New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-19
AN AZTEC ROMANCE"
Manhattan Opera House the
Scene of Strange Doings.
VIRTUE DISCOVERED
Organ Strains Usher in the
Christian Era Among
the Aztecs.

/ New York last night, and only n thea
treful we've there to benefit. Few people
can afford to miss vital discoveries, and
there were a number of these made last
night In AN Aztec Romance" when this
! romantic spectacular play" by Orestes
Bean was offered at the Manhattan opera
| House. Among the things unearthed
We're virtue. the Christian Era, Aristotle's
recognition Of the Aztecs and the use of
the church organ among the Central
American saydges.
Pied history on the rampage romped
through four delightful acts of Mr.. Beans
play, in which the names, legends, tradi-
lions and beliefs of. every nation Of the
East and West at all sorts of periods
! from the time of the Carthagiuans to the
! discovery of America and the invention OF
( railroads figured In an unrostrained riot
OF sincerity.
! For this play teaches goodness, love
Of the prophets and down with the BIAS
/ pheme:.
The story OF the play will not be wholly
revealed to the anxious reader, because IT
could not be said to have been revealed TO
!
| the game as a prophet-although II he
had been proper prophet modesty would
! have forbidden his being dressed 80 de-
collects tempted by a siren belonging TO
a neighboring tribe, falls into bad habits
such as slipping a goblet OF wine and
/ looking uuutterable things at the siren,
goes TO her home to convert her and all
! her people, doesn't do II, returns TO his
father repentant, his gray silk stockings
intact. but his beautiful decolete gown
rather torn, kills his arch enemy. describes
! the birth, life and death OF Christ. which
I he has seen on the way home, and goes
bacl. into the fold accompanied by a
/ hymn played on the organ.
/ There are no end Of comic scenes
/ furnished by the court jester and people
stray in and out In Hebraic. Indian,
/ Phenician and Arab costumes, while
many Of the dresses have not yet be-
| lcugcd TO any date or race.
~ tho end ~ the programme. under
the appropriate title OF who Were the
! lnha bitants Of Prehistoric America
quotations were made from Aristotle
/ Joyephus's History Of the Jews. CGtlin's
North American Indians, Bancroft. Bald
WIN and the Gospe! o: 81. John, the COM
/ bined testimony Of whom was 10 the
effect that any writer bold enough 10
tackle the subject had carte blanche TO
| 30 ahead without dreadlng the inter
ference OF history-Prescott and Lew
/ Wallace 10 the contrary Notwithstanding
! The two items OF interest 10 the stu
dent Of contemporary affairs were the
audience and the actors. The audience
was. as might be surnised in hilarious
mood. They were being entertained be-
yonJ their widest hopes. and they gener-
ously wanted 70 show their appreciation.
| The features that they picked for their
appreciation. however. arc the things 10
which the attention OF playwrights and
managers is called. They were the de-
nunciation Of virtue by the Blasphemer.
the devlltrles OF the Siren and Mr.. Orestes
! Bean. In fact. the Siren, the Blasphemer
and their creator, Mr.. Bean, were the
betting favorites IN the Aztec ring last
night Let those who are preparing the
drama Of the future see which way the
wind blows.
AS for the actors In this melange OF
morals and imagination, how can they be
accounted for? Robert Warwick. dressed
( I'm Il Roman costume. muttering blank
utterly blank-verse in sepulchral tone
! of voice, and II. u. MacGcan, struttinS
about in cheetah skin, disappearing
MEDIEVAL sentiments, were sad enough To
| look upon, but when Edwin Arden
marched on the stage. clad In feathers
and tinsel. the gods must have laughed
What could have induced such players TO
take part in Mr. Beans conglomeration
! II is hard TO imagine, unless II was as
silent testimony TO the actors perfectly
nroper longing 10 wear some other kind
| of costume than the one they are con-
dcmned TO in modern plays.
Harold Orlob TO whom the music OF
the niece is accredited. composed an over
,ure 70 the second act. which was neatly
In accord with the spirit Of the play, in
asmuch as II consisted OF the triumphal
| march from Aida" the 'Cavalleria
,ntermezzo. the Evening Star from
.TannhHuser." the war horn motif from
"eIeefTied" and little scattered Tristan
md Isolde" following each other along
head to tail.
.orbo Aztec Romance Is probably
rrioie in the history OF the New York
stage.
CAST OF IAN AZTEC ROMANCE
| No. Dobort WARWICK