Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-05

| %. IN
kundry. ............................M Miss Taylor.
| undoubtedly the artistic value OF "PdrsI-
| taI as 1t came from Richard Wagner
! rested on the mysticism with which the
| composer surrounded his central thought.
The theme of the opera drama, shrouded
1 in mazes of music that challenge the
senses, in half formed sentences that amaze
| when they do not actually confuse, and
| all in all, a labyrinthine composition OF
strange harmonics and undeveloped thought.
, is simple enough when shredded of the
| wrapplngs of uncertainty and questioning
wonder with which 1t is so deliberately en-
shrouded. This being true, the effort to
| make 1t clear Is open to question: Is the
beauty of the story of Parsifal and his
| quest for the Sacred Spear enhanced by
being made so plain that even the wayfarer
may understand it, is this effort TO be
| held up to condemnation as q sacriegious
approach to the thing sacred to the shrine
| of Bayreuth?
| 'Parsifal' unquestonably contains ele-
ments OF great dramatic value, and just
| as Wagner involved them in his wonderful
| arrangement of the opera, so the author
| Of the play presented at the Boyd last
| night displays them in a setting of English,
pure and limpid at times flowing with a
/ musical rythm that is charming and which
| never desccnds to low level. II is oc-
casionally sublime and always purposeful.
Reverently, carefully and with tender
ness that is sympathy itself, he has told
again the story of Parsifal and Kundry,
! Amfortas and Klinschor the Spear and
the Grail and done it with that illumina.
ton that is possible in a drama and not
in an opera. 1t lacks essentially in power
to move, just as the opera appeals not
! n ms hut To ba rla
yet it is as fully entitled to respectful
attention and deserves a more general
hearing than It is likely to be accorded
in Omaha, II last nights experience may
be taken as a basis for judgment.
Mr. Grattan plays Parsfal with intel
ligence and power, and is very convincing
in all his scenes. His methods are simple
and his effects certain. Mr.. Dashielrs
klinschor is in many ways most COM
mendable Characterization Of a difficult
role He reads his lines with rare taste,
and In the incarnation scene fairly thrills
the audiences with the apparent presence
Of the supernatural. 1t has been long
time since verse was more effectively
spoken on the stage at the Boyd than
last night by Mr. Dashiell. Mr. Cotton 5
Amfortas is good. and so is Mr.. McCor-
mick as Gurnemanz. Miss Taylor is a
| hundry OF great personal charm, and adds
to it capacity of acting that makes the
, part one that actually commends. In the
garden scene her seductive methods are
! most potent. and would scarcely have been
} withstood by one less determined than
/ ! Parsifal. In the closing act when she
: appears as the penitent, she is equally
: satisfying. The minor roles arc all in
capable hands.
The stage settings follow very closely
the Wagneriar traditions, having been
: copied from tie Bayreuth production, while
the lighting effects and spectacular ar
rangements are correct in every detail
The management of the lights as permitted
by the action of the drama Is productive
OF more impressive results than are posi-
! BILE to the operate version. A single de-
[ parture is noted. that in the final act
Parsfal raises Kundry to his side. taking
her to share his earthly glory, instead
Of allowing her to perish in the momen,
of her forgiveness.
As a whole the play and the performers
5 are commendable in all regards and de-
serves the public patronage. The piece
will be at the Boyd till after Tuesday night
The curtain goes up at 7:45 each evening.