The Washington times., 1906-07-29


some where between Mrs. Fiske and
Wright Lorimer, though the successful
decentralization of Ben Hur," which
antedates Mrs. Fiske's Mary of Mag
dala" and Wright LoIimer's THE
Shepherd King" by several seasons,
may have given the original clue TO the
discovery. II Mrs. Fiske is 10 be giveE
credit for II. Tyrone Power certainly
helped some. For. as Judas Iscariot in
the Fiske production. he made the hit
of his career, and fairly divided the
honors with Mrs Ftske herself
When F. \. Braden announced an
elaborate production of dramauzation
of Marie Coreli's ''BarabDas." Tyrone
Power was the one name that suggest
ed itself as eminently suited 70 the lead
ing part and Tyrone Power il IS 70 he.
Mr.. Power brings 10 his work all the
advantages Cf nature and training
Though his own reputation is purely
American, he comes of well-known
English - or, rather, Irish - theatrical
family. His grandfather was cele-
brated Irish comedian who met an I'M
timely death i'm the sinking of the
steamer President in 1871. His father,
Harold Power. has been identified
with stage affairs in London. at one
time being associated with Edmund
Yates in bis theatrical enterprise.
He made his own debut in St Angus
tine Fla, in 1886. in THE Private Sec
rotary p" ard for ten years played lead
i1C parts i'm Augustin Days companies.
His most signal success was as Judas
IScariOt I'm Mrs Fiskos production OF
Mary Of Magdala." On the strength
of &c Charles FrOhmau starred him in
ULYSSES. and while the enterprise
failed Mr.. Power scored a personal sue
cess. Following that he played as
Mrs. Carriers leading man In 'Adrea,"
and again scored. His own desire n
play Barabbas landed him in the part.
although IL was necessary for Mr. Bra
den TO secure his release from another
manager with whom he had signed.
II is 10 be a big production in every
sense Of the word. The music theme
which is 10 run all through IL will be
founded on Handers Oratorio The
Messiah" This viii give "Barabbas"
"a most characteristic musical setting.
The big original numbers are TO be
written by Julian Edwards, and the
production is IT, have its own orchestra
Of twenty-one pieces. a chorus OF
twenty, and four solo artists 20 accom-
pany ii on its travels.
The public Is already familiar with
Wrigh Lorimer's Shepherd King" but
evidently Is not tired Of IL, since he
proposes 10 begin his fourth season in
IL in September And as soon as he
feels that IL. has worn out its wei
come he proposes TO replace Il with
Daniel" another Bio:e play, though
he does not expect 10 have 10 DO that
until some time next spring. Mean
while there is The Prince OF India" |
another big production, which did e
not get any nearer than Baltimore last
but which may reach Wash |
ington some time next winter. And
there is the Sotkern-N 1arlowe combina-
ton announcing dramatization OF /
John the Baptist q
one rather wonders If that is not
going a bit too far. There is, of course. :
no more striking and dramatic figure +
in history than this gaunt prophet Of &
the wilderness. but II is a character ,
that viii have &C be handled very care /
fully. and even so is dangerous The 5
Old Testament stories are compare |
lively easy. but In spite Of all appear
ances TO the contrary, the great mass [
OF the American public has a real rev. 5
CTtlltr ItL the Iil4- anu TOT p4ni4Aal
characters. and is likely 10 see irrever-
cnce in such productions II would s
seem TO the casual observer that actors s
and managers are taking long chances
in producing them. In
However, the actors and managers s
know their business best. and S
they seem fairl~ unanimous in their 5
verdict that Biblical plays are a paying
The only real announcement
Of policy in reference TO the big Hippo
drOme which the Shuberts have recent
IL taken over. fOreshadCWs another big
Biblical production. II is 70 the effect .
that David BelasCo is 10 be associated
with the Shuberts in the management of
the great enterprise and that while he
is for the present too busy 20 allow that y
association 10 be a very active one. he y
will probably about 6 year hence, in the a
fall of 1907, take an active interest in II, 1
and make at least one tremendous pro-
1uCtiOn there. 5
It is said that he will then make c
Al least one tremendous prOduc- II
lion at the Hippodrome. And he has L
been rather more frank than usual in Il
discussing his plans with a representa- /
tive Of the New York Mirror. to whom is
he said that his purpose was to pro- /
duCe a great Biblical drama OF the Old -
Testament. beginning with the creation :,
and extending 20 the dawn OF Chris j
tianity. The production will be made >
on different scale and IN a different z
spirit from anything ever before sub :
mitted for the appreciation of an Amer a
lean audience. II is his ambition TO S
conserve genuinely reverential atti- j
tude- So 10 speak. he will establish a :,
kind % Oberammergau in New York -
city. The settings are 20 be simple in r
the eXtrene-in strict keeping with the I
susterity Of the ancient Biblical his p
tory. In place Of modern electric lights. +
he tallow dip and the oil of olden times \
Is 10 be employed. Chanting and sing Z,
ng were common i'm Biblical DAYS: con- q
seQuently the production will be sup
piled with large number of choruses.
Mr.. Relasco says that all Of the players .,
will probably ne brought from foreign =
PARTS not because American perform \
,Ts are in any wise incompetent 10 be / \
with the Interpretation OF L
sacred drama. but because Il would be d
niudicious 10 present I'm such roles (
actors and actresses already familiar s
% the public in diversified parts OF a p