New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-06
THE DRAMA.
A NEW BIBLICAL PLAY.
Kniekerboeker Theatre.

a spectacle play based on the old Bible story CT
David Goliath. Saul. Micha1. the Witch OF Endor.
etc. produced last night at the Knickeroocker
Theatre. and Mr.. Wright Lorimer hitherto an IN
known performer. made his appearance in IT. The
play is called The Shepherd King" and Mr..
Lorimer assumed the character Of David who
begins as a juvenile herder Of sheep and ends as
august monarch Of Israel The narrative OF
Davids defeat Of the gigantic Philstne. Goliath.
and Of his subsequent musical conquest of the
afflicted Saul: has been expanded: the episode OF
David and Michal has been utilized to provide
amatory interest; and the whole fabric. derived
from the book OF Samuel has been made con-
tributory to a series Of pictorial tableaus. These
Bible stories better IN the Bible than anywhere
ese-being there told in language Of wonderful
simpiicity,-and. certainly. no one OF them has
ever been improved by transference 10 the stage
Mr.. Wright Lorimer's compOsition.-in which he
has co-Operated with Mr. Arnold Reeves.-may.
perhaps. edify small section OF the Christian
public, such as customarily followed after the
Bunyan Panorama, in the days OF the pictorial
Pilgrims Progress: to the community in general
It can hardly seem anything but a dreary bore
Pretentious dulness has seldom concocted such
of sanctimOnious and pIatitudnous twaddle.
Mr.. Wright Lorimer appears to possess earnest
spirit but. actor. he Is nsipd. ELUSIVE self
conscious, radically weak, given to posing. and
persuaded that recitation IS acting He stood in
various postures and monotonously detained
various speeches-not at any. time impersonating
anybody, creating Illusion. and only once,-when
David arrests the Kings murderous hand.-produc-
ing dramatic effect. The production only serves
to lessen imaginative ideals of ScriptursI scenes
and persons. and the attempt at acting only
TO exenp1ify the completeness OF mediocrfty. Mr.
Charles Kent appeared as King Saul. and gave
somewhat striking performance. IN his harsh.
rugged. cultural fashion. This historic parsonage
was once embodied on the local stage, 1t will be
remembered. BY the elder SaIvini, who produced
AIferi's tragedy the subject, and gave great
performance-in fact. the greatest OF all his
achievements. The cast Of The Shepherd King
presents no other conspicuous feature The seen
ery.-which is elaborate. and skilfully lighted with
pretty effects OF drifting contemporaries neither
the horserace OF Ben Hur'' nor the celestial pin
wheel OF "Quo vadis-" The press agents recent
question, sent TO this newspaper.-'WM Wright
Lorimer do for the Stage what Petrarch and Boo
caccion did for Literature 7'-remains unanswered.
There Is objection: but thus far. the symptoms
not favorable. Not even OF genius could
conquer with play that IS almost all collOquy and
little action; in which the movement is halted
for discussion Of all sorts Of extraneoUs matters:
IN which everything IS said and nothing Is done.
The harp interpositIon. IN act second. and the
vociferous denunciaton Of Saul. after his javelin
murder OF the harmless girl who shields David's
body at the end OF act third. the only telling
points: for the venerable. legendary theatrical
arrow. with its lethaI challenge. Is barbed only
with a chestnut and Miss May Buckley's risky.
kitten-Iike recital about the mountain lion who
succumbed TO a pebble Is only a mawkish episode
and. after "Macbeth's" cau1dron scene there IS no
novelty IN the cave OF the Witch Of Endor. II Is
Hebrew spectacle. and spectacle the piece
may have some practical value: and what with
the numerous relatives OF David and OF Saul. to-
Eether with prophets and warriors Of Jerusalem. It
rnusters phalanx that might we'll constrain the
practical Difference Of whole theatre OF Gentiles
to Lord Byron's Injunction to
Obey the Jews. those un6 .sis. s, who
Must be believed. though they believe net yqyA