The Washington herald., 1907-10-20
The Glamor of 1t.

There is a world Of difference between
dramatizing Count Tolstoys strong novel,
Anna Karenina," and making a play out
OF the book That is what has been done
for the stage use Of Miss Virginia Harmed.
and though the play, considered solely as
q play Is not half bad. it bears but slight
resemblance to one of the most popular
Russian novels ever translated into the
English language. The play that Miss
Harmed presented at the Belasco Theater
during the past week, and which drew
audiences larger than it deserved, is a
sort Of mixture of East Lynne and
Camille" In its theme it presented not
one single novelty, unless it be the
mechanical train in the last act. which
IS very well managed. indeed. Its situa-
tions. its emotions. and it's immorals are
all as old as the hills. Pope. in his essay
on man, wrote:
Vice IS a monster Of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to he seen;
Entirely ignoring the fact that vice very
often, indeed, in this play-acting world
OF ours covers his "frightful mien" with
silks and satins, and, hiding behind the
glitter of many diamonds and appeal
ing with a voice as tender as Miss Vir-
ginia HaTned's, may very well lead us
70 believe that it is virtue in distress
That is the danger of such plays as
Anna Karenina." Most Of us remember
the preface which Charles Dickens wrote
for oliver Twist" Il was a sort Of
answer to those critics Of his who had
objected 10 the realism of Nancy Skies.
lie pointed out that though he had pic
tured vice he had garbed it in no false
colors. Said he:
A AIassar1ui in green velvet Is an enchanting
creature; but Skies in fustian is insuppurtabe.
A Mrs. Massaroui being lady in short pstticoats
and fancy dress. is a thing TO initiate in tabsaux
and have in Autographs on pretty songs: but a
Nancy, being creature in cotton gown and
cheap shawl, is not 20 be thought Of. Il is won
derful how Virtue turns from dirty stockiugs; and
how Vice married 20 ribbons and a little gay
attire. changes her name. as welded ladies do,
and becomes Romance.
To put a wrong argument in The mouth
Of clever actress so that its untruths
appeal to an audience. is vicious; what
with the words the glamor Of the lights,
the appealing music. the rustic Of the
silks, untruth. aided by these things.
bites home, and the stage. which is one
or the most powerful of teachers is
preaching false doctrine. II one is to be-
leve, the moral doctrine promulgated by
this stage, Anna Karenina. then, the
word duty has no meaning at ALL Only
once does she seem to justify herself for
leaving her husband and child. and then
her argument is puerile. Her husband
has told her that his career is at stake
and that he does not care for her. Hear
her reply:
That's Just it. You don't care tor me. and yo,
never did care for me. It never occurred TO yor
that ionged for something more than being know
as the wife Of Alexis Kareuiu L1ve-deyotion-
were you ever swayed in the smallest degree by sue
emotions: Never Your conduct toward me Ia
always been cold Indifferent. brutal
karenin-You forget your duty
Anna-Ay duty. ! suppose my duty is 70 cate
20 the ambitions Of Alexis Karenin: 10 live is
to continue life with man who admits that h
does not care for me And for whom is au tbi
70 be done-why, Alexis Karenin For whose ca
reer! Alexis Karenin For whose ambition
Alexis Kareuin! And who's heart i =
break! Why, mine. Whose life is 70 be wrecked
Nine But ! refuse. refuse 70 be the victim
won't do It,
To anaiyze such a speech as here Sc
down in cold type, would be too child
ish. The falsity Of the point q
view is too plainly evident. But as II #
spoken on the stage by a clever actres.
II has an intense appeal and carries IN,
audience away so that It sympatbize
deeply with Anna Karenina and calls he
poor Anna" when in such burst o.
heroics she lays down her duty and goe
on to Venice with younger and NOR
loving man
It is because the appeal is so subtl,
because the viciousness Of such mora
teaching is hidden by the gIamor of tn
stage that such plays as Anna Kare
nina are a menace to the public veal
And the unfortunate thing about il i
that the better the production, the great
er the glamor; the more excellent tn
acting is. the worse such plays are.