New-York tribune., 1908-09-06
NEW FAUST" PRODUCED
4 SPLENDID SPECTACLE.
WIN Drd7c as a Panorama --AnOther
Barrie Success.
Especial by French cabl. to The Trl1uns.l


London. Sept. 5.-The production or a ne"
version of Faust" at His Majestys Theatre
was a triumph of stage management and scenic
art The quality OF Stephen PhilliDs's verse
could not be properly sampled In the excitement
of the first night. nor could Conyns Carr's claim
that the new Faust" has been obtained by in
dependent treatment be critically examined
They have reverted from Goethe to Marlowe
and devised spectacular drama for ilustra-
tion by the mechanical resources Of the modern
stage. 1t opens with prologue portraying Me-
phsto his mission Of evil as Miltons falien
angel between earth and heaven. Faust is led
in the first act from his study to the witches
kitchen for a magic draft. and there is a scene
of dernonIacal revelry which never has beezi
surpassed at Trees theatre
The second act reproduces the usual effee,s OF
Faust's journey under sinister leadership, with
the first meeting with Marguerite in TIE cathe-
draI square and the beautiful garden scene. and
the third act witnesses Valentines return from
war and the duel with his sisters betrayer
The fourth act opens with the Broken spec
tscle a scene Of marvellous beauty in contrast
with the fantastic horror OF the "l'ehes
kitchen. The prison scene is followed by an
epilogue containing epitome of Goetnes sec
ond part and portraying the redemption OF
phfsto is represented as working out the divine
purposs by willing evil and achieving good
This was Goethe's final conception, and IL mas
been ingeniously carried out by Phillips and
Carr.
II made less impression on the audience than
Joseph Harker's splendid scenic work and the
startling effects produced by hydraulic ana eiec-
tricaI mechanism. 1t Is panorama rather IMAM
poetry or theology which will fill this theatre
for MANY weeks. and certainly II Is unriVahed
in the annals of the London stage henry AIMS
ley and Marie Lohr act admirably as Faust ana
Marguerite. reciting blank verse with melodious
voices Trees Mephisto is a sardonic. hunor-
ous cynical troubadour mocking spirit Of evil
He fills the stage with a sinister presence ana
illustrates the mission of the rebellious anger
with wonderful resources Of byplay-
Rarries comedy What Every Woman
Knows" at the Duke OF York's, promises 10
rival "The Little Minister" IN popularity The
first act revealing a railway porter as a inter-
arv burglar breaking into a quiet Scottish nome
for the sake Of reading books and hitting hlnnsen
for q career Is mastery. and the whoie pay
while whimsical and freakish. Is irreslstIoie III
its humor and racy quality. Gerald du Maurler'
as a serious pushful Scotsman who Is Dent on
getting on in Parliament acts with genuine
power. but Hilda Trevelyan. as the heroine is
the central figure and the most IaSclHdtLAs Oh0-
Jerome K. Jerome's Passing of the Third Floor
Back" at the ST. James's Theatre, is daring
ATTEMPT to REPRESENT the Divine Redeemer in
Bloomsbury boarding house, and ts protected
against failure by the dignity and reverent act
ing of Forbes Robertson. Nobodys religious
sensibiIity is shocked by the transformations
wrought by the mysterious visitor in the little
community of despicable and sordid lodgers nor
by, the comedy style in which the theme Is
treated but the play is continuous succession
of Law sermons and less entertaining than "A
Message from Mars"
Roy Hornimans dramatic version Of Locke's
novel Idols" supplies Evelyn Millard with an
effective part at the Garr:ck in murder play
which has a thrilling court scene.
The theatres opening rapidly, Martin Har-
yev coming on next week and Eugene Walters
Paid in Fulr' being we'll staged at the A1dwych.
Richard Goldens quaint dry humor is admired
at the Queens Theatre, but the play, The Old
Farm" is condemned by critics as puerie
farce. n F.