New-York tribune., 1903-02-18
THE DRAMA.
NOne More Unfortunate.
VICTORIA THEATRE.

VICTORIA THEATRE.
Theatrical solicItude for the Female Sinner con-
tinues to be The newest expression or SYM
pathetic anxiety as to this favored being is the
play called Resurrection, based on one OF the
fervd novels Of that visionary sentimental theor1st
and comfortable Russian visionary Mr.. Tois'o!'-
which presented last night at the victoria
Theatre, with Miss Blanche Walsh and Nj Joseph
Haworth in its principal characters and whlch tens
the old familiar story, OF mans rascality and Worn-
ans weakness. IN way TO tear a cat Inc en-
vironment of this narrowing tale. since 1t Is Rus-
sian. shows slight tinge of novelty the local pup
lie has not seen notable Russian play since the
time IF The DanIcheffs": but the central part in
it is the antiquated Erring Sister, who, in many
guises and under many names, has perVaded the
stage (and the circulating hbrary) from the era OF
Jane Shore the of Mrs. Hatch IN her
present advent. on many occasions in the past
this afflicted person emerges for the purpose OF pro
noting mise-y-and it may at once be recorded
that her purpose is amply AM thoroughly fulfilled
The case of this sinner. II appears. was an un-
commonly painful one Her name was hatusha-
She was servant in the household of the noble
family OF Nekludoy, where being young ana
pretty. she attracted the Favorable notice of the
Prince Of that title, and by him she was seduced
betrayed, abandoned When about TO become
a mother she was expelled by the female relatives
Of the Prince. and thereafter she became e0urte-
san under the name Of Masova and led life Of
the most dfssolute and infamous description In
this pursuit for time she prospered: but present.
y she was arrested. tried. and condemned, on the
charge Of having poisoned of her paramours
fer the purpose OF robbing him. In her subsequent
Imprisonment she visited by her eetrayer, this
blackguard having been q member of the jury be-
fore which her tried. and his noble breast
having been stricken with pangs of contrition,
prompting him 70 befriend her and, If possible 10
make atonement for his viIIany-a course of con-
duet which these cases, is commonly called
love" BY this time she had become physical
and mental wreck; but her better nature was re-
by revival of her affection for the Prince.
and, her way to penal servitude in Siberia she
refused allow her repentant lover TO sacrihce
himself for her sake, and, by efugent display
Of every saintlike virtue. she denoted that, how
ever darkly stained with sin the human soul may
be- It can still repent and is still capable of resur-
recton.
The essential theme of this fabric has been
many times discussed in this place and particular
comment or it II present seems hardly necessary.
The ethics of the play obviously are dubious An
exceptional feminine nature might, perhaps re-
cover from radic-l dehlement, and might so lar
retrieve itself as to in purity and honor: 1t
could never escape from the grief Of remembrance,
and though It might attain TO resignation it could
not attain TO peace The moral. certainly. is trte
Reuorse leads TO repentance; repentance leads 70
tion ard reformation leads to integrity and
decency. Everybody is aware Of these facts, and
nobody requires any information on this subject.
Furthermore these themes that appertain not
10 the stage but to the pulpit. Viewed as play.
this theatrical synopsis OF Mr. ToIstoys novel,
ryhie
purpose but only possibly lucrative sensa-
-io1 lis found to consist of various scenes. oc-
curreuees, and coiloquies incidental to the eA-
ceedngly indo icate. rot TO say offensive, SUBJECT
of the social evil The piece begins with the Sc
7flction of Eatusha Later there is a scene IN the
;,,- roo-n G+ was much better done, many years
ago in one of the novels of Wilkle toihns' IN
which Prince Nekhudov vainly strives 10 sIiIeid
the accused Masova- Then comes shocking
erene in the female ward Of Moscow prison.
of heSr o led
IF them drunk and quarrelsome. all OF them dis
soiute and miserable. Dialogues Of hysterlcal
passion ensue and the parade Of vulgarity ana
saualor is closed with tabeau Of virtuous ecstasy
II &c all inflated bombast, dirty and dreary ano II
has no other effect except 10 deluge the mind with
fifth and gloom The dramatsts Henri Bataihe
and Michael Morton. have. of course widely ue-
,srted from the novel. but enough Of 1t remains
70 swear by-or at-according as the observer may
l,aupen 10 be moved; and that suffces-
,rberA are persons who appear to like this
SORT Of stuff and TO find enterta ainment IN IT.
The philosopher Locke noticed that the world mas
raopIe Of all sorts" Voices, indeed. are not in
freouently audible in defence OF plays on the pig
sfv and the cesspool and it is seriously urged that
these odoriferous concoctions.-such as 6hosts
and Iris ought to be appIauded because they
90 ..,friIA,' and because they teach good moral
Merely for the purpose Of teaching good morals no
roarseer row in sight would produce anything;
nor indeed. should any manager be expected 10
~, from this rnotive--for the OBVIOUS reason tha'
-4- art
that it is not the province OF 'he stage To teaeh
ethical ..iessons": and that there is no proht IN
carecbisras But aside from these considerations
il seems a strange mental oohqdity lhdt cannot
co the difference between beauty presented to
ennoble and deformty presented TO deoase- A play
that asserts good moral may. nevertheless dhuse
an exceedingly bad influence The flower tnat
bIoo,ns IN a marsh may well enough be left 10
..u,aste its sweetness if you must waIiow In Dog
IN obtain IT, The stage influence that benefits the
,,blic is that which is diffused from display not
Of the ugliness of vice. but of the loveiness of
virtue. and in that fundamental truth Is the whole
PHILOSOPHY Of art whether in the theatre or out
of ii.
The mart OF Maslova is acted by Miss Bianche
Walsh and the part of Nekhludov by Nj Joseph
u.rorth Both Of these performers possess dra-
u,io ability and experience-Mr- Haworth IN
ar,irp1ar who was trained and taught by John
sscCuIiough having when he pleases to use them
-. con.r,l Of a simple stvle and the command or
:, aronle reserve Of feeling, together with weight
:. character and authority of manner; ana these
.-,es are aided by an expressive countenance, "a
.ranent Of sensibility and voice OF some
- ,,nusual compass and melody Miss Walsh.
.,,a ,rasker in equipment and less proficient in
as+er,, of executive art. has abundance OF
- -,ou,er and she Is moderately able to simulate
4,aonment distraction, and the frenzy Of de-
,.~,o,,s sespair In ways this actress pre-
- ,be tradition of Lucille WesteTn.-whom.
-obstlv she never saw, but whose rugged
lrca and spasrnodic violence she certainly re-
Ills The tendency the 'robustious" method
&c visible in the acting ot both Miss Walsh ana
NJ IIav7orth. but in such play as "keEur-