The Washington herald., 1913-03-18
NATIONAL THEATER.
Wolf Allen, In 1.-The Daughter Of
Heaven"

Wolf Allen, In "The Daughter OF
Heaven"
The Introductory music ripples of into
Chinking silver and the curtain OF the
New National Theater rises this weeR
on a succession of seven vivid scene.
pictures of Chinese life, through which
runs the epic love of a Manchu Emperor
for a Chinese Empress, set forth &C
cording to classic French tragedy by
those two brilliant descriptionists. Pierre
Lott and Judith Gautier. translated into
English by George Egerton, financed by
the Liebler Company, promoted by
George Tyler, staged by Hugh Ford, the
mise-en-scene brought all the way from
China by Haywood Broun. costumes by
Caramba, all of which still gives but a
small description of the magnificen,
spectacle and absorbing story Of The
Daughter of Heaven with Viola Aller
in the title ,le.
For, despite the fact that critics have
been so absorbed in the scenic splendoi
Of the production as to have passed ur
the plot as too slight thing to de-
serve attention, il is, nevertheless. an
unusual and pathetic tale.
When the brief. Introductory scene-tht
most beautiful of them ALA simmer.
ing, green river. with purple mountains
casting malign shadows into its depths
a phantom boat, which carries a round
orange lantern on its PROV. has passed
to the ripple of love song. we learn
that the age-long enmity of the Chinese
and the Manchurians has again culmi-
mated in war Over the Chinese at Nankin
rules the Ming Empress, the Daughter
OF Heaven. until her little son. Son
of Spring" shall become of age Over
the Manchus at Pekin rules the Tsin
Emperor. Inspired by a dream of the
loVeliness of the Daughter of Heaven. the
Young emperor plans TO put an end to
the strife which is distracting the land
by marrying her and uniting the two
dynasties.
Hearing that the MiEg Empress is to
hold grand reception of the provincial
governors, the Emperor DISCUSSES him.
self rs one of these. and journeys to
the court at Nanllin. There amid scenes
of surprising masnihcence and beauty,
he meets the Empress and learns that
she SurpasseS in loveliress even his own
fair dream of her. And the Daughter
Of Heaven likewise is attracted to the
ouns Emperor. The impostUre of the
latter, however. is discovered. and he is
compelled to fec. The Daughter Of
Heaven sends her little soE away for
the sake Of his safety in a scene which.
down, fingers in the auditors memory
even after the stupendous scenic effects
have Deen forgotten. Here the Empress,
" hose majesty Of temporal power is lost
in the majesty nf her mother-love. sinks
Town in a crumpled heart-broken heap
IN the marble steps of the pavilion, a
VeritIDlc pcrsunliIcatIOn OF grief.
Let me forget that | am an Empress
let me for this moment be just his
wall her despair in a parting which, in
decd, proves final. for the war goes on.
Nankin is besieged. Through A breach
in the city walls the Tsin Emperor comes
the bearer OF peace terms, only TO be
fi"utcd by the Daughter of Heaven. He
is forced to retire. The city is taken by
storm. Son OF Spring has been killed.
and the Chinese soldiers cast themselves
"m the flaming funeral pyres in prefer
"nCe to surrender. a scene in which the
cruel light of the flames mount high,
furnishing Il picture. which has no COM
pare in scenic production on any stage.
The Daughter Of Heaven is captured.
and in the throne room of the palace i'll
Icllin tn. Manchu Emperor implores her
To marry him and end the bitterness of
many battles. but the Ming Empress
hears the call Of her slaughtered people
q cail which rings above the voice of
perOr. and so. confessing her love. she
die in his arms. poisoned by her own
hands. a climax made all the more pa.
thetiC by her appeal to her conqueror to
Iule with mercy over her beloved people.
Viola Allen whose beauty has seemed
always Chiseled of marble brings to her
Characterization of the Ming Empress a
simplicity which adds volumes to her
rhetorical charm, majesty to her gesture
is of course. the central figure around
which this imposing Chinese play re-
wolves. In her poison scene, both the
climax of the story and Miss Aliens
reading strongly suggest Julia Marlow's
in the potion scene from Romeo ana
Juliet" this being but one of many
phases of the Chinese spectacular play.
which is reminiscent of Shakespeare's
tragic tale OF undying love.
Ian MacLaren. the Englishman. is seen
in the role played by Basil Gill in the
original presentation of The Daughter
OF Heaven" at the Century Theater.
New York, last October. interpreting th3
character of the Msnchu Emperor with
force. dignity. and sincerity of feeling.
Henry Bergman. that tried and al
ways studioui and artistiCally assertive
player. gives delightful performance
as Well of Wisdom, councillor to the
Emperor.
Son of Spring. the child Empero,
at Maxim. heir of the Mings. is impet-
sonated by Master Norris Millington
who gives a characterization Of the
little ovl-wise embodiment of ROYALTY,
which is mature without pertinent pre-
,-"City. thoughtful beyond childish years,
and pathetic in that unqucstioninS
trustfulncSs that is the most charming
attribute Of innocence aud fearless
childhood
The other supporting members of the
large company credit to the richness
of this peculiarly Eastern love-tale, than
which there is none more funda mentally
simple and appealing. and certainly
none set in so lavish scenes of Oriental
luxury and beauty. J. - MANI
THE ACADEMY.