Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-09
A M u S E NJ E N T S /.
BelaSco.

y play in blank verse embellished now
and then with lighter lyric forms is the
offering which Julia Marlowe submits to
her admirers this season. The Goddess
Of Reason is based on episodes in that
fruitful source of plots, the French revo-
| luton, and though scarcely calculated to
efface memories of the Only Way, as
produced by Martin Harvey, Robe
Splerle, as given by Henry Irving. is a
/ lofty and pralSewortny effort; one whose
exalted artistic purpose is fortified by I'M
limited scenic resources and the cOnscl-
entiouS endeavorS of a star whose skill In
/ reading speeches of poetic purport Is un-
surpassed The play Is many sentences
III excess of reaSona BILE leng ii. Much OF
the nrSt act is given over to metrlcai DIS
SeTtdtlon, which. without being luNurlant
in iiSurative invention or phIlusuphlc sug-
gestlon, SoolheS the ear with succession
Of well adjusted and SonorOuS Sy ia bieS
Considered in relation to the current the
dtI1c product, the performance is one OF
distinctly superior quality; only The com
parsons which the form and the topic
uncomprum.singly challenge could de-
tract from the impression of eAtraordl-
Eary merit
Ihe events OF the play do not progress
rapidly during the carrier portion. mel
dents and characters seem important only
as excuses for carefully rounded speech.
The modern tendency OF the stage mas
been IN the contrary direction. simple
ana exact dlctlOn has Suppidnled eiaD-
crate phra seoloGy. Miss Johnston may
between the profuSe and masterfui I'M
aSery OF Shakespeare and the idiom OF
the street with which current authorship
Is faiu to be content
The first act reveals the Chateau or
Morbcc in Brittany. where ivette, whose
revolutionary zeal causes her to he en-
throncd the Goddess of Reason,
meets the aristoCrat whom she loves and
tn Foe a T.
tachment whose intensity makes up for
the Ia rdineSS of it's avOWal
The scene of act III showed the garden of
the convent in which YVette finds safety
from the political turmoil This refuge
she abandons to join the mob and act III
finds her the idol of the populace. the
Goddess of Reason" with saturnalla
in progress about her in square In
Nantes. Here, with her plea for pardon
for the man she loves and her jealous
denunciation, at sight of the maruuse
who accompanies him. dramatic action
becomes brisk and inspiring and the in
tereSt is eXCellently sustained through the
familiar but always impressive scenes OF
prison where the victims of popular
wrath await death and revolutionary
tribunal.
Yvette has at the sacrifice of her honor
bought freedom for her lover, VINO re-
fuses to accept it at such a cost, and the
play ends with love scene on the banks
of tho Loire prior to the execution by
drowning of the two lovers. The story
is one of deep and simple devotion with
a background of grotesque terror.
splendid series of pictures is unfolded.
and Miss Marlowe's realization of the
principal role is work of exquisite
beauty. Mr.. White Whittlesey was notably
good as Yvette's aristocratic lover. and
the mob, an essential feature, was well
disciplined. With some condensation
The Goddess OF Reason should prove
a work of Importance in current theat-
ric affairs. AS vehicle for Miss Mar
lowe ii has exceptional value.