The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-11
TIE SPOTLIGHT ETERNAL.
rPyDE RELIGIOUS MELODRAMA
BytT TRULY STAGED.

.Tha Light Eternal" n Turf gid Drsms,
win Beautiful Costume and Scenes
throws a StOiy Of Christian 1LaTtIrdOm
Io,o the spotlight Ar Able cast.
To the habitual playgoer the religious
relodramA offers little or no scope for
~orip,on-onlv a vast field for speculation
"a ro what may be the prediction o. the
nous majority, to whom IL affords an excuse
for penetrating the precincts OF an art IL
holds black.
Bv ordinary standards "The Light Eter-
nal which burst upon Broadway last
Dirht in the Majestic, is the blacklist OF
rl3ck art "A thing OF tumid passions that
have no relation to reality and turgid
defamation which rises Supreme above
common sense and common schoolgrammar.
But! il tells a story of early Christian martyr
dom fore IDLY, though with a badness that
would defy the combined efforts Of the
sutherland sisters, It 10 costumed with
rich good taste. has two splendid scenes,
one Of which Is Of really poetic suggestion ,
aud the great" act ends with the usual
thriller which evokes pious ave or impious
laughter, according TO the benz Of the
spectator The audience last night ap-
plauded unwisely and too well; but it is
not unlikely that the production will enjoy
tie prosperity usual TO its kind.
Martin V. Merle wrote the play for a
Jesuit college on the Coast and it was trans
ferred 70 the professional stage there.
The story it tells is potentially dramatic
and IL is told apparently with religious
Il not with artistic sincerity. Young
Hclerlus and the daughter OF DtocLetIdn
fan in love at sight and confess their love.
a. 30 .4AAN ~ ~ htIn "a
shares the Emperor's hatred for the fol-
lovers of the Nazarene. Learning her
lovers faith, Artemid, in a passion of rage,
gondemns him to die in the Colosseum,
hut when it is too late repents and en-
braces the belief Of her lover.
In spite OF a sluggish first act and a talk
Htrve second one, there was hope at first OF
the stirring of melodI am ltic. even operatio
passions. The scene Ia the atrium of the
house OF EdlerIus, overlooking the city OF
Rome. was strikingly painted and beau
TRULY lighted. The second scene, IN the
garden Of Artemid by moonlight, needed
only the touch of real passion and poetry
TO kindle the pulse as it delighted the eye.
But thereafter the play became spectacular
merely. The light eternal shrinks TO the
dimensions of the spotlight.
The great scene comes when VdLeTius is
forced by DtocLetidR TO kneel in prayer to a
statue Of Jupiter. A mimic storm efiaces
the stars on the backdrop, and the mutterlng
Vt thunder IL heard, An early Christian
miracle is at hand. There is a crash like a
subway blast, and in place of the scenic
storm is seen a cross like that on the tucson
Memorial, while a chorus OF angels strives
"a vain to make itself heard above the Incl
dental music supplied by William Furst.
Now will you be goodg
Edward Mackay plays VdLerius in cos
~ les that iva the glrb of Mark Twain
u Washington for spotless ~ ity. He is
forcible in a manly way and hos a smile OF
boyish charm, especially when he IS called
before the ~ tain. lu u fences please
r>ke note. The .lrtemtd OF Edythe Chap
man is less remarkable for plastic grace
and pictu escu, charm than for vocal
riehness. She reads her bad lines extremely
we'll. As Dioclstidn Sheridan Block made
shat was to be made of a rather long and
excited speech or two. The cast as a whole
vds capable, being largely composed OF
actors from the Neill Stock Company
which proCu ed the play in California.
Mr.. Merle showed his discretion by ap'
pearing for his speech at the end of the
second act. Subsequently there was nc
rail- for him. The play is good enough fol-
those whom it obviously addresses. 1t If
not quite bad enough to delight nous dutres