New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Mrs. Fiske Collaborates
Mutual Concessions of the Playwright and the Player Have
Produced MADAME Sand
By Ralph Block

IrAIF the truth is better than no truth at ALL of Mr.
Philip Mler in what apparently moment Oh started
cerv the stage Theatre last Monday night that MIS-
Fske play better criticism Of Madame Sand ana o
the than since come to light 1t an Illuminating
criticism because points the way toward
Sand Mr. Moeer wrote Is not
play it. And Mrs fsk as she
usually plays Mrs Fike not the lady who undertakes ana
cisposes O George Sand at the Criterion
The din of the playwright piece murdered for fool
b,noet has weaed our out OF any c
oplcenv. but patude as it may paitud because it rests
and instances on our stage Inc ~
poses the manager disposes What lifts the play az INC
Criterion Theatre out OF the rut OF insignah' 1ra
promise Fske and Mr. Moe the surrender Oh
rights by each of Them casting by both literary and heata
baggage and sand ballast to give speed and ~
which both ride find result in the most uccesslun
collaboration of its kind this season or many
has exposed -, -. :,
TT is not merely pwrgs whom Mrs f'ks her u n
sOrely troubled Much as the critics ana lev h S unon the sur
slow plagued them oVeruch the he p
face acting vvaey her sparkling ana
Of her parts she has shone like the bead at h
like it she has gone swiftly to the hs sS '
art as series of mpersOnatons variety stage
critic always kinds of critical weakness that OF
trusting wholly to his opinion which entirely critical and that trust
ing absolutely opinion public which entirely unerlsa
Fiske definite type SO we %
and clear an accent poor ym of stage she has fallen
cept in rare instances last state the reviewers
Mr. Shaw who divides the career OF paone ~ d
parts which the critics afraid to praise tnen ana .h @ @
S -. o TatonaI Inspection freed somewhat undenbe
hypnotic and from the pressure OF the mob mat mas "
To dwell upon of contrast because no in
nt observer Sand could help seeing that the
high temperature Fkn playing has been lowered asnnsy inc
considerably sotened reduced
putting visible and cOrpOea George Sand
tn the Criterion Theatre Monday night was &C
cOsted by man whose Judgment nave always % hih ~ poot his
surprised all but Peechle admiration with "nich nc n00s ms
Fske wonderful woman MY haotua oou
silent but did not leave the theatre 1nay Oei0re
had with subtle thing than
before and had sacrificed herself more than she mad ever
expecting She had created character az "h0i ~ "
whom Mrs Fke would laugh In the act
creating.
The this giving Of artistic vaneS for the
sake Of the finished bulk bonne massive
ness extraordinary implication OF undOsed mental
behind the figure Mrs F4ske appears nave gwen over
Fascinating modelling her plastic art her stroke is as
determined and and economical as 1t was IN 'na more
domain of her profession The features OF George Sand
definitely and Enthusiastically from the litter and confusion OIL t
and history
Mr. MOeers play because without her there would De
no George Sand might be thought of to
would have made Madame Sand banquet with the guest
have been play PageO, eine List Chopin
who clustered and wound themselves
this towering female tree But not about george 'anu
WET this of good fortune
pays price Mrs Fiske and even for the merchandise
chance mt the manuscript play my
in New York and found therein deica
subteies of interchange in the various episodes that
are point the playing The eine who gmpses the
affairs and long before happens in the
Of her progression from the paleprey aFdors OF
Dr. chkc demand of Chopin for interest and affection is
an altogether the Mr. Mler has drawn much
Gottehak has made Of his opportunities The recital OF beadro
lost Monday night by premature and
by Mrs Fe the most delicious moment in
eplay. is only one OF delicious the
ascribe this the believing they
discover how much laughter Mr. MOel had secreted in his
play how much all OF this was SATIRE on the vast COMEDY stupid romance
convinced the that Admirable such a
purpose undoubtedly it the purpose Of Mr. Moeer
impossible reconcile 1T with the necessity OF making
figure The real George Sand
Moeer had planned for and good deal Of But
that MADAME Sand" She
ainty sympathies and PHILOSOPHERS we'll
surrender the playwright has made Whatever the
the Of playwright and
and gratifying bits of
stageh ereabouts affords