New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-06
THE PAINTED WOMAN
MeIOdrama at William A.
Brady'S Playhouse.
A TALE OF MORGAN'S MEN
Bloodshed, Pieces of Eight,
Rum and Lust, Stark Real
ism, Not Romance.

Arnold Hummer which was presented
last night at ny Bradys Playhouse FOR
the first time in iris city. is likely TO
score great popular success. II is sen
sstional. IL deals with historic realism
with an abominable subject-the pirates
OF the Spanish Main-to which the dis
tance OF time has lent enchantment. and
it is capitally acted and artstically
mounted II Is in the scenery. az a mat
ter Of fact. that is found most OF the 70
nance. the charm OF luxurious nature in
Jamaica. as seen in the garden OF Bull
Ormiston," called The Firebrand." at
Port Royal and tho care bestowed in
the painting and building and furnishing
OF the interior of his house. in the sec
ond and fourth acts. The room has the
atmosphere OF the period the middle OF
the Seventeenth Century: st bears, more
over the touch OF it's owner in a golden
candlestick here. a iewelled crucnx there,
q sacred picture elsewhere, among the
golden and silver plate. part of the ioot
paid for with human blood Oh the high
seas.
J Ramona. the Painted Woman" is the
daughter of n Spanish Governor captured
on his way TO Hispanoia by the Fire
brand and murdered with all his crew.
The buccaneer has taken the Cir as part
| OF his booty and made her his mistress.
! For two years she has borne her slavery.
praying daily for death. But death has
not been gwen her; she is young. and she
has begun 70 pray FOR love instead. IL
! comes 10 her in the person OF John Bar
ton. Puritan. mate Of one Of those New
/ England ships whose pious owners did
not scruple 10 trade with the children OF
darkness for gain. Barton believes the
girl to be innocent sine does not entghten
him. She hopes for rehabilitation through
, an honest affection; she IS a victim. not
sinner. On the eve OF the FirctIand = de-
partuTe for another raid upon tho Spanish
treasure ships. Ann DevercauX. "a woman
ne has discarded, warns him OF the affair
between Ramona and the Puritan. lie
interrogates her. she denies. Ann IL or
dered away. and the Firebrand leaves 10
arrange for his departure. few mo-
mcnts later John Barton ente-s. seyerc,y
wounded by one Of the pirate Shipmates.
Portuguese Joe. who, too. corets Ramona
and hates the Puritan. The exposition OF
conditions In the frst act is swift and
clear. introducing In MS proper place
hunchhack Pedro RamOna's servant.
who plays an important part in the action
later on. The pirates carouse ia tie gar
den. then depart with their leader. John
Barton. who has tainted. having been
hidden under bench and covered with
greenery.
The second act takes place two weeks
later Ramona has nursed Barton back
LII. 4.
Young girl and She has not uudeceived
him. She does not aspire 10 marriage. but
she will follow MIN 10 the ends Of the
earth. Puritan that he is. he insists
upon wedding her. She consents. and ne
starts q find passage Tor them bOth "u
an outgoing vessel. leaving his cutidss
behind Just then the FiTebTand returns
drunk bioOd-staiued. more rcpulsivc than
ever now TO his victim He would load
her with Jewels She eyades him
Then ne discovers the sword. He
tries TO enter her room, lLds IT
locked. beats il down, ana j. Killed on
the threshold BY the hunchback. This II
one Of the big moments Of the play. Bar
Ton returns. Ramona tells him the story
Of her misfortune and degradation, he re-
J
ing. and leaves The third act opens a
moment later. in the garden AGAIN. hd-
mona succeeds in retaining him ana Ir-
gaining his love. His siipmaics come II"
fetch him. but he decides 10 stay they
appeal to his sense of rectitude. 10 his
/ Puritanism. they denOunce this painted
woman but he is firm. The pirates, told
by Ann Devercaux that their leader has
| been killed, arrive and make the New
! Englanders prisoners. And here begins
/ the chaffering over Ramona, the slave
! without a master now. The Portus u"sc
buys hcr, aud she consents To the bar
gain on condition that Barton and his
coupanions shall go free. But she tells
her new master that she Will kill him.
once she has paid. some time or other
However watchful he may De, his hour
wm come AT her hands. HenccfOrth 10
the end ,his struggle over the body Of a
woman. this frank picture of a brute :
lust and its ultimate defeat by love IS
urpleasantl,. frank. We have been grad
uallv accustomed 10 frankness on the
stage H. matters OF this kind. but Mi
Hummer gives us d new shock with his
seventeenth century realism.
Ramona il not a consistent character
study: IL were unfair 10 LOOK FOR one ~
melodrama But the role il strongly
( emotional one, and Florence Reed does
admirably well with il. Her acting was
a splendid achievement. It's effect height
cned by the most captivating Spanish
accent imaginable. Robert Warwick a.
"The Tirebrand. shared the honors win
her In his long scene III the second act
ending in the pirates violent death. The
impersonation was convincing. impressive
in its expression Of growing suspicion ana
au,skening brutality. He scored also
earlier in his act. with his sruesome mar
ratiyc of the taking of the Salleon
"Esperanza Another excellent piece oil
work was Malcolm Williams Portuguese