New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-14
TIE DRAMA.
MART OF THE LowLANps."
Manhattan Theatre

- The NThattan Theatre last richt and n -,
.et and -1deIt satisiacticn or a hrfl,ia,. ,,,,,
=, ~. IslSe presented his long pro-,iso7 -,
-, -respanish drama az Marta ~ -. -
,.-ss~ AnCci GUiunera, and t,.is WIS of.se-,-as
- a. interest and received With c-,,h-...
49, 30 play tells THO old old Fto-v- s,-e,.c-
--e-,g itsclf and forever new.-of love ,-s s.
"a ,se1-eut tragedy and grief: but II r-s,isas
-. ssiil~ picture with rev adiuncts % ,,,t----s
o,--i and sets En- n . fresh environment ~ char
,--r-c,rcur-stanCe. and place. Tie heroine is ~
80 -uauds. because she comes OF humble ,f.,esra
--sve.ls IN TIRE valley. The hero is OF tho F7frb
- because. though simple re7sl-. h Sc -
perfectly nozzle mind that thinks no evil and
..--s 20 6st~ust, but is rugged honest and
- Ike .hc mountain height on which he lives
as element of contrast throughout the drama. IS
.-.r and significantly Sustained-the contrast OF
=. ard vale % arts-ocrat and peasant. II canao-
-7 craft. cf nobility ard treach ery. 81 hich and
nv The aurocrstic Jowla1d lore. schastian has
r-is1as -he beautiful peasant giri Marta and-pur-
--sf-r TOW 10 marry rich woman OF his own
.~~-1 class while retaining Marta as mistress -
~ --c-1-es her marriage with rs Highland sheq-
Ar-5 Ns-eu-h. assuming that the girl vii de-
-ivr Der husband. and that this devoted ard c-e6u-
-,-s v--sll VIII never perceive this t-eachery o.
.--v -re shame into which he has been plunged
,----a submits 20 the marriage believing that
v--r--- has consented 70 his ov- DEGRADATION.
--s viewing hi-a. therefore with contempt. The
intrinsic --hlit-. however. q the simple Nanetch.
-,-s-re- with his idolatrous devotion 10 Marta
s,-- e-- CITIZENS her mind and wins her heart and
ss-e- e scene q jealous rage and dangerous con
60 involving an explanation % tte tanEle-she
s-so meta rhcrcslly. Is iftee % TIE highlands OF
LIE 70. che wicked nobleman persists IN his
t-t--s---s plan the txo men are confronted n q
stua--7 90 stormy passion. the infamous Sebastian
s. killed tv Na1elich; the much abused Marta Is
-a-5o-e5 and redeemed: and the rnaenanimous
sNe-re-s e- authentic hero because capable OF
.sa-e and forgiveness IS left supreme 20 take his
We &c -heir mountain home. There are im7roha-
ha-'es ~ detail The words out of all proper
t-- VII rhe dee6s TIE chil6's account a her
-reuo- s-6 her boiling pot. for example and the
old mans account OF ST Michael ard the devil
e-s while TIE colleagues OF the peasants are
so--e-'es --cix. II is 3 trusrn that ectcn should
never b. made 70 halt for the sake o. talk but this
Is ~ WAYS -e-euhe-eG. In the chief situation
tie r.av becomes elemental and 6escerds 10 the
--ar5 --a- is in ne man Two men. in brlet. fight
ever --a woman. and the stronger kills tire weaker
u --E.-s all Wis is neither edifyinE TO the moral
sense 10Y c---ius1vely Instructive OF any moral
--i- --z such e SRI as Marta r. such circuC1-
stances &c are prescribed Is a victim. and not q
ss--c- Sebastian is an uunlitiEated scoundTeI-for
Re commits the worst crime that any man can
c----.- ee6lci~r weak and helpless girl his
subsequent t-eachery is a-rocious. and the shep-
be-s kIs him The character o. Manelich. Z L
were possible would assuredly be a credit %
h--e- nature. E-Eically the play lands nowhere,
ed - seed il obviously was not intended &c land
Is s--e-rh is III its dramatic clements. and these
sc rosf-fve. 7 tells q consecutive story. and
q contains strong situations. The interest o. its c.
-el---=-- Is cumulative and * provides ample
op----E-les Tor scenic Illustration. and these have
been srIe-dl5ly improved The scene Is Catalonia
one 5f che most romantic regions p spain. where
-he hot and. dusty plains OF that generally level
.-.---- 40 wei diversified with mountain heights
The principal stage picture Is besutitl-, ald
s------r--~ ---c has been taken 70 obtain correct
Costumes s-- Hobart Bosworth. who has seen
----- -f he world en5 who gained TIE better part
- his profess l-al experience 81 Days Theatre
shows himself III The character C Aanelich- % he
en- actor q sterling intelligence. earnest feeling snd
rugged e-~-s re z1-rswhsr lacES facial expression
s-s zvnrsthe@ quality CT Voice. but he has pres
e--e ard i- this rough simple. truthful character.
-.e sometimes r---.---uous action and sometimes
s~-s-se concentration CT stiffness are eUect-ve- ana,
new Ers 1he- pathetic. HIS imperso1ation Is
American -c- Spanish. and he mistakes bolster
ccs ss-esno- and a. explosive Utte-ence for the
---e rsrb z-1 eErressior cf feeling There vas
- tcC much bounce g TIE start, ana Tar TOO
nu-h noise AZ the finish Il IRE scene O
Na-e---s discovery cF TIRE fault Of Marta
and me qe-fcy e Seoastan.-W1o mas come
hy -i--- s-ez-thtlv, 70 invade his home and
s.shr--- e---e E-e-a-e5 an overwhelming energy
rf f--- t.1H-r and acton. Mss Corona Riccar5o
vic appears -s Marta - happily possessed OF an
expansive person ard q large, dark eyes, such as
are -r-s----r with the customary ideal 81 Spanish
beau-v. -Ecre would seem 70 Re no reason Why the
actress should speak with a foreign cadence der
rec-z- o. E--ta's tale q woe was given with
gooG su-lator O. feeling an5 she was duly fra-lJ-c
r. -1--.--s q very JUS STABLE anguish The rec
snC yellow The national colors OF spain. look vel
O. 5a-k woman and as the observer muses. over
tbs a-suurtion c. Spanish womanhood he WI
pe-harz. recall Lord Byro-'s happy rhymes ana
Ezc himself a5Gn5antly corscleo:
gEa ssy 81. me . Is -.t T7;as mad ia ran a.
r7r- abroad and few AZ home