New-York tribune., 1905-01-12
THE DRAMA.
IRIS. CARTER AS ADREA.
The Belasco Theatre.

is roy al court ot a conjectural kingdom situated
"n an 'masI"afN island IN. perhaps the Adriauc
sea. Us time is named as about The artb certr-,,
~ the Christian eraa time well chosen for roa,,c
and romantic purpose; FOR the vast Roman Fn,nira
had then become eNtnguished in Western Furope
and vas s'o"e cruablins 10 pieces in the East
sad minor moaa-chies may credibly be s,nnosed 90
have nourished in such an era az ,r.,S,,t
and martial chieftan out Of Noricur, %
hsve dallied with the daughters Of a Ro-,,,
Prince II IS Dlay without historic basis:
authentic creation OF the inventive bra,p,
81 vigorous and splendid work 81 art ,,o,,,-
freely IN broad field Its chief persons are mon
archs and warriors. IL deals With great thernea
great passions. crimes. and sorrows; great ana
terrible punishmen1s OF sin: and the spectacle q,
great character. made sublime by grief Much NJ
hs movement proceeds in the open air. some of a.
beneath the vault OF night and its web involves the
teIroT7 "i tempest, and the mystery and dread OF
sPoctres from The realm OF death The form ana
color oi II are inodern,-R form and color Of rosy
s-npft lde and vouptuors luNuriance: but the feel
ING that porvades it is the omnous feeling OF the
old Greek tragedies OF fate and doom Its defect
is eNcess-an excess Of persons, objects pictures
emotions. a'd w"rGs: the superfux that r,rocaaas
troIa intensely PASSIONATE feeling in the conception
or the story. and especially in the concepton and
development Of its central character Excess how
ever, ean be modified: and in the mean time an az
duenc' Of fancy Is more grateful than the frigid
sense II want
SO student of Roman history needs n he told
thar among The women Of Rene tand at one time
al Italy was circumscrihed within the os pitaD
there were females flustrious for almost celestial
virtues and females portentous for re mon
st-osi,y of th-ir hideuus crimes. The authors Of
'Adrea" hs~e neither distorted nature nor ex-
sEeer-ted fact. in their portraiture of the two
Trinoesses. Adrea and Julia, who are opposed and
c0ntrlstcd ir This remarkable drama of love
crime frenzy, retribution. atonement. and peace
Adroa is not nobler virtuous than Valen-
;1ians EudoTia Is Julia more malignant
treacierous- and cruel than Justinian's Theodora-
IN ths dslnealion Of Adrea the purpose obviously
10 present. amid regal accessories and in all
The rararhernalia Of semi-barbaric splendor a
W0me. ~ lofty mind, potential character. and i'm
petuaus passions. and. by making her the victim.
not alone of nlighted affection. but of deadly out
rage % Involve her in complex tangle of tor
rrer-: 10 make her terrible. in the delirium of
exasperated feeling display her emotional
perturbation and fierce and ferocious conduct
n vortex Of tempestuous struggle; ana.
finally. 10 depict her noble expiatory conquest OF
herself. and 10 leave her. in lonely majesty q
sublime image Of triumphant virtue. gentle forti-
tude, and patient grief. This purpose has been
supeTbiy accomplished. To superficial observers
indeed and these usually. the majority. the
delHeaton Of Adres will chiefly appeal by reason
q is implications Of theatrical situation. fits
ling elects OF climax. and its gorgeous scenic in
vesttlre. To thoughtful minds IL viii come home
iluminatve and significant exposition Of
human nature. artfully made through the medium
q. wonderful picture Of human life in the ANTIQUE
world and in this il reaches much further than 10
the fuflment Of an immediate theatrical need Like
1he classic dramatists Of the iarrick era its
authors have drawn their inspiration from the great
fountain Of historic MISUNDERSTANDING, rearrsng-
iHg and emphasizing old types and old exH mples TO
show Us. hv uncertain method Of symbolism
What is in our own hearts and O: what fibre we all
are made Their play is an honor 10 them, and is
a rich and permanent addition 70 the literature O,
The stsge-by which is here meant not things that
made 10 be read but things that are made TO be
acted.
The soenic establishment Of THIS play is nlagnih-
cent. The incidental music. arranged by William
Furst j. appropriate and singularly expressive
The ctst includes some brilliant names. and portions
q she auXilar actiTE are notably fine Air Tyrone
Power as barbaric warrior, gave z performance
@. rugged strength wild grace and fervent feeling
and Dc was picture IN every scene and attitude
entering deeply and entirely the tragic shirt
d The drama Mr. Stevenson had 70 struggle
against The obvious hindrance Of severe illness The
curtain cans were numerous and after the third
sel' both Mr. Belasco and Mrs. Carter said word
O gratitude Tor the enthusiastic public welcome
ana appreciation. The success could not be doubted
Ars. Carter impersonated Adrea, and for the
hTst TINE in her professional career she seems 10
nave found part in which she can Hberate all her
powers Hitherto she has acted mostly IN comedy
me character OF Adrea Is tragic This princess
oeseried 10y her idol4zed lover. has become blind
Later she IS by this physical calamity deprived Of
Nef royal inheritance and then through the odious
strategy Of her criminal sister she IS delivered into
'ls ir"o embraces OF an ignominiOus meniaL EX-
7osuTe 10 an electrical tempest At once restores her
vision and destroys this enforced ana shameful
bondage so that she can occupy her throne and
should he he pacable-redeem and reinstate her
-o'eI. IN this suspicious moment through access
o. pride and perversity OF passion. she is dehed
1-l -nsl-iee b the man whom she loves: and in
a paroHysm 0f fury. she condemns him 10 be
-asAed through her streets and trampled by
"r- Aorses A calIner mood succeeds tor
''-- queen and warrior, and they speak together
esal1 almost lovers: but the monarch now is ,
io"tless 70 rescue her subject from his doom and
d" "iaef u save him from death OF shame she
etlHes L1n 6ead with her own hand In the sequel =
after years fatal remembrance she invites thu
beck eclipse. dsableInent and misery OF blindness
eic 50 delivers her kingdom 10 the rule OF her mur-
oeFeo -oTers son. Through the wide range OF con-
hlc-ag emotions implicated IN this experience Mrs /
carter moved firmly. steadily. triumphantly-con-
"eI-llg every situation and rising TO every climax
whether ~ asouized frenzy shudde-ing horror de-
NIols rage. or,-as IN the death-stroke 70 Kaeso-
me taIef-l transhguration and maddening ecstasy
O. cesIair 10 denotement IN Mrs Carter's acting /
OF On Barry had even remotely indicated such /
oei'h of uaslcal feeling and such power Of dra- |
matte expression she revealed IN the scene OF the
spectre, iu pEonouncing Kaesos doom; and above /
a- l- the terrible the ytteous. the tragic self
''Ht.ri through which the Woman became the in /
e"rfalou q Fate and the minister OF death. Mrs !
'arter has long been known for her exceptional /
facility q feminine blandshment her absolute /
command 0f the enticing wiles Of cOquetry and the
soft al-urements q seEsuoIs grace: known. like
wise and rightly admired, for the clarity and
purity u her English speech-which il is delightful
10 heaF: bGi some observers. studiOus and
wiling 10 he convinced have not hitherto supposed
Aef 10 ue actor OF tragedy il has taken d long
1ine fCr Mrs Carter 10 gain really great victory
Dli sae has gained 81 IN Adrea- The impersOnation
iossesses many attributes Of beauty. It has sym
heiy for the melody, for the ear. unity. con-