New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-13
Chinese Spectacle at Century a
ReveIry of Color.
LEISURELY PACE OF DRAMA
Costuming of Unusual Inter
est the Work Of
Caramba.

who appeared in THE Daughter OF HeaV-
| en-" A feast of color such as he has
supplied to the long procession OF scenes.
! both dim and resplendent, which mark the
accomplishment of the love tragedy pro-
vides revelry for the senses. The stately
/ ceremonial with which most Of the action
abOunds Is in every case distinguished BY
| hauntingly beautiful shades and tones OF
color, melting yet distinct. glowingly brill
| liant yet as soft as shaded candlelight.
And in all this symphony there are onlj
few major colors repeated. The minor
tones of blue and green seemed Infinite In
variety and combined into an infinity OF
satisfying design. The instinct for hit
ting upon just the right thing without
undue effort-a trait which has been
Italian through all the ages--is felt
throughout the whole forceful harmony.
II is not often that the costuming OF
play. even OF an elaborate and gorgeous
/ spectacle. rises into a genuine artistic
achievement.
As for the drama Of Judith Gautier and
Pierre Lott, II Is something quite out OF
the usual. Among those who feel per-
| haps quite naturally. that China In remote
| and that her affairs are not OF particular
| interest, this story OF the warfare OF
Ming against Manchu may seem like MOTH
ing but leisurely recital Of Chinese his
tory without much OF the easy thrill OF
Occidental drama The action moves at
stately pace. II Is In great part con-
Quoted through ceremonial and courtiy
speeches. In other words. II Is Chinese
not only in costume. story and scenery. pu'
in its whole spirit. And II has not only
this value. II has the value OF being an
imaginative work built upon the history
and traditions OF the Chinese.
II It were produced in China the play
would no doubt be looked upon as SEN
sational political drama, suggesting
startling possibilities. For. according TO
all accounts. the sdherents Of the old Ming
dynasty are stu secretly strong In the
land In The Daughter OF Heaven they
are united under an Empress again ana
fighting for their independence from the
Manchu dynasty Of the North, until re-
Gently in power.
In the story of the play the young Man
chu Emperor leaves his palace IN uis-
guise 10 journey down and see the Dausn-
ter Of Heaven, who rules the MinBs. lie
has dreamed OF her and loved her IN MS
dreams. He must see her He arrives In
her capital, Marking. on the day OF heF
coronation. The Ming Emperor has oeeh
killed and the Empress is TO rule unth the
little heir 10 the throne Is OF age Inc
younr Manchu sees the Daughter OF
Heaven pass,ng on her way TO the corona
,t,r she 4, more wonderful than his
dreams
The Northern emperor has come In dis
gn,se an a viceroy from the Southern
nrovinces Of the Mings and as such Is
received at court. lie sits in the garden
outside her majesty's pavilion, beside her
serene majesty herself. and boldly looks
his love. The white Southern moon Is
shining in the garden and on the white
marble steps of the pavilion.
While the young emperor Is thus peril
ousIy having his first love adventure, his
own armies are advancing from the north
q, Hanking. He escapes from the CITY,
,ravels north 10 head OF his soldiers and
,ries 10 make peace, but the hatred OF
centuries has broken out again, and can
not be controlled.
conouer and devastate the Mings. who
feel themselves to be the only true chi
nose. and take captive the Daughter OF
Heaven. The last scene brings the royal
lovers together. The victorious Emperor
offers 10 share his throne with the Ming
empress. thus uniting the hostile forces
of China and establishing everlasting
peace throughout the troubled empire
The captive queen refuses, takes poison
and dies, sinking down on the throne she
had been begged TO mount as Empress OF
China
The slow rhythm OF movement in the
spectacle is hard TO accept at iirst Audi
ences here gather in haste through
maze Of hurry and noise. Thoy fall into
their seats breathlcss and with speed i'm
prisoned in the marrow OF their bones.
Then the curtain goes up, and Tor scene
upon scene things progress with cruel de-
liberation II IL hard TO let ones belt
down 10 this pace at FIRST. IL is IKE
racing from life Of night and day haste
10 a berth aboard an ocean steamship
When the thing sails there Is ali at once
nothing TO do but alt down quietly for a
week IL comes hard at irst. Sut on the
sixth day out, with life readJusted to the
now mace. the day seems full and pront-
able
The scenic effects were anticipated with
sone interest after the Achievements
made I'm last years spectacle AT the Cen
tury Theatre. The present piece now
ever. requires no such vast outdoor I'M
pressions as were given in The Garden OF
Allah" Most of the scenes were Interiors
or corners Of gardens. There were TWO
executions TO this, however. and these
provided the most interesting pictures.
The first scene was practically Chinese
print. There was background or moon
lii mountains and foreground OF water.
A funk with a dust colored sail hoated
across the water and the man and woman
who were in II were singing. The picture
WAS given to strike the keynote FOR the
play. The other impressionlstic scene rep
resented the battlements near the wall OF
Nankin. Both were interesting In their
effective lack of detail.
Miss Viola Allen played the Daughter
of Heaven She played IT coldly and with
out romance There was not the slightest
suggestion OF the Oriental about her In
presence, speech or feeling. Basil Gil.
the popular young English actor. brought
here 10 impersonate the Manchu Emperor,
played with force and authority, but also
without breathing a note OF the East
Perhaps II is too much to expect from one