New-York tribune., 1905-03-07
THE DRAMA.
MISS BATES At THE ACADEMY
9TH. Darling of the Gods"

.,f,. .rrssH
@ sTo beneet. ,or this actress represents youth,
pboHS ., ,ov. snd hope. and. If only she
hehi'i'' se,s, =. her high ideal of the dramatic
-. ,,s ~ conscientious service 10 H. she VIII rise
: =, -,ble errinence in her pfoiess'0i anu VIII rem
a. -,s.srisl service 10 her unie- AZ Is true lhat
,he has shown some syifpIo % t"e Ioseh u4s-
.- sne ~ that disease in her case. appears to
tsiii'0.' - ,,,ates IL not cured The surrender
na'e 80 -. - such an infuence,-depressing
-, ,oiso,ne dark, ana deadiy.-would be
-. ,.ss thar q calamity. For the present.
aoli''He 4. safe In the lovely Japanese dra-
- .rst Mr. Belasco and Mr.. Long have
IS = eli she impersonates a character that
'o'o - .ha aDest elements OF wonanhood. and
--,,e.. ,4r4ues that are the salvation Of the
80 -.,.-gLrity OF love and life. endurance.
- :. conduct and devoted integrity Of spirit
., - and this poetic image she embodies with
-, ~ action and hUency OF utterance that
.o,s,s,entIy spontaneous and entirely delight
- - ,o see and hear. To DO this is TO vindi-
-. +bs theatre as a benehcent force in civiliza-
80, becsuse to co this Is help society. through
,hs r,inistration OF beauty This is hard world
Almost everybody in & lives beneath the burdens
~ care and trial Multitudes live IN suffering
The vital reed Is the strength Of patience and hope
r-sratic art-cr any art-thRt satisfies or even
rsuctsly helps 70 satisfy this need IS a blessing
Ire rest is little better than curse.
ne drama Of Tho Darling CT the Gods'' was
n this city first presented on December 8 i9o2 at
TIE Belasco Thestre. Since then IL has been pre-
s,nted in nsny cities OF the Republic Qt was the
leading Sheatrical feature OF the St Louis Exposi-
1ior during the entire season., and everywhere as
,-,srpreed BY Miss Bates ana her company II hss
hsr attended with enthusiastic public and crtt:ca;
ssvor Present comment upon Il can only reiterate
he judgment OF its merit that was recorded here
N the occasion OF IT'S first performance The play
ts fabric Of the fancy; wildly romantic; unusual
= character and Incident oFerlaid with a profuse
~
Hzrss. occasionally mystical with Implication OF
J.pzness custors and beliefs bizarre with an ORR
s,sl splendor ike that OF 'Vathek'; lansuId with
rvsetress Ike that Of 'Ialla Rookh'; but busy
With action. effective with situation and freighted
S1th love story Of singular interest and rnelan-
eholy beauty The irnpersonation Of its heroine by
Mss zLache Bates, presents q lovely image of ar
ds1; EoElanhood, allures with the enchantmcnt Of
rlcusnt smplicity. fires the Imagination with
sense t Passionate vitality and.-with it's sugges-
tun tie spiritual triumph Of faithful love.-deep-
y t5gehes the heart
TIE eTz-nRrie experience OF 70 san.-dissevered
from embellishments Of picture, proixity OF Ian
EusFs, and incidents and objects of national Pc
cuisrityy-is simple and clear. She is a princess
O. Japan, betrothed to japanese courtier whom
The Gees Tot wish 70 wed She has stipulated as
a preliminary condition to their marriage. that
Ills oourtier must show his valor by capturing a
ssrtaln formidable outlaw. Prince Kara, who on
aTsd from fatal dishoncr, through the expeditions
courage ard prompttude OF this outlaw. and, on
seeing each ether they become lovers. She con-
sselt him In her dwelling, when. wounded and al
aost dying. he has made his way 10 her through
4 oor5on ot enemies and for many days she tends
ssL 80 that bis wounds healed, and then, for
tine these lovers are happy in their secret love.
She Is. however. compromised By this ndiscretion.
snd wien. presently, her father. Prince Saigon,
discovers her indiscretion-and. as ne thinks. her
tssfscs-Ehe Is declared outcast, and her lover
doomed 70 Cox cure and death. She then finds
that can obtain that lovers release by betray
slg lis outlaw followers. and. in desperate agony
ni dread and horror, she betrays them: but she
ssEs nothing by this action, except access OF
Eissry: for her lover. again overpowered, commits
suicide II the honorable Japanese manner, and
she Is ieft alone, with only his forgiveness as q
c0nto-I, and with the hope,-afteT z thousand
years % loneliness and grief. in the underworld
Of fshRdOTs-thst she viii be again united with him.
u the eternal happiness OF heaven. The play
shows 20 San IS a. ianocent, cOnHding. pathstc
hEure, amid the stormy vicissituces and affecting
trials thus Indicated. and leaves her. at the last.
redeemed and TRANSPORTED, on the verge Of Para
disc. where Kara stretches his arms TO embrace
her, AID where there IS Leither trouble nor part
i2s, nor SORROW any more. In q word, this ex-
perteEce Of Japanese glIi is the old ordeal over
sgain, cf WoE1s-'s sacrifice and anguish when CIV
inE al for love Something OF Shakespeare's juliet
is II tnis heroine something Of Goethe's Margaret
something cf many Of the passionate wayward
ta0uFntully beautiful ideals q womau's sacrifice
that ale immortal n story and song Fantastic in
vesutIre clothing the theatrical fabric makes tns
familiar image q little strange; but all The came
Il Is prese1t,-the image oS loving and sorrowing
woman. true tender. faithful forever and celestial
alike Il her love and n her grief
Tie acting q Mss Blanche Bates has. all along.
shown sweet Tidness OF impulse q freedom Of
eDando2Iaent. z delightful impetuosiiy Of feeling
n this performance she is more unconventional
Than ever. The appearance OF Yo san is beautiful
me action spontaneous. graceful alert with vigor,
ard free from ali restraint Of sefconscousness or
Llcsl pruoery. The clear, keen. healthful north
VINO Is suggested By H. the reckless dash Of mid
ocean wave, the happy sea birds fight. There is
70 ostenIatcn about 1t. no ponpous parade. no
t-nulSIon OF tie beGizened crank no puipiteer as
Ptel q stCny didactic.sm. but every fibre OF It
tnrAs with sincerity. Such an actress.-in this
weary time Of problems and sermons moral gurgi-
Snous. and the stun and nonsense Of scissorized
aoTels and dirty farce.-is q great and blessed
sei'esanent- And, being what she Is and having
eeary wgthin her reach the victory and the reward
Q osTotion 70 the legitimate drama (Tneaning the
sEslns Of Imagination, affection. romance, and
sesgyl. this actress would be false TO herself to
Aef DUTY, 70 her art and TO the public, II (as It
A1s oeen ht+mated that g weakness for the cheap
~~nk drama might her TO do). she were
tafu away from her great mission, and de-
sac her splendid talents to the service OF the
esza Of the brothel and the dissectIng-roor-t
~VfloIs impurities Of Air. Ebeen and his kind that
~ hoH gurging against every barrier OF honest
1szn good Judgment. good feeling. and good
s Ge threatening 10 engulf the whole stage in
Sg muck of ruin.