The Washington times., 1903-12-01
Justin H. McCarthy'S New
Play a Fine Dramatic
Poem. Redolent of Spirit
ualty and Uplifting
thoughts.
Admirably Acted and SUI
perbIy Mounted by E. h.
Sothern-BaSed on Long
fellow Robert of Sicily"


their seats and exalted them Of low de-
gree "
"He hath showed strength with his
arm: he hath scattered the proud In the
ima gination Of their hearts"
Through succeeding pageants OF early
Christian churc and ancient Greek |
state. through scenes of warfare be-
tween evil desire and holy purpose;
through the torture of a gnarled and de-
generate soul revived and chastened by
the fierce heat Of suffering, these noble
words shine as the theme of new play
disclosed locally at the National
Theater last night 1t is play
conceived for tfN expression of a puri-
flying and uplift ig thought, told In the
metricaI cadences of serious and poetic
English, and enacted with the aid OF
every element valuable 10 the modern
stage-accurate and brilliant stage set
tings, beautiful music appropriate TO
text and period and acting Of superla-
tive strength, sympathy ana restraint
Longfellow's Robert Of Sicily"
The work bears the title Of THE
Proud Prince" and is from the pen Of
Justin HuntIy Mccarthy It is, how
ever. frankly based on the sonorous and
pathetic poem, Robert of Sicily" told
by the Sicilian poet TO the immortal
circle Of travellers whom LongfellOw as
sembled at the Wayside Inn. The Won
derful parable which the OI0er work
relates Is preserved almost unchanged;
the tale is expanded merely; and it is
put to this n4gg use with touch almost
as reverent ard n skill almost as great
as those of Longfellow himself
The same King Robert is here. secure
in the same pride high as the sun and
scornful of the same impressive texts.
But this Roberts character is spread
before the mind with all the vividness
which characterizes the stage, Sight,
desire. appetite. power-an are suffused
with evil As at the touch Of Midas
everything became gold. so at the sight
Of Robert every beautiful view was
tnsed with reflected vanity. lust, AID
high talents degraded to ignoble and re-
voting uses.
At LongfcIlow's hand
King Robert yielded to his fate.
Suien and slid nj and dlsconsolate-
Dreased n tf Hatley. garb that testers Tear.-
With look bewhdered and a Eacant stare,
HIS only friend the ape, his only food
What others left-he sin was unsubdued-
But this later poet brings into the
life Of the King a power OF which
Longfellow's Sicihan says nothing; a
love so pure that one $50 graced walks
IN the wilderness as in a rose garden
these are Nj McCarthy's own words
gentle in reverence, loyal in honor
simple in faith His eyes have glimpses
OF the flight OF angels; his ears hear
snatches of the music of the spheres;
and even the very dust he treads upon
becomes the golden dust Of stars. This
IS the love that IS mightier than death;
this is the mystery Of mysteries, the
rose Of changeless youth
The Power Of Love and Innocence.
The golden power Of this spirit, rather
than the mere Christening Of an impu-
dent pride. work the regeneration OF
this new Robert of Sicily. While in his
absence from the throne an archangeI
pretends 10 execute all the evil pur-
poses Of the old monarch. the real prince
becomes first acquiescent. then humble,
then a warrior for the love which has
ennObled his heart and the power whicl.
has purified his soul Degraded TO a
loathsome shape. the world he loved
so much tur 10 TO dust and ashes at
his touch" 'e inner self, the true
Robert Is kiEeiy stiH. and ike a king
he offers al the last his only remaining
gift and lays down his life 10 shield
the woman he loves. It is a wonderful
change. and seems the more wonderful
still. so graphically has the author
decorated both sides % the shield.
AS pOmp Is thus overcome by poverty.
the pride Of kings finds It's conqueror in
the innocence of simplicity. Mr. Nc
Carthy has created for the new figure
Of this old story-it has parallels IN
nearly every tongue and age-a woman
free as the air and bright as the sun
leans which seem 70 have given color
To her hair. The playwright has en-
d0wed her with the Innocence Of a girl
hood spent IN the woodland and the
romance Of a fathers tales OF gods and
heroes. J8er life has developed at once
a conscious strength OF arm and an IN
conscious strength OF character; and
when the lust 9f a king exposes her 10
danger she rises TO an attitude OF rare
beauty, secure both in body and soul
To such a natufe IS given a great part
OF the task Of reJuvenating the good
in Roberts character. IL is the chief
contribution OF The playwright TO the
poem, and IL IS entirely worthy OF the
honor
4 Vine Play Finely Acted.
For the Interpretation Of such a story
and such characters Mr. Mccarthy
has been most Happily supplied The
King is unprecedented by Mr. Sothern.
long q conspicuous figure on our stage
and now one Of its foremost figures. He
IS the focus OF all the lights and
shadows Of the story In him are delin-
Gated all the lessons OF the play. His is
the task. therefore. Of expressing for
the comprehension Of everyone in the
audience all the varying emotions which
comprise this victSry Of conscience. Mr..
SotEerE proves himself abundantIy
equal 70 these demands. His imper-
sozatiOn ranks IA every way as worthy
Of his Hamlet. ana Il has what 10 many
viii be an added virtue OF greater va
rietx, and mere 81 ectacular display. But
whatever the rela donshlp 81 bears 10 his
older role. Mr.. Sothern's King Robert
is a distinct gain for the stage and re-
cords an indisputable advance IN his
art.
Perpetua, the young girl Of the wood.