The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-07
1aB6HBBlEUHE W. w.
Bernhardt Seen as Judas in De-
pressing Play.
Fails PerfOrce, Attempting to
Idealize Betrayer.
JOHN DE KAY FAILS.
Work Shows Astounding Defense
for Worst Traitor.
Few Dissenters to History's YER
diet to Be Gained.
COMING ATTRACTIONS.

COMING ATTRACTIONS.
At the Grand.
January 13-James K Hackett.
January 1.-THE Honeymoon
Trail"
January 2O-21-"The Newlyweds
and Their Baby
February 3-Russian Dancers.
At the Majestic.
North Brothers Stock company in
1.-The Other Girl
At the Novelty.
Vaudeville.
Judas the unspeakable; Judas, whose
name has been a byword for CEN
turtles; mock for two thousand years;
the most contemplate figure that his
tory has ever revealed-even Judas IS
not defenseIess, says the New York
Journal of Commerce in it's Dramatic
Reviews. A modern playwright or
ability discovers him to be man
capable OF a great love, of nobility
and of a d9pth of emotion which in the
supreme hour of his life finds him
willing to sacrifice the world for love
of a woman: The greatest actress IN
the world impersonates the Judas thus
sordidly Enthusiastically because
the playwright's argument is sophls-.
try. Finally, the presentation OF the
real human Judas" is given at one OF
New York's leading theaters, before
crowding audience of the class called
brilliant in splendid and artistic
stage settings wherein moves one OF
the ablest companies of players in the
world So the charity of New York
becomes known to the world as bouno-
less. But Satan has his friends here'
why not Judas?
Mime. Bernhardt's portrayal Of
Judas in the play of that name, IN
which at the Globe theater last night
she produced for the first time the
work of a contemporary EngHsn OF
American writer, displayed the his
trionic ability and emotional power
for which superlatives may now be
taken for granted as properly de-
scriptive. AS compared with that OF
here work in La Sorciere," Ca
miIle.r Madame X" and so on, it was,
however, disappointing. Her Judas
gains little sympathy until by her own
power, rather than the playwright
words, she reaches the hearts or her
auditors in scenes which depict the
sufferings of one who loves IN VAIN.
Aside that created by her own en-
beavers, the effect of the play is not
such as the author, John de Kay, IN
tended. It is weighted with gloom
throughout, Judas sacrifice of the
Saviour, even, is without benefit to the
betrayer, and the net result of the per-
formance is a wondering, "Why this at
all?"
Mr.. de Kay makes no apologies Tor
the story of his Judas differing with
that of the New Testament. He says:
''T find him too noble to be bought at
any price except the supreme price o.
the World-a woman's 1ove-and find
him losing what he loves, which again
is the way Of life.' The woman he
loves is Mary Magdalene-the second :
localized Magdalene-pure i'll heart at
last and A Christian worker, whom
New Workers have seen at a theater
within few weeks. Even Pont1uS
PLATE is an attractive youth Wnom
Mary Magdalene loves with her flrsr
and only real love. He sacrl1lces nsr
to his ambition. After finishing her
career as the world knows it she be-
comes a follower of the Saviour She
attaches herself to Judas as a disciple
Judas loves her, and when she sets out
to follow the Nazarene he is frantic at
the thought of losing her.
When the Roman seek the Nazarene
they tempt Judas with gold. Failing
with this, they promise him that Mary
Magdalene will be restored to him
through tho exile of the Saviour. They
swear it shall be exile only. The
noble Judas is thus bribed; hence the
sophistry Throwing loyalty and re-
ligion to the winds, as it were, and
with them the whole world. here and
hereafter, for all he cares, he shouts:
Follow mel He to whom I give the
kiss of peace-that will be He. Take
and be accursed with me- These aw-
full words. which have rung through
the centuries in immortal disgrace, are
the final words Of the play. Shall the
theater make a hero of a Judas? 1t is
not Our province to answer, but We
venture to ask
Miss Ruth Robinson. who plays sec
onI business in the North RrotherS