The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1914-03-06
"Tbe Garden Of Allah in Louisville


of the Century will be the attraction
at Macaulp's Theatre, Louisville
week of March 10. The play is a
dramatization Of Hichen's novel which
was one of the best sellers few years
ago, and closely follows the novel. The
monk pines for freedom and human
love, who violates his oath and bursts
his bond, and, who by so doing, brings
misery on himself and upon a pure
and noble woman, is a figure as old as
the monastic idea itself. What is new
is Hichens setting OF the subject.
He unrolls the tragedy in the magi-
cal atmosphere Of the Sahara Desert
the great awe--inspiring waste where
the spirit Of eternity seems brood the
place which the Arabs have so poeti-
cslly named THE Garden OF Allah"
Iiichen's book achieved its great sue
cess because II is a masterpiece OF de
scrip,ive writing and OF mythical sug
Vestion.
Those responsible for the dramati-
zation of the book have recognized to
the lull secret OF the books sue
cess. They have accordingly taken for
more than ordinary pains to reproduce
the atmosphere" Of the story. They
first made a pilgrimage to the scenes
described and there on the spot they
studied and designed the stage appur-
tenances Of the play, and gathered up
much Of the human and other material.
The result is a remarkably faithful
portrayal OF the spirit OF the story,
and really extraordinary attractive
series of artistic stage pictures.
To witness the PLAY is to witness a
series Of kaleidoscope pictures show
ing the desert in all its moods. They
follow one another in rapid sequence.
First there is the sunrise on the dcs-
ert with its strange indistinct caravan,
and the figure OF the Arab dismount-
ing from his camel to worship the sun.
II is bu, flash scene yet how eloqu-
ent in its silence and mystery IT is.
Then there is the road to the monas-
terry in the forest near Tunis with the
strange and tragic figure Of the monk
battling with himself and destiny. This
again is but flash. and then there
bursts upon the delighted vision Of
the audience the veranda Of the Algeri-
an hotel. with its gay crowds OF Arabs
in front OF it, and beyond the desert,
increasing, in its call, fascinating III
it, stern strange beauty
Three grea, scenes there. There has
been little OF dialogue, and little OF
action, yet already we have been car
ried into the heart of the story. and
feel its tragedy gripping at the heart
SO far il has been the spell OF the
| desert. Now comes even the warm
strange smell of the East-a vision OF
an Arab city street. with its boisterous
crowds OF merry-makers. tourists and
beggars and the girls dancing IN the
| MinubN us - assam ~ '''N
| inside OF one OF the houses, with its
Wild Eastern girls, the barbaric Ethi-
opian entertainers and the strange
music and costumes OF the half saw
age natives.
Always the same two figures moving
Through the panorama. the nervous. TN
couth monk who has escaped afte
nineteen years of monastery life, ant
the girl who is touring the East alone
Then comes the beautiful garden o
the gentle and unhappy Count Aton
with its tropical luxuriance and 1t
poetic Arab piping OF love. And las
the Great Desert of Mogar, seem i
the magic OF an Eastern light, til
fury of devesting dust storm, an
the eternal beauty of the dawn. Ere
is that the story reaches its climax.
| Price from Soc to s.. Mail order
when accompanied by remittance ar
now being accepted and filled adj