New-York tribune., 1907-06-23
RELIGIOUS DRAMA.
Mr. Martin HmUey's ReUerent Bible
Story.
London. June Il.


1t is a trite commonplace that the spirit Is
now lacking for religious pictures or drama IL
Is an age of agnosticism rather than chiIdIiks
Ialth' and painters and playwrights alike are
conscious OF insincerity when they take up re-
hgtous subjects and treat them as auegories
Mr. Watts with his vivid imagination preached
sermon IN paint from the text For he had
great possessions" and II Is one OF the most I'M
pressive works in the Tate Gallery. Mr. Karl
Hossler has written a play on the same subject
with the young man who went away sorrow-
rul as the hero and victim OF g conflict OF Wills
and influences. and Mr.. Martin Harvey has had
special translation made for him and produced
1t at the Adelphi The subject could hardly have
been treated mora reverently. There IS single
beautiful scene Of a village marketpace on the
Lake or Genessaret, with architecture and oos-
tunes artistIcally reproduced from Tfssot.s
Life OF Christ" The Divine Teacher, whose
inspired words and example profoundly affected
the rich youth OF Palestine. Is not brought on
the stage, but His works OF mercy are rebearsad
Dy the villagers and His passage Is indicated BY
the change wrought in the irresolute and efrer1-
mate Nathaniel One Of the shortest Incidents
In the New Testament story IS developed into a
life narrative OF four acts. The origin OF the
inheritance Is traced TO usury and extortion: the
disposition OF II is obstructed by the resentment
of the angry father. the avarice OF relations and
the greed OF mob Of beggars; and when the
bewildered Nathaniel. unable 70 get rid OF his
treasures by pauperizing the community. at
tempts to bury the I'll gotten possessions IN tn,
lake ne Is murdered by infurated assassin
II Is character study Of Hebrew Hamlet
who has felt the impress OF a supernatural visit
tation and lacks the strength for CARRYING out q
high moral purpose. He is drawn In one way
and then in another by conflicting motives until
he acts like a madman and is put out OF the
world He has received the message but look.
helplessly TO one or to another for guidance A
beautiful and unscrupulous Jewess brings him
back 10 earth as often he yields 70 higher
impulses; the fanatic Simon pleads with hin,
without convincing him; the rapacity OF the
father appals him: the lust OF the mob for un
earned doles shocks him. and he Is swayed altar
nately by priestly orthodoxy. Greek agnosticisua
Oriental luxury and sensuality and the COM
munism or the rabble. There IS realism In tha
details or this picture OF Palestine at the open-
ing or the Christian era II is an allegory NOT
outside the plane Of modern experience YET
the teaching is neither practical nor inteuiCihls
Great Possessions" does not illustrate the sig
nificance Of the text Went away sorrowful' So
well as 1t does single line OF the PLAYWRIGHT.
his mother prayed for a daughter and heaven
granted half her wish" Nathaniel has q v-o
mans nature and is unified for the life OF a
man OF action who Is called upon TO make
supreme decision The stage must have stronger
preaching than this II It is to rival even ths
easygoinS. compromising pulpit
IL Is easy TO understand why Mr.. Martin Har-
vey an accomplished actor. has been drawn TO
this unsatisfactory part II Is unlike ANYTHING
that he has ever attempted. except Hamlet and
win the true instinct OF an artist he aims az
broadening his style by thorough versatility
Last week he was playing the seventeenth cen
tury swashbuckler with big boots. clay pipe and
audacious swagger; and another week he will
be the self-sacrt1cing Carton OF "Ths Only
way. The hesitating and efTeminate Nathaniel
who cannot make up his mind to be either virtu-
Gus or vicious. offers fine contrast 20 the
stronger and moro melodralnatio parts, and it
has naturally attracted him. especially as he has
been convinced that there is q large public that
wants religious drama. provided 10 can be done
reverently. As the dreamer he speaks through
out the play in plaIntive minor key, and this
becomes monotonOus and doleful. So careful are
all the players to remain consistently reverenr
that. with the exception OF the Outspoken and
unabashed usurer and the sinister assassin, no
body acts with any impetuosity or fire. Conse-
quently. while IL IS reverent presentation OF
religious subject. 1t is dull play which does not
interest the audience. THE Only Way" even
with hero fuddled at times with drink. Is a
more effective religious play than this neutral
and hazy piece with the coloring OF Palestine
and Biblical associations There IS a man IN IL,
and he is inspired by self-sacrince: and that 70
better than a whimpering half-man- L n. +.