New-York tribune., 1907-12-31
THE DRAMA.
MRS. FIsKE AT THE LYRIC THEATRE.
.ROSEEESHoLM."


bv a numerous and brilliant audience. II was
Nine. Modjeska who introduced the Ibsen drama
70 the American stage, she having produced The
Dolls House" under another name, many years
ago: but It is Mrs Fiske who has made the Ibsen
drama temporarily current and invested it with at
least an appearance of stability, her exceptional
intellectual force power of WILL originality of char
acter and steadfast persistence having enabled her
10 excel all competition IN the display OF Mr..
Ibsens errarc heroines- Her representation or
Rebecca West. manifesting the same resolute per-
sonaIty. the morbid temperament. and the
same inexplicable perverse ohhquity OF conduct
that she revealed weI in Hedda Gabler, WILL
probably, be accepted by votaries Of the IbSen
cult a marvellous achievement BY the Un-
initiated and the profane it only be viewed
with the respect that is due TO a mystery The
author of '-Rosmersholm' probably intended that
ST should convey meaning. The translator of 1t
intiulates the opinion that it is picture of the
antagonisrn of political parties in the kingdom q
Sweden and Norway about twenty-five years ago;
that OF its characters, a school-master named
EreI typities the bitterness of defeated conserva-
tSrn. while another. sleek radical editor typifes
sort of downy, crafty. self-seeking democracy.
The more explicit press agent, on the contSry.
declares il be expostive of the love OF bJohn
Roszner and Rebecca West Neither of these
theories, however, nor the perusal of the piece
nor the performance OF it. avais clearly and fully
10 illuminate Mr.. Ibsen's darker purpose. Mrs
Fske is said TO have expressed the conviction that
E right understanding Of this profound subject
only be acquired in about three years of study;
but since life is short and time heeting, the al
tentative of the commentator must be resort TO
the facts, they dimly appear upon the surface.
The play Of ''Fosraersholul is Comprised in four
acts and Is written in prose- The scene Is the
mansion OF ancient, respectable family named
Ros1ner-a home situated near TO a small town.
the western sea-coaSt OF Norway The col
iocuv is carried by six persons. all OF whom
speak alike and sl speak like Ibsen,-rone Of
them possessing distinctiveness of verbal ex-
preston There is not remote semblance
Of action In any Of the four scenes The pur-
pose seems to be a presentment of domestic sit
ustion. and that presentnlent is accomplished by
talk. In the Of several conversations II IS
made known that John Rosmer, owner Of Ros-
rnersholu1 and the last of his has been a
clergyman but has left the Church and become
free-thinker- also it is made known that he Is a
widover, and that Rebecca West. young
woman of advanced ideas" is, and for some
time has been resident in his mansion lRtima-
ton is AFFORDED that Rebecca Vests views and
proceedings. -ernancipaIed woman, SUI
perior TO the restrictions commonly imposed and
observed by her sex.-are attributable TO moral
antecedeus- that is to say, our old friend, hered-
ity. she being the ilesitinlate child of a doctor
named West and a nurse named Samvik The re-
lstion IN which Rebecca West personally, stands
toward the emancipated Rosmer Is not precisely
defined HIS purpose az stated by himself is
awaken the democracy OF his neighborhood
the task Of making all the people of NORWAY
and Sweden noble by freeing their minds and
purifying their wills.-a task. seemingly. OF some
magnitude. Her purpose is to capture him; ana
yet when the man proposes marriage she declines
his offer Something is said about her haV-
ing introduced into the Rosmer mansion book
about the rationale of marriage. according TO
the advanced ideas Of the day'-whateyer those
may be: and presently her testimony comruni-
the information that she has schemed 10
iugrafiate herself with Rosmer and his wife and
70 become an inmate of their home' that she has
been. for a time, consumed with "a wild. un-
contruliable fre"-'fke storm on the sea,
"A horrible, sense-ntoxicated desire for Rosrner;
that she has by either direct statement i'm
plication. caused Mrs. Rosuer to believe her
husband unfaithful. insinuating, indeed. that
consequences of his suggested haison with her
self r1inous reputation, were fnlin-
rneut ana thus driving that miserable
woman insanity and suicide; Mrs Ros-
iner having ''effaced herself by jumping INTO
,niIlrace In brief "'Rosrnersholm." as II ap-
peas 10 the eyes OF common sense. is a long and
tedious dialogue relative & deplorable case OF
domestic trouble sequent the weakness of
vain feather r-headed man and the selfsn strength
Of visionary. addle-headed woman Mrs Rosiner
having rnserahly perised by suicide. her surviving
brother Ny. kroIi perpiexed 70 observe that
Nj. Rosmer and Rebecca West are dwelling IN the
Rosraer houae. apparently. in the fullest intimacy
and being xishful TO avert scandal, he desires
and recommends that their relation, Whatever
il Is shall be -iegaIzed-' Rosmer Is not only
willing but desirous to marry Rebecca, but ke-
becca sflies at uaatrmonv. What does it all mean?
Il all means nothing: or else it means thst Ke-
beccas mind is unbalanced What else can IL
mean? There Is. indeed, in the remarks made by
Rosrier and By Rebecca, mach mystic deiiverailce
as tc ..ne-fecr eruanciration' and to marching
on in freedom. side by side Il knew no scTu-
rles- cries Rebecca- 81 stood in awe Of no human
relation" obviously, when she was plotting ana
living to s11pplaut another woman in the affection
OF her husband. and driving that poor creature 10
madness and seIf-ruurder; -'Our bond has been
srirituaf marriage" says Rosuler 10 Rebecca /
viii devote my life. and all my energies TO the
creation Of q troe democracy this country: Il
have erllancipated myself entirely, and on every
side" Il WAS sure I could never reach you says
Rebacca- It'll you free man. both III c&r-
cun1stances and in mind" Morality, says KOS
rner 'Ts an instructive law among the unbeheVlng
and the erlancfpated'' Mr.. Kroll, the contrary,
ably gulf between free thought and free love-
Beneath this perplexing set of circumstances ana
beneath these diverse and fatulent sentiments
there appears 10 be lurking suggestion that love
and marriage are conditions to be ignored ana
avoided. Rebecca states Rosnler, II have past
behind me" Gt could not be anywhere else). ana
that she has lost her Innocence" and never can
recover il: whereupoa Rosner states 70 Reoecca
that unless she will jump overhoerd ana
drown herself his wife Beatta did, for his SAKE
he cannot believe that her mind has been ennoOieo
By his influence or recover his faith in his mission
ennoble human souls. This would seem u
imply that complete emancipation is only to be
ebtained by drowning. process which appears IN
deed be efectual and. obviously. Is final Re-
heccs ssperts 20 that method Of exit, and Rosmer
is SO r3uch pleased that he proposes 10 make Inc
plunge in her company: The husband shaA go
with his wife he says. ''as the wife with her
husband" Yes says Rebecca; but just tell me
this-is Il Won who go with or is IL who go
with vou2" That conundrum remains unans"efed'
Both these eccentric persous jump INTO the ms