New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-22
THE FRENCH STAGE
"MarC." a NihiIiSt Drama, by
Count Leon TolStoy.
Paris. January L.

Paris, January l..
Marc" two-act nihilist drama by VI.
Son Tolstov. son OF the late Count Leo
Tolstov. was produced Saturday night at
the Sale Berlioz under the auspices OF the
Franco Russian Association Of the Uni
versitv OF Paris The action passes IN the
United States. Marc. a Young Russian stu
dent az Harvard University. inculcated
from childhood with revolutionary doc
trines Is a member of a secret society OF
anarchists The romantic Russian youth
is perfectly happy amid his congeniaI IN
tsuectual comrades and his physical en-
ergv delights I'm athletic sports. such as
football and rowing He IS In affuent cir
curnstances. and Is popular with ms TEL
low students He IS Unexpectedly called
hack from his pleasant occupations 10 MS
obligations 20 the nihilist cause. The secret
.ro-obis+ society has been dissolved by the
,orce Marc. nervous and annoyed con-
,ossse IN Anna. the girl 10 whom he IS
Engaged 10 be married. that the secret
committee has decided 20 avenge the order
~ the police by assassinating the Presl-
don, ~ the United States. Moreover, that
nc own name has been drawn by lot as
the avenging hand 10 commit the murder.
Anna at first believes that the tale Is
vteb,nare At last she mplores her hance
IN abandon his determinauon. Her prayers
are IN vain. ms sister Mary TO whom
ANA apueals for help, also strives 20 d.
,,art her brother from HIS purpose Anna
opyars 10 substitute herself for Marc and
r,rrder the President herself Mary en-
,loys every known argument 10 convince
r,,rn,ne Messages from TOlstoy's works IN
which the the theory OF pardon Is superDIy
set forth. All i'm vain. The moment iOr
committing the crime approaches. Marc
makes ready for his departure. lie puts On
hts overcoat. and is about 70 take MS re-
volver. with which the murder Is 70 De com
,nitted. from the drawer in rs desk. ne
w.snon has disappeared. Mary mas
s+eaItbily taken possession OF II. Marc III
a furious rage demands his revolver III
- from, his hancee and from his sister.
,sarv places the muzzle u the revolver
aosinst her heart and excaims; II you 40
,,arce a single step ! shall Kill myseii
Nfarc hesitates He finally steps forward
"a &c he does so Mary discharges the re-
volver and falls dead.
Anna and Marc bend over her BODY.
No. reaches forward 10 seize the weapon
.-o,, hts sisters death clutch. Before he
,sn extricate the weapon Anna by an agile
.,o,,e,neDt gets hold Of H. and throws II
out ~ the open window Marc. notwith-
s.ard,ng the tears Of his hsncee and The
so-rse Of his sister, Is hypnotized by his
oatb and by his duty toward the secret
.ocie,v He resolutely crosses the thresh-
"a es he utters the words. "A leuvre"
(''To work.
,rbe first act Of this drama is highly ef-
,oo,iva and stirring There Is full meas
-. ~ the feverish mysticism OF Rus
=, n,bulsts. and the characters are
s.ra,glv drawn The dialogue is not Al
So. clear and incisive, but there Is no
.'.,ake about the idea. which is plain and
,nc,c.Ilv developed IN the second act
- article N mere Stage property-ihe re-
',o,ysr-plays far too important role. All
W nersonages turn about II. so that the
,I',rs., Is overmaterislized The chief feat
il,' :, tho drama Is that it brings before
W Soo,ligbts Tolstoy's conscience in re-
the 1.,,itis, creed e. J. y.