New-York tribune., 1907-09-03
THE HERALD SQUARE THEATRE.
Miss Tirgiui2 Harmed in Anna Karenina. ="

Miss Virginia Harmed began her season last night
al the Herald Square Theatre in Anna Karenina.
pisy founded Count Tolstoy's novel Of that
name. The story unfolded is old the stage
itself II is a fsvcrite one Of dramatists when
there is a jearth Of other ideas The best II
dramas having this theme, including East Lynne"
could not be said to have been intended as a
Sunday school lesson. They were written 70 enter
tain and 70 exhibit the emotional powers OF some
powerful player.
Tolstoy is classified among the reforrners OF the
world His Anna Karenins' exhibits one Of his
erroneous doctrines. II was written. you gather
from its oramatized version, as a Of an epistle
70 young married women, In il he saws practl-
oally 10 al young married women: Is your hus-
band a busy mana very busy man? IF this he
true, he neglects you You are abandoned. Look
about YOU The Prince Yronsky sniles'
Ana Prince Vronsky in this instance the vronsky
Of Anna Ksrenina. a synonyne for gallant
handsome. clustering. sentimental fellow OF the
nan-about-toTn order-the gentleman who is ready
al any and al tunes TO entertain the neglected
wife So much for the motives Briefly. the story
unfoded is this: Alexis her husband. played by
that capable actor. John Mason is a minister in
the cabinet Of the Emperor Of all Russia His one
ambition in life is to reach the highest pinnacle
In Russia's political world. He fails in attention
10 Anna though il is clear he is no unfaithful hus
band Anna wearies Of what she chooses TO call
tyranny, the tyranny Of home. Vronsky happens
along He is entertaining. She is charmed and
forgets. She discovers she loves Vronsky and 10
be brief. flies with him TO sunny Italy. But in the
end Fronsky tires Of her. and she throws herself
In front Of fast moving train
The action of the play itself drags slowly until the
last scene in the second which is without doubt
powerful scene-the only powerful scene in the en-
TIRE play. Both Miss Harmed and John Mason ap-
peareo 70 advantage here and merited the generous
applause they received Alexis suspects but his
peculiar conscience must be satisfied freezing
oesree OF veracity. They had returned from the
facecourse. where. by her agitation when Vronsky
ie rom his horse, she showed her interest in him.
Aiexis demands an explanation. He throttles her.
Dut SIZE denies loving yronsky. messenger comes
VIII word from vronsky. The cool. deliberate
AeHls snatehes the message and at that moment
en ioes occurs 70 him. He tells Anna in measured
"oros that Vronsky IS dead. and Anna bursts into
mood Of passion and oonfesses her love between
snraeEs Miss Harned's emotional powers were
AeSer seen 70 better advantage than at that mo-
inent, and again in the same scene when she dis
SoFers her husbands cunning
Inc play dragged mournfuIly on from that climax
elei Anna. abandoned by her lover threw herself
Al .'ont or the train This was an unusual
ohe Tor Broadway audience. Anna is not seen
20 ule tracks. but she delivers sentimental speech
% DEATH then throws herself down what appears
70 De subway. A train rushes by at that moment
mo the curtain drops. A second later IT rises
eten- with Vronsky yelling for his Anna The
cast follows: