The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-10-07
TESS OF D'URBERvILLE"
Dramatization Of Hardy's Novel at the
Opera House Oct. 9.

A reading of Thomas Hardy's novel,
"Tessof DUrberville,' Is not at all
necessary for an understanding of the
play made from II which Mrs. Fiske
| acted with such success and which will
be presented by Harrison Grey Fiske's
special company at the Bennington
opera house on Wednesday evening,
October 8. SO admirably has the adap-
tatiOn been made that the audience Is
put en- rapport with the story at the
outset and the developments are set
forth In definite, coherent and absorb
ing form. For those who have not
read the novel the plot of the play may
be briefly given. Tess is dairymaid
at the farm of Crick. She is the des-
cendant of the old family of D'Urber-
vile but her branch of 1t has gone sore
ly to seed. Even the name has been
corrupted to Durbeyfield. When but
little more than girl she has been de-
ceiyed by Alec D'Urberfield. vicious
member OF branch of the family that
has not lost social or financial stand
ing.
The intrigue due wholly to her In
nocence, is the dark spot In Tess. Now
she faces a proposal of marriage from
Angel Clare, young man who Is learn
ing farming from Crick. Tess loves
him but she believes that the stain on
her past makes her unworthy OF him.
Her mother urges her to keep silent
and accept him. but Tess, ashamed to
tell him In person. writes a letter OF
confession. The letter is stolen by her
mother and Tess, taking Angels un-
changed demeanor for forgiveness. mar
ries him. Just after the ceremony she
discovers that he has not received the
letter and at once tells him ALL Though
she has forgiven him for some past
misdeeds, he is blind to all save sell
fishness and offended honor" and
casts her off, leaving for Brazil, while
Tess faints in an agony of pleading.
Left alone. Tess tries to find work to
support her family, her father having
died.
Again the sinister figure of Alec ap-
pears. Still covetins Tess, he exerts
every effort to make her fall into his
hands. He prevents her from getting
work, he leads her to believe Angel
Clare dead. Finally he contrives to
have Tess and her family, now in pow
erty, threatened with eviction and then
appears with an offer to pay their rent.
In desperation Tess accepts. The next
act finds her with Alec at his lodgings
Then Angel returns and shocked at
finding Tess in such conditions leaves
her again. Alec hears of the visit up
on his return from debauch. He
taunts Tess with 1t and ridicules her
grief. Goaded to the last point, Tess
kills him.
The murder Is conceded to be one
of the most extraordinary scenes on
the modern stage, all the more mar
yelous because the actual killing of
Alec does not occur In view of the aud
fence. The best in Angel has at last
asserted itself and after the murder he
comes back to take Tess away with
him. In the last act they have wander
ed to the ruins of the Druid Temple as
the mists of dawn clear away and the
sun bursts forth In all its radiance.
The play, while dominated by the
character of Tess, has many fine act.
ing roles, all of which are in the hands
of capable and experienced players. re-
hearsed under Mr. Fiskes direction.
The Fiske productions are famous for
their artistic merit and performance
far above the general run of attrac-
lions may be looked for The entire
scenic equipment is carried. Among
those in the cast are Mary I.awton,
Harry Melick. Hearn Collins, Frank p. |
Conway, Walter j. Brooke, Katherine |
Livingstone, Helen Ormsbee, lone
Chamberlin, Katherine Gobere, Fran
ces Wright and Emma Bolton.