New-York tribune., 1903-04-05
THEATRICAL INCIDENTS AND NEWS NOlES.
CONSIDERATIONS THE MACHINE DRAMA-"IHE
COUNTRY GIRL" At HARLEM, AND WHY
1T LEFT D4LYS.
IT LEFT D4LT'S.

The mesinary conversatior-for IL is hardly
more than that-contributed 20 the April North
American Review by Mrs. Clarence H Mackay,
and labelled Gabrielle: A Drama has attracted
no little notice partly Of the social proi-
1ence Of its author partly. Is glad to hope be
cause Of that phrase in its title. "a Drama One
of the English quarterly magazines has recently
published entire four act play, play evidently
with the practical demands Of production
.n mind and the publication has been greeted with
approval by many play lovers That many read
srs Of The North American Review were SINH
,arly pleased when they the April cover
the words Gabrielle: A Drama" there can be
no doubt A good play IS good reading. There are
eon1e, indeed, which are good only in the reading
To set stage in ones brain, TO be stage man
eger, audience. star. supporting cast and scenic
artist all ct once is pleasant and stimulating
exercise by no means foreign the taste
practice of a goodly portion OF the reading pub
aic and certainly worthy 20 be encouraged among
the remainder. The magazines have it in their
rower to present occasionally plays TO their read
ers and so contribute to the growth OF general
interest dramatic literature and an appreciation
of literary values the stage. That such occa-
sional publication would be welcome is attested by
the attention given Gabrielle: Drama.
To be sure when one has cut the leaves of the
magazine and read 'Gabrielle''-'a dream from
the treasures contained in the letters Of Abelard
and HeloYse" the subtitle somewhat sententiously
reads-the first feeling is Of keen disappointment
Opening with Of stage directions suggestive
Of Sardou the play" then leaps full swing into
q mesh of dialogue that suggests at first the meta
physical jargon Of Marie Corell. and suddenly,
without a hint how Gabrielle got up from
the chair where the opening stage directions had
placed her. find her, TO establishment, kiss
ing Theophile both eyes. How like D'AnnUnzio
the stage directions prefacing Act IL. (There
three actsD 1T IS the beginning of May, but
spring is late in the North, the sun has little
warmth" VIII the theatre be chilled for this act?
IN the ensuing dialogue no one mentions the tenn
perature- During the opening scene of the third
act too the voice of Gabrielle is directed come
from the blossoms now from the pool"
again softly from the sky And then the
OF Empedocles throws back its head, laughing
strident, mocking laugh" On the whole. one is in
clined 10 syTnpathize with Empedocles. AS drama
Gabrielle" is quite impossible; it does not even
have the instinct Of dramatic life which justifes
for library purposes. the dramatic form in which
many Of Browning's poems are cast 1t must be
treated. If at all seriously, as a series Of imag-
mary conversations between and a woman
who. il actually meant to be Abelard and
I5eioYse perilousIy suggest that Mrs. Nackay
endeavoring picture their psychology
purpose 10 discuss Gabrielle in this place. one
Is at liberty 10 accept what this man ana this
school Of thought and the state Of feeling Abeard
T .ge b Choose 10 otheTs knowing Abeiard Better
or knowing him, perhaps through Paters eyes.
speeches about knowledge that TheophiIe makes
SS bosopby sss s of abtd based on tRe claims Of the
human spirit ana gained from the touch OF He
s5ble 70 believe that this Tneopnile composed the
songs in the vulgar tongue 20 his mistress, which
Mrs Mackay afflrmS he wrote, even setting a boy
10 singing one as the young men sang the songs
fhe suspect that behind Mrs Mackay'S
innocent appearing drama" is the feA intention
10 present z subtle argument for ''woman's rights
by making out, through the person OF Gabrielle.
was the real first dawn Of the Renaissance, the
true forerunner in the Middle Ages OF the enancl-
pateG human Split
the that the words. "a drama were printed
on the cover OF prominent magazine and were
gladly welcomed By many expectant. II disap-
pointed, readers
One Of the pleasant features Of the week will be
the reappearance in New-York. the Harlem
Opera House Of William Norris and Miss Minnie
ashley in "A Country Girl This charming clean
and tuneful musical comedy began the season at
Days Theatre. where IL enjoyed prosperous run
TN fl was announced on December 2s Mr.. Savage
would put George AIDES musical comedy. THE
Sultan Of suu," into Wallacks. Now, Mr. Savage
IS al independent Tnanager. and Wallack's is an
independent theatre Days Theatre. on the
other hand though Daniel Frohman is named as
the manager. is in reality controlled by Klaw
trIanger So when The Sultan OF suIu" made
its bow across the way, out went a Country
f:srg.. 70 make room for The Billionaire." BY
.his stroke Klaw & Erianger doubtless hoped 70
,rsure the business done by the Independent at
traction 70 Offset the novelty across Broadway by
one Of their own. How miserably they failed is
now history for The Billionairs' has departed
rood riddauce bad rubbishi-wkiae The Sultan
q Sslua stu furnishes intelligent amusement te