Evening star., 1914-01-25

rT is first Of all as spectacular pro-
duction that Joseph and His Breth-
rem" one of the most important Of
III ferings OF the current season, claims
interest To the close student of
Bible history 1t must possess undoubted
charm. for in spite of the establishment
provided for the sake of meeting accept
ed standards as to plot and climax, the
old story stands out in a series of splen-
did and realistic tabIeaux with classic dis
tinctness. The material supplied IN OBJ
vious response to a demand for conten-
tional dramatic form was provided by
master of the art of vitalizing departed
scenes and personages upon the stage.
Mr.. Louis Parker in "DIsraeli' displayed
a wonderful gift for combining the
labors of the student and compiler
with the imagination of the poet. In
Joseph and His Brethren" Mr.. Parker
has successfully performed a greater and
more difficult task
X
In the mingling Of pomp and pathos
which occupied the stage of the New Ma
tional Theater last week, Mr.. Parker has
introduced a story of his own boldly and
without apology. However transparent
are courageous and respectful The hero
inc of his own fiction intrudes into the
court of a Pharaoh with confidence
When a plot is Matched all the persons
whose interests are concerned are care
fully permitted to eavesdrop. and episodes
of thrilling import will look in vain for
authorization by the most altitudinous
30 hyoha VaS thn yo1
pable of plot subterfuges are introduced
without suggestion of irreverence. In fact,
they are consistently apart from the real
story because of their very artificial
ity. The beautiful old tale of brotherly
estrapgement and forgiveness. and of
fortitude in religious ideaHsm, is left free
and distinct. separate thread unbroken
by the vandal hand of the irresponsible
romancer. Mr.. Parker's dramatizaion is
a most delicate work, whose responsible
tiles involving popular interest as well as
scholarly precision have been met with
wonderful discretion.
Some of the most admirable and pains
taking work is rendered obscure in the
presentation of the drama. The songs
introduced by the throng of girls show
careful analysis of the Hebrew poetic
form and a mastery reflection in modern
language of its subtiety and power. Their
beauty was almost lost in the confusion
of utterance, and the impression was en-
tirely obliterated by the introduction of
some styles of dancing of which no
Pharaoh ever dreamed.
Joseph and His Brethren Is charac-
teristic of the opulence with which the
theater of today makes its appeal. The
temptation is strong when a spectacle is
produced to assume that the work has
been done when the scenery and costumes
are completed and on display. The satis-
faction Of the eye concludes the enter
prise Mr.. Tyler, the guiding spirit of
the Lebler Company, has ever been
talent fancier. and his engagement of
James O'Neill. Pauline Frederick and
Brandon lyman for the roles they are
now playing represents fine artistic dis
cernment- O'Neill is veteran. Who has
not thrilled at his announcement as
Monte Cristo, THE world is mine? He
once created a sensation by announcing
that he intended to produce the Pas
sion Play In America The suggestion
was considered preposterous-until the
3llosiN6 p2SlUISS ~OOh IL up ne IOl6 Ol
Jacob will probably be as near as Mr..
ONei1l will ever come to sacred char
acterzation.
The play with "a punch in It has be-
come SO much In request that it Is being
overdone. 1t is coming to be all punch
and little play. THE Family Cupboard
Is drama of today; but it is the to
day that deals strictly with the dawn
that Is cold, gray and rernorsefui. When
Eugene Walter wrote 1.-The Easiest Way"
he followed the teaching of the artist
who told his pupil to go out and paint
what he saw; to deiineate the world that
he knew. But the theater goes on re-
producing the same little corner of life;
a sordid. pathetic corner peopled with
natures whom circumstances have warped
away from the spontaneous impulses of
true humanity. The Family Cupboard
has the punch. But popular fancy can
not be expected to go on forever leaving
its solar plexus exposed to the same
methods Of attack.
PHIIAANDER JOHNSON.
INDIAN ETIOUETTE-Mr. Lawrence
Grant who was signally honored by the
Blackfeet Indians by adoption into their