New-York tribune., 1910-02-21
NEW PLAY BY DANE
SOPHLS WCH1ELIS.
Author Talks Of Himself and
4 Son Of the People.

is an Ehghsh translation of EFT Eevolu- /
tionsbryiiup GA Revolutionary We'd /
ding }, by Sophus MichaeIis, q Danish art |
editor poet author and playwright. MI /
Mlchaehs Is now visiting in this country /
and he was good enough to give tho read |
ers of The Tribune an account of himself |
and his play. He and Mrs. Michae'ts-
herself also al author of note-were seen |
at The New Theatre. just after having
witnessed a performance of the Hagedofh-
Jensen drama. The Witch. Mr. and
Mrs MichaeIis were most enthusiastic over !
the performance
We saw it in Copenhagen. said NJ
Michaeila Mime Dvbwar, our most IA
nous actress. played tho leading part but
Mime kahch plays it equally Well thinK
Nine katich is great actrees-sha is Won
derful. And the other parts were We'll
played The setting of the first act was
The most beautiful that ] have ever seen
But the last act would have been more
effective If it had been set in church. In
Copenhagen the scene took place IN dome
church, and it was very impressive The
play IS Of great interest. because it * UNI
EerSal. but il is oh. SO sombrc!
But this is all about The Witch, in
terposed the interviewer. What ef your
own play?" Mr. MichaeIis was asked.
1T is my first play he said. and l am
very proud of its success in Copenhagen.
Stockholm, Berlin. Vienna. Budapest, and
Milan, ] am known in my country as a
lyric poet and the editor of 'kdnst,'
magazine of fine arts. ] have written
'-E5elo,' d medieval romance; Giovanni,
q story of medieval Italy, and five books
OF poems But since the success of my
first drama ] have written a play concern
ing the life OF Napoleon, entitled st Hell
ena,' which will be produced in Berlin and
the American rights to which 7 have sold
10 the Messrs. Shuhert. 1 have also writ
ten The Blue knight and d play of the
Russian revolution called The Physician
'Et Revolutionsbrylup was forbidden
by the censor in Russia after it had been
translated into Russian by Nine. Witte and
accepted by the royal opera houses in
Moscow aud St. Petersburg. But the EN-
press DoWager was so much interested in
the play that she went to see 1t while visit
ing her brother. the King of Denmark, in
Copenhagen II is soon to be presented in
Paris and it will be the first foreign play
on the French revolution ever produced in
France.
In Berlin and Vienna 'Et Revolutions
bryIlup was staged with the assistance or
my wife. who is an experienced stage man
ager and author of poetic and romantic
works ono of her books, Andrea, has
been translated into English In Berlin It
is said that my play is the only serious
drama that has made 'hit'-do you call
it, in twenty years,
4 SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY.
When asked for 4 synopsis of this play.
which Mr.. Mason viii present, Mr.. Michaelts
said:
"A Son of the People Is drama Of
the French revolution. Its scenes are laid
in Castle Trionville. near Conde, in April
17aS. 1t concerns the life and love OF Mar
ouis Ernest des Tressailles ana Alaine'
daughter Of Jean FRANCOIS count ns
TEstoile The Marquis des Tressa'ties was
one of the 'emigres' who escaped from
France aud took service under foreign hass-
Alaine remained with her aged rather on
his estates, braving alone, after her 'alh-
er's death the teTrors of the feNoiutlo''.
The MARQUIS des Tresaailies returned 10
France more on account OF MS rove ioi
.Iairc than from a desire to take part IN
the Iasr feeble efforts of the roysllstS-
..,rbe ,lav pictures the events of the wed
dir. dav and the DAY following. Soon after
the marriage ceremony the reVo'uIiofils'S
e.,o their uyav INTO Castle TrlonNll!e- Ihe
,,r,- MARQUIS escapes, but Is caught IN
- osrk bv Colonel Marc-Arron, one on
- leaders of the revolutionary forces
.1aire pleads for him, and persuaoea ',i9
coIoreI 70 postpone the execution uhui tlle
following morning.
..rr tho second act AIaine Is seen trying
20 ronsa the manhood Of her frlshIeheu
husband. but she pleads in Yain. iteI io'o
turns 10 pitv. She resolves TO save h''a "'
any cost. and calls in Colonel Aarc-Ar'oi'.
She reasons and pleads win nun ''I
hnaIlv laws her hand on his shouidef d''u
savs DO ii for my sake. lie IS h'' 9"'0
~ her meaning. She repeats: For my
sako-I know the price
..warc-krron commands Ernest 10 fol-
low him into the next room, ana tneS '7
,11rn. having exchanged clothes Ernest
oscapes. disguised as a reVoluuoHist' anu
with his eager fight the last OF Ald'he.9
49,, for hin, vauishes. But now terror at
tho bargain she has made comes over Hsi'
.nd ebe locks herself into her room she
III ,,o+ believe that there is any danger
So N1ar,.- Arron even when the deception is
5.o,-ered bv his comrades. But she re-
- IN = fa7,, moments to thank him for
La+ he has done and to reassure herself
that he is in no danger. He makes her
understand that his conscience "outd not
,arr,it of his acceptance OF her sacTlhCe'
He calls in his commander, Montaloup'
while Alaine hides in the next room
,.onta1of,n will not allow him to die, for
,rarr Arron is one of the strongest spirits
=, tho revolution; but he. too, must bow to
+ba formal order of the committee and see
,b,+ tho execution takes place next morn
frc This conv;nCes Alaine that the
coIone,,s life is in danger, and she realizes
that she loves rc-Arron-that for the
aret time she knows what love really is.
THE EXECUTION.
Act 5 is pictured at a. II. the fol-
lowing dav Marc-Arron comes from the
bedroom. a prey TO conflicting emotions.
He calls in the watch at the door. who is
his faithful comrade and admirer, Jean
Iasouc Jean will not believe that this is
HIarc-Arrnn in the nlarquis's clothes and
when he hears what has happened accuses
Narc-Arron Of having done it for money.
That arouscs Marc-Arron from momentary
weakness and he tells Jean to that
cvervtbing is ready for the execution.
Then Alaine comes to him. and beautiful
lave scene follows. IL IS the first time love
has come into his rough life, and il almost
veakens him. but the indomitable courage
Of the woman. who recognizes him the
master gives him back his strength again,
and when Mentaloup and his aids come to
Mead with him to save himself he goes TO
the window and gives the signal to the