New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-22
THE DRAMA
The City" by CLYDE Fitch, at
the LWic Theatre.

pause or hands was drowned In the ire
mendous cheering that swept from orches-
ira to balcony. II Is long since such
demonstration has taken place IN a New
York theatre. The audience exhausted ~
self with cheering. And the cheers were
deserved They were earned by the power
OF the playwright and by the power Of the
acting II seems tame 70 saw merely that
the play is strong. for In It's strongest scene
u Is tremendous. The play rs strong as
raging bull an elephant in passion, a hun
cry tiger; strong man the animal is
strong, not with the strength OF man IN
the balanced exercise Of his faculties, ca
pacities and powers. II hold the mirror up
10 certain types IN nature. shows Scorn her
own image. and the very age and body Of the
Time some portions OF his form and press
IRE, bur Is not much concerned with an at
tempt 70 reflect Virtues own feature. The
spectators contemplate for the evening the
acts OF respected persons who succeed IN
feeding the newspapers with sensations and
Keep the criminal courts busy. Life? Be
Nond question. A powerful presentation Of
life by drsmatist and actors: a presentation
that appals horrifes. 70 the last degree
rec listic.' modern 70 the brim. A play
~ greed. hypocrisy blackmail. theft and
murder. There are other qualities and ac-
compartments even in modernism" but
they scarcely glimmsr IN this play. There
are chiefly the sordid. seamy sides Of life.
This is a play 10 shudder at The art en-
ployed Is remarkable. the effect is AT mo-
ments mighty
I'm The city Clyde Fitch turned from
his photographic reproduction
or amusing superficialties OF life which had
brought HIM fortune. and from a fame
that would quickly die. He seems 20 have
resolved upon the production OF a great
Play-if he could construct it-or. al any
rate, upon play OF great power He has
produced the latter, II not the former. All
the rest Of his life's work-a life. alas, too
short-could not make up the sum Of this
one play.
This play Is cruel as truth Is often cruel,
but IL does not depress. And in that fact
- testimony 10 something like genius n
II be said that what the audience took home
from the performance could not have been
elaron, could not have been Coutentrnent
but must have been such feeling as specta-
tors have when sentence Is pronounced
upou a prisoner after a long trial for A
major crime-if this be said then il must
be- said IN error. For il the audience does
not carry JOY from a performance OF this
play, and is not overwhelmed with a con-
seriousness OF its own righteousness. Yet il
departs as a crowd does after the playing
Of some great tragedy which has moved
the multitude. IT has looked on life and
death and heartbreak and has kept its
hope.
Here is play that shocks its beholders
into thought. smites their fraiI convention
slities. makes the timid and formal gasp:
a play that is as soothing as A salvO Of
artillery. II II be asked what the spectator
viii see as he sits through this three-aCt
drama az the Lyric Theatre. let the an
swer. briefly enough. be this He will see
highly respected, tax paying citizen. the
leader Of his community. banker. philan-
thropist. pillar Of the church. blackmalled
by his illegitimate sOn-as twisted a knave
a. ever crept among men. he will see ana
hear this esteemed subscriber 10 worthy
causes rebuke his legitimate children for
their desire 20 live in ~the city" where
there is opportunity. fashion, the chance,
and the game. he will hear the country
extolled. the city traduced. then the coun-
Try traduced and the city extoIed. he will
hear the model father confess 10 MS model
son his faithlessness. and viii presently
learn OF the esteemed gentIeman's death
. under the shock he will see the model
and legitimate son risen in the city. pub
lie figure climbing higher and higher on a
Ilegitimate son tricking undermining
scheming. drawing his nets around his
seemingly luckier brother. but finding him
self caught in his own mtrigues. and married
- his own sister. killing her IN a gorilla-Iike
rage when De- learns the truth he will see
the model brother. with the Governorshir
Of the state almost within his grasp. ruined
IN his political. professional and social am
hitions. but. responsive 20 his FEARFUL lesson.
ready 70 start life anew with a real mans
courage. And he viii see. IN the acting ~
Mr.. FULLY Marshall ss the bastard degan-
crate. one Of the most mastery perform
auces that this city has beheld IN many
years.
ANY account OF the story OF this play.
and OF the work Of its players. must fail
O. give the essential truth. The purpose
of the play les lines and situations are
worked out with such complete under
standing as between author and actors
that mere narrative must be- harsh and
bald. whereas the performance is convinc-
ing, thrilling. Ar Walter Hampton who
played the name-part IN The Servant In
The House" with the finest discretion is
not 50 We'll suited 10 his present task. the
portrayal u the country banker ambi-
tIous son. although he has admirable mo-
Wents. and al the climax Of tine play, and
iu the quiet final act has his audience with
him. NJ. Emerys representation OF q
u.au-ab out-tONu Is gem OF good acting
And the remainder Of the cast IS well III
ted But Tally MarshalTs acting is far be-
yond tho ordinary. altogether apart from
a. an representation original I'm conception.
perfect in execution. terrifying iu effect
N Oh great acting. From che instant Of his
first entrance Mr. Marshall lifts the pIay.
Hr-
the illusion which 10 has created.
n ever there were a powerful American
play. firm and deft I'm construction daring
Boo plan. bold. frank, convincing. worthy 70
stand with much Of the best work Of the
modern dramatists of the Old World. this
that play II Is not perfect work. But
had CLYDE Fitch lived. ne would have he
come one Of the great dramatists of this
age. and the first great dramatist Of Amer
fca. All that ne had done before this piay
was merely IN the way OF apprenticeship
ana nftps ration.
The city proves this. In this drama
Fitch had begun 20 md himself But IA.
found himself only 10 die Were the gods
jealous Of what would otherwise have.
come
N b. not possible 20 do fun Justice 10
This play and it's performance I'm a single
review. Description leaves an impression
OF grewsomeness which neither the play noe
the presentation really gives as the lasting
immersion The teaching If the u-,rls a.,