Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-12-10
THE CHRISTIAN" PLAYED
BY NELL COMPANY
LARGE AND APPREcIATivE AUDI
ENcE PRESENT PLAY FULL
OF ACTION AND STRONG
SITUATIONS.

tangible mass and dramatic situations
are turned into the ridiculous by the
very slightest carelessness where con-
centrated attention to detail is indis.
pensable.
II for no other reason, James Neill's
company will be remembered by Homo
lulu theatre-goers for their able pre-.
sentation OF the dramatization OF Hail
Gaines most powerful book at the
Opera House last night. The audience
was large, representative and distinct
ly appreclatiye Of the efforts of the
company.
1t has often been said that Honolulu
audiences are cold. After last night.
the allegation may be stamped as a
distinct error. When applause was
not heard 1t was because the people
were too deeply moved to resort D
demonstrations of the kind.
| The Christian" should be given
again before the conclusion OF the
Neill season for there are hundreds
in town today who, from the descrip.
tion given their friends in the audience
last night, are now all too anxious TO
see the play. While "A gentleman of
France" with its attractive title, was
well played and met with the favor OF
the people, THE Christian" with it's
less attractive title, Is far superior
when in the hands OF the Neill's The
opinion is ventured that II will prove
the strongest play in their repertoire.
| hn futi nrfs
on the tilling ground OF Peel Castle,
Isle OF man, and then the scene is
shifted to London, from the music
hall to tue church of the Catholic faith
ers, to the apartments of Glory QuaylG
in Clements Inn, and then back again
to the protecting walls OF the church.
Edyth Chapman, as Glory Quayle.
Is most powerful in her presentation.
first OF the impetuous manx maiden.
imbued from childhood with the at
mosphere of the church and the peace
full calm OF her island home, yet ann
ious for the brillance OF the life OF
London and, second, of the woman
swayed by the higher motives that
have come as result of the very life
which she had craved.
In hIbblins joyousness. in the heat
of passion, or smarting from the pain
OF disillusionmenp the leading lady OF
the Neill Company is equally strong.
With her the audience laughs from
pure joy, with her It rebels and with
hers till II feels sharp pangs of a beau
tiful dream shattered
A bright bit In the play is the lunch
con scene near Peel Castle. The spirit
/ OF youth and happiness hovers over
the little group of picnickers as they
spread their cloth upoon the greer
and lift their yictuals and dishes from
the basket. Then comes the extreme
= of this carefree atmosphere and tn,
| audience Is shown the struggle be
= tween the desires OF the flesh and thu
spirit when Gloria Quayle visits tho
= church OF the Catholic fathers. Moth
ing could be stronger than her presen
: tation OF the woman trying with al
her strength to make duty the master
Q Of desire and when conquering anC
= fleeing from the church she kneels i'm
!, pulsively and kisses the cloak of the
man she knows once and for all sh,
| loves with very depth Of passion, the
= audience must needs weep with her.
e Mr.. Neill as John Storm Is equal!
= strong In his part, first as the son o
an English nobleman, hesitating be
r tween a life of the world or OF thu
I church and then as a Catholic priest
Q helping the poor, the forsaken. thu
SHINING. His strong individuality con
e tinually impresses itself on thu
0 audience. His strongest playini
. comes In the third net, when his fan
e atheism gains the upper hand AM
thinking Glory Quayle, the partner o
= his boyhood days and the idol of hi
e later manhood, on the brink OF darl
I abyss, he seeks to kill her and thel
repents. In the fourth act, also, h
does magnificent work, particular!
when he stands against all urgent ap
peals to him to fee.
The others of the east must not b,
forgotten. George Bloomquest tool
the two parts Of Parson Quayle an,
The Manager most admirably and JohI
w. Burton as Archdeacon Wealthy
Father Lamplugh as Robert Siddle
and Reginald Travers as Lord Storm
are excellent in their respective parts
Sheldon Lewis makes a strong Horati
Drake and Robert Morris is equall
|. as good as the devil.may'care Lor
j Robert Vre. Donald Bowles as Broth
err Paul, Lillian Andrews as Mrs. Ca
lender and Louise Brownell as Poll
Love, should all come in for most fay
orable mention.
At several stages during the pei
formances the climaXes were so stron
g that It was necessary to raise the cuI
tain three and four times.
Every man who does stunt on tn
o stage is called an actor, but you oftel
mpn1ar univ