The Washington times., 1903-12-01

RELIGION SUFFUSES
"MARYOF MAGDALA"

further and further. until. In the roaring
nervousness of the days work, it is nign
forgotten. But here in this play it reap
pears, and the pictures 1t offers-of'
proud and unbroken Jewish wills; or
straight backed, tyrannical Roman sol
dlers; or long, undulating and winding
streets. gbordered by forbidding and in
hospitable doors-are like the child S
view Of this holy city. Such interiors as
are shown center upon Mrs. Fiske as
Mary or Vaughan Glaser as Aulus
Flavius, and are richly Oriental in dec
ore ton and furnishing.
Mrs. Fishes Fine Embodiments.
Mrs. FTske's art, always asincere, eff
fective and Impressive, in this instance
bespeaks a lovely tenderness and gentle
reverence it has never known before.
Accordingly her portrayal of the Nag
dalen is throughout poetic rather than
realistic, spiritual rather than material.
Yet all the fervor of Mary's Oriental
nature trembles underneath every low
tone OF her voice, and the ineffabie
pathos of the great tragedy in which
she takes so feeble a part sounds in
every word she utters.
This actress has been and is now, no
doubt, the most notable product of that
school of naturalism which has thriven
recently on the American stage. Her
acting has always been subdued. almost
to the monotone of actual experience.
This quality is not lacking In her
Mary. But she has added to the nat
uralism of her older acting a depth
of sentiment which lifts it to a higher
and better plane than anything else she
has ever done.
So 1t is that her audiences follow
her with unaffected sadness through all
the steps. of this overwhelming catas-
trophe-her first view of the prophet and
her reclamation from the mob; the
Christening and conservation OF her
heart; the realization OF her new
strength for pure life; the discovery
ofNthe betrayal by Judas. and the en-
gulhng grief Of the crucihdOn.
The Treason Of Judas.
Yet these are not the only great scenes
in this wonderful play, The whole field
of the drama comprehends few pictures
as impressive as that Of Judas, the dis
appointed fanatic-acted with much
power by Charles Notwithstanding before
Caiaphas in the dark. only his sinister
and glowering face shining like a pic
ture of horror in the light Of a single
lamp.
WHO is it?" asks the voice of the
high priest.
zone who brings tidings you WI De
glad to hear"
Judas" And at the sound of that
word the whole audience recors.
This character is the central figure Of
another scene hardly less impressive
It is the last act Of the play. Before
the curtain rises the roll of terrifying
thunder and flashes of binding light
ming foreten the storm which followed
the execution on Calvary. The scene
discloses Judas in a ravine. outcast,
forgiven only by his Master. and con-
. demned by his own heart to fortunes
worse than death
/ II is a sign OF the authors rare dra-
matte power that with the passing OF
I the storm and the coming Of moonlight
arises a contrast as great as that be-
tween Judas and his victim-a contrast
/ betwecn the wild turbulence In the
heart OF Judas and the lovely sorrow
in the heart Of Mary.
Very little OF this was lost by last
nights audience. From scene to scene
it sat, thoughtful, impressed, reverent.
And at the close Of the play it left the
building almost II silence. This was a
fine tribute, better for author and actor
than all the housekeeping in the world.
Who shall say. in the light of this ex-
i perience, that it is not well to touch
the nobler chords of the heart? Not
any Of those who see this play. Ger
tainly. A. D. A.