The Washington herald., 1908-01-05

tAEl-t A4flkke- ne SUBJECT - DtA4 anu tAtC
writing Is excellent 1t has big situa-
ton. but # comes too late In the action,
and the construction lacks that theatri-
calism that is never absent either in
Shakespeare or in Ibsen, despite the air
Of truth which characterizes their works.
We go to the theater to be deceived.
That's all there is Of 1t. "The Comet
strikes the dead level OF monotone early
in its development and q considerable
portion is little more than dialogue be-
tween the two protagonists. the Comet
(sc-called because she has had a meteoric
career from obseurity 10 fame as an
actress) on one hand. and the young
enthusiast, Fernand Ravanel, who falls
under the poppy spell of her destructive
magic, on the other. It Is not that the
story is simple, but because Mr.. Johnson
has not yet learned 20 create contribu-
tary incidents 20 buttress its interest.
that the play fails TO arouse enthusiasm.
The acting of Nazimova and Brandon
lyman, as the Comet and Fernand. re-
spectively, was so excellent that the fault
must be sought in the play rather than
In the interpreters.
Or. Ravanel. years before the story
opens. has ruined a young girl, who dis
appears. Renorse gnaws at his con-
science, His wife dies, and he is left
alone with his only child, Fernand, now
twenty-one years old. an enthusiastic
idealist. Ravanel tries I'm a way 20 make
amends for his wrong by adopting Cecilia,
the sister of the wronged girl Fernand
and Cecilia are engaged to be married,
when the former is enraptured BY the
vision Of a beautiful woman whom he
saw that morning in his rambles through
the woods as she swept by in a tinkiing
carriage drawn by six horses 1t is the
Comet, the great actress but notorious
woman, at the mention of whose name
maidens blush. There comes a letter to
the household addressed to Cecelia's dead
mother. 1t is opened by Cecilia, and
proves TO be from her sister. supposed
TO be dead II announces her return
There is rejoicing IN the young girls
heart, which is soon changed 70 grief
when the ominOus figure Of the Comet
obtrudes itself upon the quiet household
Nazimoya is a marvel in giving herself
--.4AtAAtAAiA1 ~ ttl[ ctAtA4tAlAtiAldAg dA - VI
the costumer. That somber significance
is expressed in her soft flowing robe Of
dark olive that envelops her Ike the
full folds Of d stole. trailing a yard be-
hind. and lends an insidious air Of mys-
terry and fatefulness to her fine, delicately
spirituelle face and sensuous movements.
The Comet comes into the house of Dr.
Ravanel on a mission Of evil To her
sister she is cold: to Fernand she is az
first cold, then crafty with the arts of
her kind. which end in ensnaring his boy
ish fancy with relentless perndy. But
her own calIous nature is infamed by his
enthusiasm at last The young sister.
Cecilia, leaves the house. heartbroken at
the loss Of her lover. Fernand and the
Comet prepare 70 go away together in the
mad ecstasy OF mutual infatuation.
At this juncture DR.. Ravanel enters and
for the first time eonfronts the girl he
has wronged. This is the dramatic scene
Of the play. and it is p3verful In the ex-
change Of examinations and reeriminations
But the Comet is relentlessly bent on full
filling her mission. though love has given
IL new direction.
Rayanel threatens. Fernand enters IN
time 10 snatch a pistol out Of his hands
with which be would have killed her in
her room, and places the weapon in his
pocket. The elder cannot dissuade the
boy from carrying out his rash purpose
to follow the Comet, and when all other
means fail, he has no alternative but
To appeal TO him in the law of nature
7 -r.aF.
share the same woman. Fernand is stag
gered By the revelation and goes to his
room upstairs We hear his hurried foot
steps on the stairway and the banging OF
a door. There is a moments pause. and
then a shot In distraction the father
runs Upstairs. We hear cry, My SOM
my son" and silence
And silently. like the noiseless stride of
fate, the Comet stalks out Of the stricken
house 10 enter her waiting carriage. Upon
this scene the curtain falls.
This IS gloomy business. but shows the
tendency OF things dramatic Nazimova
has a following. Mr. johnson has not.
Plays like this may always be read in
book form to advantage before they are
brought upon the boards. The public de-
lights not to be shocked by being taken
uuawares. Perhaps it will accept The
Comet" It has refused TO accept John
Glayde's Honor" which is 10 be retired
AZ the end Of this week 1t has accepted
"Rosmersholm" in compliment 20 Mrs.
Fiske, as il accepted The Master Build
er," in compliment to the Russian ac-
tress. The chief fault Of The Comet is
its lack of power to inspire sympathy
for any OF the characters, and therefore
il lacks general vital interest.
The other new offerings at the theaters
this week were Miss Hook of Holland
at the Criterion, and the burlesque on
THE Merry Widow at Weber's Theater,
which reopened Thursday night
Miss Hook of Holland" opened New
Years Eve amid the noise and racket
and confusion Of Broadway on a holiday
night which is pandemonium. But it
! caught the festive spirit that was in the
air and went with a swing that made
1 for success.
John Glayde's Honor" at Dalys. will
be replaced by THE House of a Thou
sand Candles" in which +. NJ Holland
is starring under Mr.. Hacketts manage
ment
At the Academy Of Music Frances Starr
/ opened four weeks engagement in the
/ Rose of the Rancho" Arnold DAILY closes
/ In Candida" at the Berkeley Theater To-
night. and the little playhouse viii re-
main closed until My Mamie Rose" can
I be got ready.
Rehearsals OF the French comedy,
''Poliche." in which Henry Dixcy was 70
star under the Shuberts. were suddenly
| discontinued early this week on the plea
that the cast selected had not proved
adequate. a new organization Will be
effected shortly. it was said. Waiter n.
Lawrence, under whose direction D.xey
starred In "The Man on the Fox"
threatens TO make trouble for the CON-
edlan on the ground that his rights nave