New-York tribune., 1905-07-23
MR.. TREES FAGIN.
Mr. Comyns CarT's Dramatic Version
of "OLUer T5rist.
London. July -.

fnsst upon having the story dealt with as
whole and also upon having a fairly complete
gallery OF portraits. Ordinarily, Dickens play
Is made by piecing together a few episodes. but
the process OF compression is fatal TO dramatic
effect. Nine. Janauschek used 90 have a per-
sonal triumph in Lady Dedlock's Secret; Mr..
Martin Earvey's best impersonatiOn is drawn
from the Tale OF TWO Cities" and there have
been other successes IN enacting Dickens's plays
but there can hardly be q more hazardous
undertaking than the reduction OF one OF tie
familiar stories TO dramatic form.
For this reason Mr.. Comyns Ca-r's achieve
-nent IN producing an effective rnslodrarns ou'
OF oliver Twist is distinctly brilliant he
has not omitted anything that In essential Ia tne
original story yet he has conosntra0eo A''Si-'-O
on q Eroup OF reIodrsmatic characters such AS
Fartn Fsu Skies Nancy Monks and OhVer
Twist and with strong company OF MI 1fee
players 70 iIapersonate them the Auoie4iSe 10
strongly held IN breathless interest. AS MI
Trees FaEin is as powerful character STUDY
as his SvengaIl the play promises to nave a
hiKhly successful when His MaJestys me
atre Is reopened In the autumn.
Inevitably there In & good deal OF exposition
AZ the outset since the secret OF divers origin
has % be conndsd 70 the audience. and the mo-
i've OF his brother N having him degraded in
FAE4n,s school OF thieves must be made inuelr
EibIe Consequently. there are brief halts after
the story starts at Gr. Brownlows with the
rcrkhoHse drudge exchanging apprenticeship
70 q sweep for the trade OF Bates and the Art
fuI Dodger; but when the sorrowrul romance OF
Agnes Fleming and the conditions Of the fathers
viii are disclosed. the action does not drag.
The sinister habits and grotesque hunors OF
Fagiu's gang are vivtdly illustrated n a highly
dramatic scene IN the den OF thieves, where
Oliver is saved By Nancy from the anger and
tyranny OF his crafty master. and Monks is
sbled 10 show how great coward he is. The
second act Is concerned with the burglary at
Mrs Maylie's, when Skies thrusts the boy
through window and ares upon him, when in
order 70 escape from the gang Of thieves, he
cries out for help and Is rescued and befriended
by those who convinced that he is a GRIM
inHI
IN the third act there is a return to Fagin's
den. where Skies is urged to murder Oliver and
Marcy rises in rebellion against the crime and
then IN rapid sequence come the interviews with
Rose, IN which the boys protectors are warned
CT his danger. Nancy's murder by Skies. which
is done in al adjoining room with Fagin listen
ing the blows, the mufaed screams and the
sicl1ening thud OF the falling body. and the final
scene in the cell az Newgate. with the terror
stricken Jew awaiting conviction, sentence and
death
With the thieves rehearsal, the burglary, the
shooting OF Oliver. the confession OF Rose, the
murder OF Nancy and the grewsome end OF
Fagfu. there is no lack Of melodrama Possibly
there is TOO little comic relief. TOO slight use
q contrasting effects OF goodness and bright
ness for divers benefactors are colorless peo-
pie and 90 not stand out against the dark back
ground OF sordid crtEnlnslity. Yet the effect Of
the original story is faithfully reproduced, and
Il is pure and undehled Dickens, with the plot
clarified and the dramatic movement quickened.
Miss Eilda Trevelyan had the title role and
played Oliver Twist with fine variety, and not
little pathos: but although she did everything
that Vas possible, the part remained small
one. Miss Constance Collier was q full blooded
Nancy and impaired vitality and passion 10 her
scenes with Skies, Fagtn and Rose. her devO-
ton 70 the murderer being shown with splendid
force Il was realism pulsating with animal
spirit and IT was true to Dickens.
So also was the Bill Skies OF Mr.. Harding
not a rar1cature overdrEwn and distorted IN Iurtd
passages. but consistent, highly hrished and
powerful work While as picturesque rufiau
as the gods OF the gallery could have desired,
this Skies was not so repeueut in his brutality
10 be out OF touch with the woHlanIy quail
ties which were not concealed In the Nancy,
although overlaid with coarseness and passion.
Mr.. Abingdon was a treacherous and sinister
MOIkEs playing the Fl4a4A OF LleAoOAaAl4a "ALA
sincerity and realism
The Arttul Dodger and his unischievous mates
were among the most characteristic figures On
the stage and their antics were most amusing.
Miss Eibyl Carlisle and Mr. Basil Gill were the
lovers. and Mr.. Fisher White. by a careful and
finished performance. did what he could to make
Mr. Brownlow's influence felt The whites were,
however. completely overshadowed By the darks
IN this gloomy play. Even the glints OF Mr..
Ehelton's humor. as M. Grimwig. seemed TO lose
their sparkle.
rs Trees Fagin was well within the lines
Of E=s talents for byplay stage management and
h2znboyant realism It sinister but
powerful study OF human depravtty with
avz-1ce. hypocrisy, heartlessness- treachery and
oleverness as the chief characteristics. Sir
Henry Irving has always contrived to excite
pity for the baFied and defeated ShyIock IN the
crizis OF his fortunes. Mr.. Tree did not vary the
blacks n bis portrayal OF the hideous, malignant
old miser who had not redeeming trait Even
when the rsd bearded Jew sat beside the sleep
ing Oliver in the garnet grooming lullaby, there
was not gleam OF tenderness in his face, and
he was anything but merry old gentleman
when he was teaching the boys how 70 rob him
with dextsrity
FEgtn most terrible when he informed
skss with malicious glee OF Nancy's treachery
sno melted the murder; and the play OF Ven
Eeance and hatred on the withsred face was cold
and zsTdonic as he stood with a candle By the
girls door and listened to the blows and
snothered screams Adr. Tree is an artist IN the
holiness and significance OF his byplay. What
other actor would have thought Of blowing out
the candle at the moment when the last faint
moan Of the victim was heard7 This was finer
ts=aea %1an any detail OF the Srenzied scene when
FsEin. maddcned with cowRrdice and despair.