Putnam patriot., 1911-02-24
Bradley Theater
THE CLIMAX

The successes of the season have been unusual, and even more out of the conventional groove than most of them, but sentimental As well as hu- morous in it's appeal Is The Climax, which appears at the Bradley Theatre, Wednesday, March 1, 1911,
 The Climax springs from melody no less than from life. It is claimed to be the only successful drama which en- twines it's theme around musical mo- tive. The dominant parsonage is Lnigi Golfanti, poor, kindly old Italian singing master, a Latin von Barwig in the mixture in his nature of genteness and feasibility and bis quaint aloofness from the practical things of life. A second character is Pietro, his son, composer, swarthy, hot tempered, sometimes morose. A third, whose fate gives the play it's propulsive force, Is Adelina von Hagen, pupil of old Luigi wao has come from a western town bringing with her am- bitions to become prima dona. John Raymond is the fourth figure, young doctor who loves Adelina, but has no patience with her ambitions. These characters you see in the gray monoto. ny of their half-starved lives. Their grief is yours and their disappoint- ments and their joy; so are their quar- rels and their differences. The play Is just a little copy from commonplace life and that is why it is so good, be- cause its realism and it's simpleness reaches to the heart, but the copy is a masterpiece. The author who carved these characters lets them tell their story in both words and melody. And the music as well as the stagecraft gives the unique and fascinating at mosphere. There is an enticing pathos in the little drama which seems to clutch at your heart strings.
 The story is simple. Adelina is in l New York taking music lessons. She | is poor and 1t is struggle. She is persuaded to make her home with the poor Luigi. She lightens the little home. Luigi discovers the gradual de. velopment of her wonderfully sweet voice and it gives him joy but to Pietro l the presence of the young girl in the house gives unrest. He has fallen in love with his fathers pupil. He is wnling a composition "The Song ol the Soul.n It Is his inspiration.
 Dt. Raymond pleads with Adelina to ,ive up her ambitions for the stage i l. 4t she will not listen to him and al 1 last there comes a tune when a slight surgical operation on the girls throat is necessary for the perfection of her voice. Raymond takes the girl to s noted specialist and during the weeks 1 Of silence that follow the operation he l Is given charge of the case. He realizes l the power Oi mental suggestion and de, termines to see what he can do with il | for unless he succeeds in his purpose of persuadiug Adeiina to abandon her ] ambitions ne can never hope to make i her his wife, as she has told him heI i future will be devoted to her art.
 At last Adeina k permitted to try her voice again. But the golden note. will not come She tries again. But in the house there Is only silence. The i little home Is hushed in SorrOw. The l womanly strength of Aieiina is all that keeps her from self-de>lruclion.
 In the final act Adelina Is seen or her wedding morning. Elaborate a> they can be are the preparations mad, by Luigi and Pietfo for the marriage
 But slowly the paralysis of the mus cles of the girls tbrOat has been disap- bearing. Suddenly almost involun tarily PietTo touches the dusty keys ol the piano that had been so long silent and Adelina inspired by pity for him
 unconsciously tries again 10 sing. In the hurry of the preparations she hac neglected to use the spray which Dr
 Raymond had given her-what is he
 amazement when the wonderful note, again pour forth, sweeter, purer, more
 wonderful than ever, for in the voice now is the sympathy and the warmth of love-the soul is in her voice now There is joy and the curtain falls, Du
 1t does not fall on either Adelina's am
 bition or on the love that put so muct
 tenderness in her voice.