New-York tribune., 1907-01-22
THE DRAMA.
THE sOTHERN-MARLOWE SEASON.
"John the Baptist"

NAV of johannes" by Hermann Sudermann and
we're cordially welcomed by friendly multitude
-ser play. called John the Baptist is comprised
a. six acts and about forty persons are su,rlicated
IN its cOloQuies. The prominent characters are
John Salome. Herodias. and Herod Antipas Most
n the essential dialogue passes between those four
.,eakers and all OF the essential action might
,a6fy De comprised within two or three scenes
The nterlocutors, I'm general. are explanatory feed
ss Among them they contrive to make II known
nat Herodias. Philips wife, has run away from
phIp, with their daughter Salome, in order 10
marry Philips brother Herod Tetrarch of Calilae
end that the Hebrew population OF Jerusalem. or
sofne part OF Il. led by John the Baptist Is dis
rusted with that matrimonial alliance and is in
osnsed against the Tetrarch for making It. On that
basis Of circumstances the movement such as it is
proceeds II is confused and very slow.
John IN particulaT-who thinks that ne has been
commissioned 10 regulate all things punish all sin
ners and guide with rod OF iron"-objects 10
the Tetrarch's secondhand nuptiais. and on being
priyiy brought into the presence OF salome and
Herodlas, he frees his mind IN explicit language
snubs the daughter. and dehes the mother: 'IIar-
lot is your name" he remarks TO Herodias ''and
adulteress stands written on your forehead" One
of those females, however. is secretly enamoured
Of John "a fact the more remarkable since mani
s.stly the prophet IS ignorant OF the use of SOAP
and not possessed OF tOothbrush), while both are
conscious OF a mysterious. commanding power IN
him: for which reason. although Herodias nearly
explodes with fury, he is allowed 10 depart n
harmed. Soon afterward Herod and his bride ap-
pear in public and the Hebrew mob rallying round
John undertakes 10 pelt them with stones: but
John, who has just heard that ne ought love his
enemies falters the crisis. drops his missile
Is arrested and put in jail There Salome privately
visits the saint, and astounds him with such free
dom Of speech might startle even a veteran sin
ner 4 have stolen into the twilight" says that
peculiar young woman, ITO seek thy face and the
light Of thy ewes. I have made my couch lovely
with many-coloured tapestries OF Egypt. 1 have
strewn IL with myrtle. aloes and cinnamon. Come.
Jet US wait on love TIL the morn. Ny companions
shall watch the threshold. and greet the dawn
with their harps." This proves to be TOO much for
the sanity patience. Thou art sin,' says John,
go way" And Salone goes-nad a hornet.
and more dangerous That is the only really
dramatic point in the play
Intimation has been conveyed that Uncle Herod-
who. like old Gobbo doth something smack
has cast his thoughtful eye upon the budding
charms Of young Salome; and that appreciatve
damsel, noticing this, has caused her fond mother
grave uneasness' by encouraging the old
Tetrsreh with expressive garces The rest IS easy.
The two women (vhether they understand each
Other not, and presumably they dol. have.
pr ctically. a common ground OF malevolence.
Herodias begues Herod. saltatory entertain
ment is devised. Salome demurely assumes air
Of vestal innocence the better 10 exert a com
pletely internal fascination: and the head OF the
unfortunate John is Notwithstanding 10 clesr
oenotement,-with the body Of that feline wench.
An effort is made incidentally 20 swathe this odor
phere: 10 make II impressive by investiture OF
dusIy ravines and dimly lighted wastes OF barren.
rocky land; 20 disguise disheyeIled fabric OF
prurience and fanaficism by suggestion OF haunt
ed environment. John IS displayed hearing
voices and the Tapping OF wings. and as being for
ever in expectation OF somebody who is coming
ike the Campbells" IN the old song: but that
trsneous establishment is extremely thin; for
johns sltenations OF forlorn bewilderment and
rhapsodical ecstasy-intTtnsioally and apart from
the actors occasionally felicitous display OF them
are only suggestive Of pitiable ludicrous de-
rnentis while. aside from three verbose de-
nunciatory speeches. most Of his remarks have no
more relevance 10 the subject OF the play than
those of the old woman in David Copperleld.'
who at long intervals and without ostensble rea-
son. declares that there's mile-stones the
Dover road"
The drift and substance, accordingly. OF this re-
pulsive drama.-which IS loose in its joints and
written IN a habby disordered. moon-struck style
can be denoted in a few words. All its preparation,
which is aborous. protracted and exceedingly tire
some leads q situation in which wanton woFn-
an can perform lascivious dance, IN the presence
Of q lewd despot, IN order TO inhame his pas
sions and entirely 10 enslave him that he will
become a rabid monster OF lust and cruelty; and,
IN that Ioathsoe and frightful condition, viii au-
thorize and permit a barbarous murder, for the
qualification OF the woman's blcodthirsty hatred.
The despot. Herod. is the old. familiar type OF i'm
perial brute with which ancient history teens The
dancing woman. Salone, IS an incipent drab OF the
but ferocious crafty malignant and cruel, beneath
an exterior OF ingenious sweetness and girlisn
grace. The VicfTa is the hRlf-crazed fanatic, gohn
That crack Drained ranti9ole or such he is. In the
drama. and nothing else). has contemptuousy
REFUSED the advances of the salacious Sa-
lone. and, a consequence, has incurred her I'm
placable resentment and hideous animosity- Sa-
homes dance is the prelude 10 her demand for the
head of John, served upon z golden dish (called.
in Matthew. xiv s, where the incident Is round a
chcrger'D To augment the horror OF tins whole
situation, the play shows Herodias.-mOther OF Sa-
lone and adulterous and incestuous wife OF Herod.-
sbtly intimating that her husband may also pos
sess her daughter, and planning her daughters
particular form Of vengeance and prompting her TO
its fuhlment The drama contains two or three SIT
nations in which actors can show their SKIN; Dut All
that = spectator can derive from sight OF John
fbe Fantist' is illustrative confirmation (Which no
bodv needs) of Congreve's misquoted couplet:
Heaven has 20 rage like love TO hatred turned,
Nor IIell a fury like a woman scorned
Thai being all this drama cannot be deemed
cred!iable 20 either the author who made IL or the
actors who have produced il. There is or should
be no place in art for the exposition OF aInatory
mania or the ANALYSIS bestial propensity No in
huence could be more pernicious than one that
aurets consideration, already excessive. OF over
freicfted animal instincts and low sensual pur-
suits. Society hears too much about loVe ana
TOO little bout things that far more important
namely. justice. duty. and honor This is a
Iadicsllv Immoral play, Notwithstanding its elaD-
orate sanctimonious trappings OF plous pre-
tenoe and the better Il is acted the more
harm il viii do-by directing the general
mind upon evil imagery. Mr. SotheTn and MISS
Msrlowe have produced II with an ample ana
5udicious cast and with picturesque scenery ana
their Interpretation Of is earnest VITAL vigorous
Teplete with warmth and color, and well calculated
u blind perception Of its actual character AS an
actor Mr.. sothern. playing John appears IN IL