The Washington times., 1908-02-09

A1I- EAAiA}l tl1At-N Oh q play VI
the Ibsen school always coca
s sons much heated debate as to
the advisabIity OF presenting on
the stage phases Of life which are grue-
some or repeIIant. The anti-Ibsenites
usually condemn such plays on the
ground that the theater becomes not a
place of amusement or recreation, but
clinic in which only the sordid and
the repIlsIve side Of life is revealed
"If such conditions and such people
exist, is not the world better of in
trying to forget Jhem2'' they argue.
For those who do not look upon the
drama merely as a source OF amuse-
snent. however, the Ibsen school has Il
'fstrong appeal. While no one will con-
ttend that our stage would be richer il
EaH our dramas were to reflect the SOM
her hue of life which the great Nor
weglan playwright depicts, surely it Is
performing its mission when IL reflects
all phases Of human life. rather than
restricting its sphere to the ideal, the
romantic, the frothy, the superficial.
Ibsen's Vice Not Attractive.
It can hardly be charged against the
Ibsen School that vice is presented IL
such pleasing and alluring form as to
be attractive to those who have never
tTod the ways of sin and sorrow. On tho
contrary, from the moral standpoint
there is ever the gigantic, gloomy
shadow OF Nemesis 10 be seen in thd
background Of all the Norwegian's so
C.al-evil writings. Some of our lightesL.
most amusing. and apparently. harm
less theatrical diversions are Tar more
peIHicious IN THEN influence on the ma
lure as well as the youthful mind than
any Of the Ibsen plays.
1bsen is true TO life, an abnormal
phase OF life. il is true. but neverthe-
less, q phase Of which the world must
take COguiZaEce- We cannot. ostrich
like, bury our heads in the sands or dis
avowaI and by declaring that We do
not see such and such an evil, make
any particular moral disease less potent
II COTruptlng mankind Ibsen's clinical
analysis OF the diseased soul is grimIy
direct and uufaltcrinE. To those who
have eyes TO see and ears 10 hear he
makes Enthusiastically plain those sins
and shortcomings in human character
that are working for the destruction Of
social purity and for the checking Of
all human progress.
Theme Of Selfshness and Passion.
In 'Rosmersholm." presented al the
Belasco last week. we have an example
of the Ibsen drama IN all its gloomy. re
peilaut aspects. The theme of an over
Wnelming selhshness and unbridled pas
sion, regardless of all suffering entailed
upon others. is depicted with al its
horrible and gruesome cOnseduences
We have. a woman, VINO, upon becom-
ing infatuated with a man. does not
hesitate ruthlessly 10 plan the over
throw of her rivals reason in order that
the desired end may be gained But
with this social tragedy comes the
Christening influence Of a noble love and
knowledge OF the necessity for per
sonal Tenunciation and atonement. The
playgoer does not leave the theater ex-
allied and elated, but gloomy and de
pressed He has seen a phase of life a
most dIsasreeabIe and haunting phase
hut his mental horizon has been broad
en2d, and to that extent he IS bette
prepared and more willing to realize
and appreciate fully the wholesome and
the sane in human nature.
Macauley has said that the finest
works of imagination have always been
produced in times Of practical convuI-
siOns as the richest vineyards and
sweetest flowers always grow on the
soil which has been fertilized By the
frey deIuge of a volcano. And so can
we not believe that right living and
right thinking may also reach their
highest fulfument only when We realize
and can understand the depths Of sin
and moral decline? The supinely good
and daccidly moral folk never have any
great influence in shaping the welfare
OF the world, but rather those men and
women who. knowing the ways of sin
and its wages. elect to help their fellow
man in combating any tendency to
ward moral ami social retrogressiCn.
Remarkable Acting.
The company presenting "Rosmers-
holm last week was one Of remarkable
strength. Tt is rather eXtravagant
praise to say that her Rebecca West is
the best thing Mrs. Fiske IJas ever done.
but superIatives alone can be used in
paying tribute to the powerful. convinc-
= ing, and compelling representation Of
this gifted actress. As was stated in
the review OF this play in The Times
Tuesday. Mrs. Fiske did not coufine her