New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-08
THE DRAMA.
BROWNING AT THE HUDSON.
Mrs. lie Moyne.

performance % Robert BrOwning's tragedy
called "A Blot in the 'Scutcheon" occurred yester-
AZ, afternoon az the Hudson Theatre under the
direction az Mrs. Sarah Cowen lie Moyne. This
MAS given for the benefit % the Music School
settlement. and the prices high IS
FOR a reserved seao the expenses light. and
me audience numerous. II must have obtained a
rorsidorahle sum OF money for good purpose
BENEFIT performances are by kindly custom long
eerablished exempt from adverse critical common
..r,-to which however there would be no disposi-
,t,7 e.en without restraint Of custom The play is
,ps hest % SIS author's dramatic fabrics Brown
s,r was representative rather than dramatic. and
tis writings n this vein have not kept place on
tse stage. The Blot was produced by Macready.
Fehrsarv ri 1888. but Il did not win the public.
- II never has gained acceptance outside Of the
lfb-arv Lawrence Barrett. TO whom Browning gave
. manuscript az H. with authority 10 produce il in
America brought il out. AT Albaughs Opera House,
!, washington. December r. lsS4 and. for a brief
rer1od retsnsd IT on his repertory.-acting Thorold
5resham and giving magnificent impersonation.
,be rerlorv 81 which al this distance Of time.
a. fresh end beautiful. The Nandyke face and fig
rs tire ststelv deeanor the air Of latent perilous
-rsth The suggestion az innate. constitutional Writ
,,s and justice the smoudering passion. the i'm
rsfuous vehemence 81 speech, ana the deep tender
ness ~ manly affection. united TO make il won
se-ful end fascinating image Of poetic personality.
The revival Of this old piece has at least bright
--s5 reuenl brance of one Of the noblest and most
tororsd figures OF the dramatic past
The play tells much hut il suggests more than
4, tells A Young man and woman have oonpro-
missed themselves. The youth intends 70 we'd his
,v-ssthesrt and he has obtained her proud austere.
formidable brothers consent 20 their marriage
ne girl in -ernorse and shame shrinks from IT
Ter brother meanwhile. has been secretly APP
r-sises of his sisters error.-the blot on the
's-utcheon.-but not o. her lovers name. He
rsrches for that lover. by night. intercepts him
N the park. and kills him; too late experimenting
ne cruelty and horror Of his needless homicide
TEe ei-l dies hea-tbroken, and the brother swal-
loUs poson and thus avenges upon himself his
criminal usurpatlon Of divine prerogative. The
pisos does not lack inherent dramatic force
but obviously its pathos exceeds its elements OF
action In this in al Brownings plays
which more accurately speaking. are dramatic
posms-au The characters are made Of one
srs the same poetic substance. and they all
use one sn6 the same poetic speech so that
with Ilttle exception they seem 10 be, not in
dzldusls but frterlocutory parts Of one person
sity. Tresham however. is vel Disseminated
The drift 4 The tragedy is the old Bible truth that
The wages % sin is death" The play is good to
read and though il could never become popular,
il is good t. see-for the dignity and melancholy
beauty u The theme the roman1ic atmosphere. the
picturesque investi-lre Of stately English land
sos7e. the tone OF austere family tradition. the
sB-pirr riss Of passonate feeling and The rugged.
vet-tov Browuiug-more than usually meodious
fov of verse are commended TO the imagination
and the feelings only the more directly by visible
scene and practical action.
When Lawrence Barrett presented The slot
he divided il into four acts. The first curtain fell
or the parting u the lovers, Mildred and Mertoun
The second fell on Treshams curse-the effect 81
which was heightened by provision OF an exit and
clirl, re-entranre cor him he third. Treshams
slaughter Of Me-toun. in the park-where funeral
.-.,.-s;1- mas ir-r75uocl The LAST act was de-
voted 10 the ag9niziug scene between Mildred and
-r-ss,s-, v7irb ends IN The death Of both Yes
terday's benefit performance. al the Hudson. re
slr4ng no specific comment. Is recorded as ore Of
: .zs..t1. chzrao+a~ Mrs lie Movne has often
-.s5 her rractical devotion 10 the poetry Of
Browning and this also is 10 be noted, among the
- ,5 --ior,s dramatic movements II this busy
" "a.