New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-02
ANOTHER BOOK PLAY.
DalY's Theatre.

rrha CHIEF value Of ''Ths Crossing" which was
presented Yesterday at Days Theatre, consists IN
it's instructive illustration of the radical dnerence
necessarily existent between novel and play.
In Mr. winston ChurchiI!s novel the persons Sit
uations and Incidents being left to the FANCY OF
the reader might trnpart an impression OF prooa-
bity In the fabric of colloquy that Mr.. Inurclll
and Mr. Shtpnan have devised, in evsceratins Inc
novel those persons situations, and incidents are
exposed to visual inspection and at once they staho
revealed as impossible preposterous, and sonleumes
I,Idcrouslv absurd. The faorlo is not play, Out
tfa synopsis Of a narrative. It lacks the hrst az
tribute of drama the attribute Of movement Every
consideration Of truth is sacrificed in it to the bu14d-
ing Of q single theatrical climax. and this climax
only becomes feasible when the chtef character Is
made TO act in radically uncharactertstic manner
sacrificing all that he has wrought to accomplish py
Welding WHOLLY unlike himself to ornentary fury
Half the piece is devoted to preparatory explana-
ton and this is afforded by talkthe interlocutorS
drifting in and leaking out, at RANDOM. some
times in couples and sometimes in es and, ~neh
all these preparations have been made nothlns
ensues of more moment to the spectator than
t11rlultuous duel in which one Of the comoatants
(by far the most interesting person OF the group
Is slain The story ulurnnes Nicholas Temples
quest OF his mother. This fugactous fernale, II
ennears being unhappily married had deserted
her son in his childhood, and eloped with para
rour Years later, when Nicholas had grown 70
manhood. he dedicated himself TO quest OF MS
mother. being actuated thereto by the purpose OF
ultimately reached New-Orleans, and there ne
found her became reconcied to her. and killed ner
nsranour-this person and himself having incl
dentaIIy become rivals in love. There Is no no
nent after the confederation Of love, Jealousy ana
intrigue begins, when the mother Mrs temple
might not end It all. with a word; and, in fact
she does end it all at the last Mr. John bar
enacted the fIial Japhet, and that delightful actor
Ny J H Cilrneur i1npersonated the evil genius
Harry Riddle known SIS Colonel Give. MI Gil
nours method is simple, direct. manly, effective;
and whether he presents saint or sinner MS
acting Is robust with authority, symmetrical
With form gracious with taste, and exquisite
with style On this occasion he assuIlSu
the suse Of polished scoundrel. and he MADE MS
,iIlain a perfect and admirable work Of art-dong
far more for the part than had been done oy the
authors Of the play Blr. Blairs performance. on
the other hand provided conspicuous example or
absolute and dreary artIfice. The soft, silky, IN
sincere affected tones of voice in which 1t pleases
This actor at all times to speak completely vidate
aI.s the elaborate grace of his demeanor and the
general intelligence of his acting: fer acting Is
ruthless if it always to be acting. and never
once through conceanent of the wires produces
+be effect Of nature Mr.. Etierne GIrardot laoors
enormously in kindred perplexity of painful Ell
fort Incoming merely tedious because forever IN
sistent on making an Impression. The quietude with
which Miss Mabel Bert spoke and acted. in Inc
scenA of Mrs Temples talk with her son. was one
~ the most commemorate embellishments OF the
INSTRUMENTATION of this tiresome play. The aud1ence
800 l;L.es TO watch a performance IN order to see
sbow story will turn out" may like The Cross
ing There the uslsll applause