New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-06
THE DRAMA.
THE soTHERN-MARLowE SEASON.
"The Sunken Bell"


In the fantastic composition called THE S11nken
Bell which resusctated last night at the
Lyric Theatre Mr.. Sothern and Miss Marlowe I'M
peTsonated characters that typify. or seem to do
so. spiritual aspiration. the one hand and joy
Gus physical vitality Of all the appetities, the
other. The piece, which Is not to this
muulty, although it has not been shown here for
some time. is theatrical allegory, and by some
judges 1t IS thought TO he freghted with prodgious
meaning. To the unnitiated observer it appears TO
glance ct human life a struggle between good
ana evil or else between vulgar commonplace and
celestial desire. and to mean,-in so far as 1t can
ne understood to mean anythng,-that the struggle
is necessarily and inevitably. attended with trou-
bic and terminated with disappointment and mis-
cry Viewed sllegory it probably possesses
intense, tremuOus. absorbing interest for persons
VINO yearn. Gurgitate. and gaze hxedly upon space.
listening meanwhile to the whlrr Of cerebral wheels;
persons who dissatisfied with themselves and
everything around them persons who are con-
Ninced that the universe ought to be made over on
d. new plan; that property ought to be divided
among the popuace every Saturday night; and,
especially that love" ought to be relieved OF
the extremely inconvenient shackles with which, at
present in civilized society," its proceedings are-to
q slight eXtent-impeded
As play. THE Sunken Bell" ia a drearv fopgv
puerie exposition OF the discomfort that s naturally
sequeht on an u-assorted marriage. Heinrich and
Magda, husband and wife. resident in a noun
famous region populated with bovine inhabitants
WIZ ''HASl b goat MIX ana talk platitude,
al variance Helnrichs head is in the Clouds while
Magda's mental apparatus confines itself to the
paatrE' Rawtenderloin. elhn person. encourages
Heinrich TO revolt against prosaio circumstances
and TO ascend erial stairs. The result is a domes-
tic catastrophe and general disintegration. Mr.
Sothern plays Heinrich and Miss Marlove plays the
alluring Elf. and both Of them contribute to a
siderable waste Of time. All that they have to say
could be said in ter minutes, IL Miss Marlowe with
her sweet voice and earnest delivery, would
rftlD avs
epidemic of symbolism" has struck the stage, and
like other epdemcs II must its course. The
beautiful Ellen Terry the greatest actress OF this
period is here, with the vacuous prattle OF Mr
Shaw and Richard Mansfield the acknowledged
leader Of our stage is close at hand. with more Of
the housekeeping nonsense Of Mr.. Ibsen Oven
Robert Mantell, a man Of sturdy sense. who might
be expected TO stem the current of folly, selects
an Ibsen play C'Brandt'), and seems to murrlur
like C1bber's Richard. with all my hearti I'll
not be out Of fashion" But the admirers OF Mr.
Sothern and Miss Marlowe. remembering the de-
cisve merit and auspcious excellence OF the former
in such fine and eXigent parts Benedok and
Malvoo. and knowing that the lattor is actress
Of extraordinary power and charm in romantic and
trasic drama. cannot repress q feeling of regret
that those fortunate players. rich In opportu-
nifty, should have turned aside from their natural
path. TO exploit such fatulent authors Suder-
mann, ITauptmann and Rapagnetta OF the Annun-
citation, and become tho servants OF Fad and the
apostles of Fudge.
In this complex. obscure, inscrutablS medley OF
trite domestic detail. fairy pranks and transcen-
dental hummery, both of them acted with sincerity
that was almost pathetic considering the frequent
~ ludlcrous situations that they compelled to
animate and the intermnahle strains OF versihed
fustian that they were compelled 20 deliver. Miss
Narlowe was uncommonly beautiful 20 and
sweetly Tnelodious hear although quite often no
listener could understand what she said what
she was talking about. The special merit Of her
performance was its suggestive impairment OF II
Dryad jov and freedom MT. Sothern created a
brilliant dramatic effect, for fleeing moment,
when ne caused the death-stVfclen to leap into
sudden and Astounding health And his delivery Of
n long rhythmcal Grafton on life. death, and i'm
mortality together with contingent remainders. was
marked by fine breadth Of gesture and authority
of enuncIation- The scenery was handsome There
is a prodigious cataract. which however has the
fairy-ke quality Of making sound. MT Cromp-
ton materially aided tho serious effect OF solemn
proceedings which might readily have been turned
to Inirth The audience was numerous, kindly. and
patient ". W.