New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-01
THE DRAMA
/, NEW PLAY At THE SAVOY.
The WiuterfeaSt 4"

- . related that many years sgc when the great
.,ssf Thsrkersy had delivered MS first lecture
re-so- - repaired 20 the Garrick club. whore
- aceustu5snces. who had been his auditors.
<.zs-sd 70 express TO him their congratulations
: rs success One person. however. more auda-
-. s-sn rhs rest. being pressed for opinion.
- =%-Iare6 that ths discourse seemed TO him
--as7 q piano" Such probably viii be the
- Judgment. even Of Mr.. Charles Ram Ken
- --s-7les- admirers. relative 90 his tragedy
- 7h~ winterfeszt-'' which was produced
-+e-ssv afternoon al the Savoy Theatre and
- ~ FIRST interested. presently perpiexed- and
.srsz bored p numerous and kindly audience for
=. greater part of four hours. Mr- kennedy no
a mans sell and. Il his published words can
:, ---sfrer he believes himself 90 have been celes-
- .-,-7-7lsSiones IN elevzte mankind and
.-s~a-e So-ierv- II Is anisble aelusion- and
----pE need he said 70 disturb IL but the hope
~ -iousEv be entertained that Nj hennedys
s,s,-r-sr zaspirants vii Undue him with the con
s--,~ Eat tragic drama is not the medium
t-,-rr ri ich ne should address TIE human race.
= -.ys.rr=rfeasr" undoubtedly, is tragic Hail,
- hair And being tragic. Z = properly
- -----f- Snu1bra. Nobody expects tragedy TO
:. s--s-rss-t7g. The darkest or tragedies. the
- hand IS expected II move. and IT Is reason
- r. z71ect thst the basis % il should he firm
- RE Incidents o. il credible. MC. Kennedys
--.-ss~ possesses no more movement than would
--+s.-re sr q hea-ss stalled in 2 saowstoru. and
- -.s-r incident III II Is impossible The work
= - 7---shsI snd Is accessible 70 readers. ana
- s--z q particular account o. its contents need
- -,.=- here The essential facts Viii indicate
-, sr.47----rr- that the author might have
- .- --- ze1s hut has chosen laboriously 10
sra The stc-v in its essential
- 4- an cld one. and II has often been
Two young Den love the same woman
-. - han g warriors while the other is
-rz woman loves The warrior and iupeJu-
- .-z--= her love. The father Of one of those
-- -----~es n lure The warrior away. and re-
- brings fs-se and fnsoIent message 70
-~-=~ --1 rhereupou Tlarries The poet
--s--- ~ea-s Iass- the warrior comes back. and
- * nd b. -1e rl5 father struggles toward dis
-. and .rlrfaJsIy IS revealed The bones Of
- sssrss can no found II various novels The
= :. If zeaue6y.s tragedy.-which. such as
-s altogether literary and not dramatic.-con-
.--- his --=a---zse 5t the ole material BY locat-
mr. me- ~.e.e 81 Iceland and indicating the eley-
earn --r --= 1ersod f-ley must have had some
--z--- z-o- N=v York milIiners and Ealrdressers
= leland s.. mar tine according 10 some Of The
-----s --a- we're shown. Le manages TO invest
.-s ---. MI. EN- atmosphere ~ omen and terror,
- Ell. s---- q .az- soon disappears. under an
.=---- n -----rs-C-v improbable events An
exclamation r=f--z- fie-dlsz and 3 1ir- the nero
s-s heroine would 51eE ably have occurred before
-ea --- -z- reached frs meridian. and enforced
re ma. curtain B.- mar was not 10 BE- The I'M
-s----.. necessity rEfsre6 in rhe authors mind.
a. showing --z- re. in Iceland III rhe eleventh
---.-- must -. ==sa-Ily. lead 70 murder. suicide.
s-z aez-- .. anguish and heart disease or some
a.-er =---s -z.-5r- OF whole domestic circle
s-= therefore me zzauE IS piled until Cssa becomes
IN. cad The rlsv s written IN h1nh verse. but
che #---= agents or The inspired NJ. Kennedy have
-sEs--.5 20 provide him vita even one poetic
meg .-a Tine ~ poe----. His d-rCl0n aoounCs
.--re .z-. rs ana .-ens- ana -enoNs- Of the good
nc szrz ~ Joanna Fsifev- TIE play Is SCI in one
-5ch z---r NJ ra-1zr7c sDieu6Cr- and IL was acted
impressive spirit Of sincerity by al con
-=--zE .- -zso=cislIv by Miss Matrhison and M
-F,.- -r-- p OH
=-s -E. --s- Of t1e story = So CapricioUs as 20
be o--l=-. Is wroaesi bv such rfoierr assumptions
s-z Such v-=nches q nature IN probability as
20 acting could render credible 10 woman, after
rzz--- -za-z q marriage with good man would
II All Hkely 10 1ourish ether & sentiment or q
z-rE-r zs 80 ~ old a6n1i~er- and there Is no oh
r1us r=zs71 WHY tle gigantic viking Thorke3, who
Eres Ink Ont and kills seven young warriors
s7tne1- ru+FinE even q thread Of MS Taiment
s-e-- not strange her priestly tormen-or Ufeig
.- --a =-~- scene o. the play. The elaborate at
~ MIS- MARI hson Is obvious and - ART IT IS often
am biz Hr- she never makes the character Of
Eessz for even ore moment actual that is u say.
20 -=a- OF reality * established Her breadth Of
zsy--- md The melody Of her lower tones. hei
--------- and her rzr0se command and obtain IN
-s-s--=r -e~rzu5tfor- that IS all The character Is
m. ---zzra6 with any lasting Identity there is
-c.---z ~ be -a-7erobe-ed except a clever effort
~ ARTHUR Lewis has "a play one q those Fln-
zs----= elderly Priests thar commonly figured
RI -a -r--r6-zr-a Lef7neveU used 70 play
They alv-ars wee eufeebled and they
z-=-= =Is-e5 and Kissed. and Ai-- Lewis gares
z-= r-e=s and mugs" and is sinister and
ina -s-e and Re - very much IN
sz---=- AM does the cd business SO very
zrr with touch or Henri T~vinz's sa-don1c
~7--=-. -rs- sou cannot help being touched by
=-7-4. Tia most difficult speech and stUa-
-- -- --= 1Lz~ IS remarkably Vel spoken and
=l=-zs--z a- n. Fen Field odd. a rhrall
z-- -zz ~ cell -he story or fatal duel that ne
la z=e-- TIE sacrEsri1e interview between Swan
,-6 and 0rzr might s5ranraEeousLy be much cur
Z &C. ~ IS almost lauseous- SUI ina fraSeoE Is
--- --a -orz in every one n its coiocuies and
=-r. ~ E--ectness ana speed IN The action
-z-== h. altogether That Il Is an ambitious effort
q re realm ar --e imagination nobody vii dis
NE. a-- -1=-e can he NJ fight TitHout wings
" X