New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-07
THE DRAMA
The Drama Players in |bsen's
wady from the Sea-"


Drama Players. gave the first performance
Of their New York engagement last hlght
at the Lyric Theatre, presenting hehrlh
Jbsen's THE Lady from the Sea.
The fact Of especial interest about the
Drama Players. aside from the fact that
several members Of the company are wei
known and well liked here, Is that they
have as the purpose for which they were
organized the presentation Of those plays
old and new. which. I'm the opinion of thelr
directors, at least have An especial signih-
canoe and importance in the history OF the
development Of the drama. AS a result
they have brought to light many OF the
masterpieces Of past centuries when nave
survived both time and criticism, ana when
have been lying in idleness on dim library
shelves because local managers nave Kept
the stages full Of local things written from
day to day. so that there has been no
place, time or interest for anything else.
Donald Robertson the leading player or
this company. a. we'll as its director Is
largely. IL not wholly. responsible for the
idea which the company represents and for
the selection of the list Of dramas which
the members Of 1t have prepared.
hsps, be taken as a study Of the influence
on the character Of restraint y young
woman. born and raised by the shores OF
the sea, and over whom anything con-
nected with the ocean has strange fasci-
nation. once gave her promise TO sailor
lad. who threw two rings into the sea as
pledge Of eternal devotion. The sailor
soon afterward disappeared. and Ellida,
when she grew older, married DR.. NanSel'
a widower. with two grown children. AZ
this point the play opens. There are many
threads TO the story which follows but the
central interest is formed by the reap
pearance Of the sailor, who was supposed
10 have been drowned. The mysterious
call Of the sea returns with him and over
powers Elida with a desire 10 leave her
husband and go with her strange lover.
The fact that she cannot do so without
committing an act that Is both wrong ana
outrageous forms part OF her longing 10
do II. The mere restraint drives her to
feel that she will certainly have to break
through II all and 20. Meantime she Is
pictured as really loving her husband She
appeals 10 him. and he gives her her free
dom TO do as she wishes. The moment she
1
others she is able 10 realize her own will.
and without hesitation she goes back to
her husband. The fascination which She
felt was. after all. only the lure Of the
forbidden. but in a form in which she did
not recognize II. She feared II was the
call of the sea. something 10 which It was
I'm her nature to have IN respond Restraint
from sin merely had led her to a desire
for sin. which otherwise she would not
have felt The outward restraint had
weakened her inward strength.
Donald Robertson. who has not been seen
I'm New York since he played I'm Zee
thoyen" at The New Theatre year ago
last spring took the part Of Dr. WanSel'
F.lIida's husband. He played the part OF
the understanding. forgiying doctor with
rare sweetness and strength. There are
scenes I'm the play when an actor Of less
poise ard restraint would have lost con-
troll OF his part and let It become unmanly
or nabby Mr.. Robertson never fell INTO
this fault for an instant His manner and
voice both were the personifcation OF gelt-
tlencss.
Hedwig Recher. German actress Of
note who appeared here several years ago
and then left New York. is now member
Of he company OF Drama Players Her
part in last nights play was that Of the
lady from the sea. Ellida. the wife Of Dr.
Wansel Since she was last seen here
Fraulein Reicher has made such progress
with this difficult and trying language that
she hardly betrays tho fact that il Is now
10 her 4 slight accent, that does not
make IT in the least difficult 10 understand
I II
with English. Her rendering of tho part
of the mysterious. sou-tortured wife was
sane almost beyond hope. II is a difficult
part 10 maintain in a key of plausibilty.
even Of possibility. Ibsen. perhaps. hardly
intended the character 10 be plausible. She
was poetic. mysterious. and il was i'm that
understanding that Hedwig Eeicher inter
preted Ellda.
| Sheldon Lewis took tho part Of tho sailor
| man who, in his one personality, represent
| ed to Elida all the mystic power and lure
of the sea. Mr.. Lewis managed to convey
| wonderfully well the something terrible
| that he was supposed to represent Ellida
describes her feelings toward the stran-
/ ger" as he is called on the programme
when she says: He is terrible 10 me. A
| thing is terrible when II both frightens and
| fasclnates." Mr.. Lewis used "A remarkable
makeup. There was nothing overdone
! about it, yet IT made him look like some
one who had come from away off, from
| somewhere wild and free. Yet in his eX-
preston was tenderness, too. and in his
| voice as tho sea is tender Barbara Hall
| as Boletta. Renee Kelly as Hilda, Lionel
/ BeImore as Arnholm and Edward Emery
as Ballested each played with care and
attention 10 detail that made all these sub
| sldlarv parts stand out. There was a
happy absence OF star" and subordinates
| in last nights play.
The Lady from the Sea" has not been
produced I'm New York before. outside OF
amateur theatricals A large and hopeful
audience, apparently both ready and able
| to appreciate good things, was present Tor
/ this first performance Of the company and
! the play. which were new TO this city. And
| I'm spite Of the moments OF almost hysterical
/ gloom which pervade the scenes In which
the terrified wife feels herself lured to her
| natural doom, this New York audience, a
| body that is supposed TO hold no especial
| fondness for Ibsen, showed marked pleas
IRE during the whole evening. one Trims
| can be said for The Lady from the Sea
I which cannot be said for most Of lbsen
/ plays, and that is IT has "A decidedly up
ward ending. Ii does not send you out into
| the streets with a pistol shot ringing III
your Mortified cars, nor with the last
| groans OF a deathbed scene clingins to your
senses. II ends happily and, more than
| that. satisfactorily.
Miss Reichers dressing OF her part was
not only so pleasing that IL deserves men
! ton for its colorings and unique designs
| but so suggestive Of the part she Was
plaving that her gowns were part OF the
poetry OF the woman and added to the
| Of no inlay