Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-15
20 LIS
WILTON LAcKAYE.

first time on any stage, at Polls theater here last night in the char acter of Jean Valjean, in The Law and the Man, his own dramatization of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. The play not only marks the. first effort to condense this great poem of civil ization into one drama - former adaptations having dealt only with episodes or individuals--but it has probably given to the stage one of the greatest plays produced for years and it certainly affords MT Lackaye magnificent opportunity for the display of his genius as character actor. Further than this, MT Lackaye's play demonstrates the fact that the great power of Victor Hugo was knowing how to create. He planted on firm and solid ground characters that are alive and ready for action. They move through his book not as incomprehensible and stiff automatons, but as men full of health, yigor and nature. He pitch ed his heroes into the open battle field of real life. He hurled them against the most formidable of diff ficulties, placed them in hand to hand encounter with chance, misfortune, or death. And it is in these conflicts that their character is tempered, in these trials that their souls expand. The Law and the Man is the rom ance of the people. It is the agony of the despair on which world presses, and to which sublime poet has given language like unto that of Job himself. It Is ramanticism in- troduced into politics. The play re- sembles mirror that reflects tor rent-this torrent is the nineteenth century. MT. Lackaye's play opens at an inn on the outskirts of Paris, where Fantine, her friends, and their lovers are dining. Fantine announces that this is the anniversary of the birth of her daughter, Cosette. She is congratulated. The scene changes to the episcopal residence Of the Bishop Bienvenu. Jean Valjean en- ters, is lodged for the night, and leaves with the silver plate of the bishop. He is arrested by Javert and brought back. The bishop declares he gave the ex-convict the plate and says you have forgotten the candle francs" This ends the prologue. The three scenes of the first act show the office of the mayor of Meme, known as M. Madeleine, who is; Jean Valjean, rich and honored by reason of his discovery of a process of mak- ing artificial jet, and loved for his philanthrophy. Javert, now chief of police, tries to take Fantine, old and consumptive, to prison. The mayor orders her release. The next two scenes show the exterior of the court of assizes and the court room at Ar ras. where an innocent man is tried, leys for life for the crimes of Jean Valjean. The prisoner is identified by Javert. and three convicts from the galleys at Toulon, Chenildieu, Brevet and Cochepille, as Jean Val jean. The situation following is tremendous. The mayor of Meme, seated beside the trial judge, arises and proclaims the innocence of the convicted man and declares that he. himself, is Valjean. The second act opens with the death of Fantine in the hospital of Meme, the arrest of Valjean by Javert, and his escape through the room of Sister Simple The next scene shows a room in the inn of the Thenardiers and the wealth of Valjean and to bring Fan tines daughter. Cosette, into their power. The act closes with Marius' avowal of love for Cosette. The third act takes place in Thenardier's gar den. The next is the most thrilling and exciting act of the play, the bar ricade in the streets of Paris. the wounding of Marlus, his rescue by Valiean and their escape through the great sewer of Paris.
 The last act opens with the we'd ding breakfast of Marius and Cosette. and ends with the death of Jean Val jean.
 The play is produced on mag nificent scale by William A. Brady.