New-York tribune., 1909-09-28
THE DRAMA
.r9E WHITE SISTER" AT DALY's.
u;ss Viola Allen in Stage Version of
Marion Crawford's Novel

q
-. time Of the authors death In book form
y q s+orv was published last May. Recent editions
.o,n as a frontispiece a portrait of Miss Viola
- IS Sister Gioyanna Thus the producers OF
- - took recognize the play which has been made
- A. and which has for some time been travel
- t,Te country with Miss Allen its chief inter-
.- Last night the dramatizatiOn was seen at
pn.,yss Theatre. and Miss Allen. aided by a com
- which contained such accomplished players
- go,nes ONeiIl. William Farnum Minna Gale and
e-rls Addison Pitt. sincerely welcomed
-he story is one OF breaking hearts and grim fate.
more pathetic narrative has seldom been told.
OF n has more than pathos IL has almost the
s,rn,,v OF tragedy: its suffering IS OF the kind
rat strengthens the soul and sustains
-6 woman in the most dire adversely. Mr..
c-sxsord's book is not a difficult one 20 convert
= tbe uses OF the theatre: its characters are few.
ss Incidents straightforward: Il has the merit
:, .rnplicity. The question in an attempt OF this
90 is How stage players. while they tell the
.ory impart 20 the telling the dignity. the rev.
,r,nce the sweetness and strength without which
re uresentation would be only forbiddlng trav-
.s.yP Donna Angela MOnsignor Saraclnesca and
re Little White Volcano" OF a Mother Superior
mere are possibilities here for stage art OF a rare
l,s And Giovanni Severi, the high-spirited Italian
,acs- through whose obedience to his sweetheart's
rssh came all the anguish Of the pitiless years.
nstny plays about these people. All their projects
,rs their fondest hopes battered by the iron
,,rokes OF power that seems relentless. But IL
the proving mana OF COO Ihey had not Stnned.
They were being tried for the life that is and the
fge that Is TO come. all mankind is somehow
ried whether Il acknowledges the process or
ucofs az IT,
This is true OF the book It is not wholly true OF
ne play.
,slaoe Is left impoverished at nineteen by the
udden death OF her supposed father and the de-
a-uction Of HIS VIII by inconceivaby cruel
roman relative. Seyeri. at the time loses his
ntune His pay army engineer is small
,ronotion IS slow. He will resign into business
,na IN year two have money enough To marry
angela and support her in modest comfort But
he forbids him 10 sacrifice his profession HIS
,ountry viii have need Of him. He insists upon
ssytng the army She begs him TO wait month
and reflect In two days he is ordered to Africa
,s second in command Of an important expedition.
5e departs. IN a few weeks news comes that the
evolutionary force has been overwhelmed and
seyeri killed. Angela, crushed by this lew stroke
Z grief. enters the Convent OF the White Sisters.
,eyond the Tiber, the Ports Portese- These
sisters are not cloistered nuns; they maintain one
4 the best private hospitals in Italy and they so
~, as trained Angela-s after her novitate.
,soomes z Sister OF the order. The love for Gio-
ranni Is in her heart. She viii give her life for
nhers. he gave his. She takes his name. calling
,srsef Sister Giovanna.
After five years Seyeri reappears in Rome He
,ad been captured and enslaved by the barbarian
saemy. Carrying his wounded brother 10 the Sis
p the Sister VINO takes the the woman for
Ehom he has lived through the desolste years OF
African captivity. She swoons upon the recogni-
ion And then comes the struggle between love
nd the holy vows which bind the White Sister 10
he service OF God.
severi, unbeliever. victim OF half decade Of
aragery. storms at her faith and swears that
lohing shall keep them apart, not king nor law.
0 parliament nor Pope. Her vows 10 him were
scred. He has kept his in the African fastness
lhe must obtain a dispensation freeing her from
vr convent bond. She listens. refuses and dis
misses him. 1t is impossible" she says She
hose this life for his sake. for the sake OF Clio
ami dead; for the sake OF Giovanni living. and
q her faith in God, she viii be true 10 her holy
vEs she VIII not seek for dispensation.
After that half mad with DISAPPOINTMENT and
he yearnngs OF bitter exile. he tries force and
-aps her only 70 be rebuked and shamed by her
oly faith and splendid resolution resolution un-
haken. though she loves him and confesses her
owe, confesses that the woman Angela fights with
Z the nun. She will leave Rome. but not the Sis
erhood; she viii join the mission 20 the lepers at
langoon
Again the Unforeseen flashes into their lives and
ghfs them TO new paths. The powder magazine
/ Monteverde. where Captain Severi is stationed.
ust outside Rome, explodes Giovanni. cruelty
sounded is conveyed 10 the Convent Hospital.
there Sister GioVanna the woman he loves, nurses
dm. His life be saved only by the amputa-
ION OF his right arm Under the law Of Italy such
n operation cannot be performed without the con-
snt Of the patient. Sever refuses his consent;
prefers death. They labor to persuade him;
hey tell him his course means suicide. He laughs
them he Will not live manned without Angela.
ie leaves the decision with her. But Monsignor
aracinesca decides AS the secretary 10 the card-
al Vicar such cases come 10 a great extent with
his province The Church. on its Initiative.
Hn release the White Sister from her There
a limit beyond which fidelity 20 an obligation
nay bring ruin and even death on some one whom
he promise did not at first concern. When the
NIT is reached il !. the plain duty Of those who
ave. received that promise 70 relieve the maker
Z It from it's observance. even though not asked
0 DO so
Giovanni looks at Giovanna.
Yes she says
And the struggle is over. Duty has been full
lied And love is fulnIied. Sister Giovanna re-
uas 70 the world Angela ChiaramOnte. Gio-
ami and the Church make her Angela SeverL
And the Little White Volcano the head OF
he convent? She Angela's mother in God
I'D IN the flesh
Inc dramatist, then, taking this tale has spoiled
- me players enter with fine perception into the
pint Of the theme they preserve its delicacies and
Hse straight home. with effect which is rot
- sure because II has not the appearance OF
Iofl- the lesson OF womanliness and manliness
~'oaon and sublime faith. And the play goes
rue until II Is half over. and then Il departs alto
'1nT from Nj. cTaWford's story and us noble
'lpose Seve-i commits suicide,i Could The
'oahiy 90 further IN it's craving for effect? This
LaTture from the trend and purpose of the theme
Aes useless all the suffering and sacrifice. and
'Os the meaning and teaching OF the story
j" II faith were fruitful IN works Il is so
no"n there. and its guidance OF life is clear
mai appeared 70 be the tempests Of blind fate
ie The Instruments Of God welded not for the
-Nlineni Of mere happiness. but clearing the path
me conquering soul. II IS not duty that clears |
y path and lifts the load, but duty with cheer |
ri was fal ul IN
= Mey as Angela in hers. HIS very unbelief in I
= Dl7lne was an agent in the unfolding Of the /
ssihe Of things; ingredient which helped 10 /
'e the fame Dy which all these lines were /