Count himself did make
the dramatic versionD. of interest in light of
his volume What Is Art?' According the
teaching Of that volume. if book picture
play does produce in others the emotions
which the creator first felt himself and then
sought TO embody. it is art. And if these emo
tions are not of character to be understood
shared by all classes of men. rich poor, edu-
Gated illiterate. it is bad art however much it
may move the few. In its main theme, which is
the theme of the play his novel Resurrection
deals with broad and fundamental passions. both
the lowest and the most exalted known to
mon clay. Book and play tell the story of the
giri Katusha Masova. the daughter of an
married peasant woman, who is ruined by a young
of royal blood. Prince Dmitri, and sinks
the lowest depths of crime bestialty Con-
fronting her % son, the prince repents of his
sim and resolves to follow her. into exile. in
order her soul. The resurrection of her
soul is his task. its final accomplishment the
climax OF the play The setting of the drama is
the squald Russian prison. the criminal
courtroom. and lastly exiles camp in grim
Siberia. OF course, Miss Walsh will play Maslova
and Haworth the Prince And the critics VIII
have their chance to whisper. like the Devil in
Kipling's poem. ITS Tolstoy, but is ii Art?"
AT the Criterion Theatre tomorrow James T.
Powers will appear in musical comedy by
Frederic Rankin and Harry b. Smith, music by
Ludwig Englander called THE Jewel OF Asia"
To some the very title may a trife like
something heard in the past. a faint echo or a
song long dead Let us hope for the best; echoes
may end with the title. The of the play
are laid In Paris and Turkey. give opportunity
for such scenery and costumes shall be sug-
gnstfVe of the true musical comedy of tradition.
doubtless Mr. Powers plays the part of young
artist pitchforked by fate into a Tur---sh
and the inheritance Of hundred wives. OF course.
these wives have been obtained by whomever at