New-York tribune., 1905-04-11
THE DRAMA.
MANSFIELD IN MOLIERE.



Amsterdam Theatre. Mr.. Mansfield accomplished
in a brilliant and with decisive and auspi-
cious Success a production OF Moiere's great
comedy OF The Misanthrope." OLD English
comedy, NJ its best.-eXcluding. OF course. Shake
speare and the whole Elizabethan drama, for
aiouere's period was that OF 1922 20 l67s-was
largely indebted 10 Moliere; but Moliere, the
Eonghsh speaking stage. has had but little vogue
Most OF the dramatists Of the Restoration prohted
by him. Wycherley owes almost everything to him.
EIis influence is dscernible in the comedies OF
Congreve and Of Sheridan. He has. in fact. been
a fountain OF suggestion for generations OF the
makers Of plays. Aside however. from Charles
Reade. who was an enthusiast OF Moere, no
modern playwright has manifested alacrtty TO
acknowledge this obligation. and. outside or
France. no strong effort has ever been made TO
exploit this French classic author in manner
worthy OF his achievements and his renOwn. In
America almost the only OF his plays that has
heen made generally known is the 'Malade I'M
aciuaire.' frequently acted here IN old times.
under the name OF The Hypochondriac-" MI
Mansfield. the one creative initiative. courageous
spirit among American actors OF our time, now
sets the good example OF producing Molere; and
be selects the comedy that critical judges French
and English have denominated the most repre-
sentative Of his serious works.-''The Misan-
thrope' which was first performed June T. 1866 al
the Palais Royal Theatre. in Paris. Mohere him
SELF acting Aloeste. It IS a bold step, and II win
be attended with far-reaching consequence
TFe artistic method OF construction pursued by
MOleTe. IN this COMEDY, Is sllnpAc-Lg AlSSiAb DNN
simplicity is different thing from sinpeness, and
q an the implements OF art, simplicity is the i'm
plernent most difficult TO with decisive effect
The result in this instance, is not only decisive
but trlIiant.-decisiye 10 meaning. and brilliant
rs TO picture. The purpose was to portray GER
tain universal aspects OF human nature. in rep
resertasive epitome OF social manners 10 show
characters, acting and Teacting upon each other;
and TO do this by means OF natural cOlioquy- The
.,a contains but few incidents ana only a slender
thread Of story. The time IS the twenty-third
year OF the reign OF Louis XIV. OF France; the
p,sce Paris. The action, II so II can be called
masses IN one house ana within few hours. Only
etett persons prominently participate in II; and'
se5a from exposition OF character. the total i'm
parruent IS. that a sincere. impassioned. Jealous,
honorable lover who has suspected his beautiful
s-a brilliant mistress OF being vain, shallow, selfish,
ard tns!ncere at last ascertains his surmise to be
wsl founded. and so, from Inherent bias toward
cuicisu s. converted into inTeterate msanth thropy-
As 70 DETAIL it IS made known that Alceste is in
vclved ir a lawsuit against an unscrupulous,
crafty specous. hypocriucal antagonist: that he
rests his case on justice; that he win make no
effort 10 convince the judges; and that he prefers
&c lose rather than 10 win. IN order that he may
have SIN greater reason 10 think the worse OF
mankind and 10 abhor ths whole human race. HIS
friend, Phllinte--honest sincere, wise. calm, and
rational though somewhat colorless-speaks 10 him
with perfect freedom; tnparts sensible counsel; tries
10 mitigate his rancor; and would persuade him TO
view the faults of society with temperate tolera-
his affairs. Good sense" says this cool mentor.
"a-oi6s extremes and II Is supreme folly 10 make
ourselves busy IA correcting the world" The ad-
rnonition is wasted Alceste viii neither use pre-
caution in business. nor judgment in courtshipS nor
suayity social Intercourse. he Is IN love with
CEsnaene a selfish. shallow, beautiful young WON
az: accomplished in ooquetry; proficient in the arts
OF feminine fascination: shrewd: clever: censOTious;
hearIess: and NOT in any way. suitable mate Tor
him. Fhilinte warns hiul--but the warning IS IN
vain
cuentisl prig. a rival aspirant for the favor OF
Celmene has written some silly verses about that
charner and he insists on reading them TO Alceste.
and demanding a critical opinion Of them Phil
inte in his urbane playful mood. would say the
usual commonplace words OF empty praise. Aceste
not only speaks the harsh truth, but makes Il as
offensive as possible ard the result Is a quarrel.
This comes 10 the knowledge Of the Marshals OF
Franoe,-a tribunal authorized 70 inquired into
Affairs OF honor among noblenen.-and Alceste is
arrested at the crisis OF an animated contro-
versial interview with Celimene and group OF her
futtering admirers. Compromise II IS understood,
ayerts a duel The hirtations OF the deceitful cell
meme continue Arsinoe an elderly female friend"
of Celimene-after these ladies have emerged. with
rumpIed plumes, from 81 particularly lively verbal
encouuter-lures Alceste 10 her abode and pro-
vfdes him with written evidence of Ceimenes
treachery. for this mischievous beauty has the in
discreet habit OF writing satirical letters and one
o. them has fallen into ArsinOe's possession Al
ceste confronts Celimene with this proof OF her
dupIcity but, at the height OF their stormy col
loouv he IS again interrupted and turned aside BY
peril OF arrest consequent the loss Of MS law
srit AIceste becomes almost frenZied IN the agony
q lis wounded spirit and the bitterness Of his
rpiganthropy The final catastrophe IS precipi-
tated when in a defty devised assemblage Of the
eight essential interlocutory characters. dslngen-
uous and malicious letters. written By CeLmene to
Acaste and CLtande-twO ot her butterfly sultors-
are read aloud by these indignant dupes OF coquet-
r. and the artsul siren stands revealed as an
image ~ paltry vanity and shameful deceit Even
then the tortured Aicese declares that he viii wed
ter f. she viii discard all society, forsake the
wcr'd and dwell with him, alone IN rural solitude.
This sacrifice she cannot make, and the nlsah-
tarope finally avows his loathing for such a ma
ture and his repudiauon Of every human tie De
ceired on every side" says this wretched being.
"and overwhelmed with injustice. viii fly from
this vortex os vice. and IN some secret nook on
earth = such there Is. enjoy the freedom OF being
honest man"
The Fnisauthropy Of AIceste. It viii be observed
Is teulperamental. no precisposing cause for II
is shown in the circumstances Of his life. He has
not conferred benefits others. and lived 70 see
them forgotten. He has not felt the stings OF IN
gratitude. He has not been disappointed In am
buon He has not been betrayed by friends. He
has not been broken by repeated bereavement.
He has only looked upon the society around him.
and found IL 10 be corrupt with falsehood and
srtdce lie IS honest and virtuous man; but
his mind is narrow; he lacks philosophy; he lacks
h,r,o- le lacks wisdom: ne lacks reasonable com
Elasanc-.: and although ne IS correct in his views
and Il LIS conduct. yet those views and that con-
duct are suleueuc. Such man. in actual life.
might inspire respect: might arouse intellectual
Interest. woulc surely stir uo strife and make
trouble for himself and all around him; but he
could not win sympathy nor allure anection-
except of those few discerning friends. who. know
try r- q ff1rrh i'm at