The sun., 1919-10-14
TRAGEDY OF OLD
JAPAN PORTRAYED
John Masefield's "The Faith
full" Presented by the
Theatre Guild.
is WORTHY PRODUCTION
Holds Dramatic Interest and
Is Artistic In Its Pres
entation.
rhe Faithfur,-At the Gsrrick Theatre

The Theatre Guild. which distinguished
Itself by gaining artistic as well as pop.
ular success In st John Ervine's "John
Ferguson" returned to its headauartere
last night to carry on It's purpose OF
presenting worthy dramas that might
not appeal to the commercial impre-
sarios. The choice of the organization
has fallen on john Maseheld's tragedy
of old Japan. THE Faithful" in sue
cession to the Irish dramatist and Bena-
vente. The performance was interesting
and in its manner Of presentation nota-
bly, artistic. Not all parts of the play
are OF equal interest. or do they fall
with equal facility within the ability of
the players to whom the principal per-
sonages in the piece are entrusted for
representation. Last night It was dur
ing the second act that the lengths OF
Masefield's play made themselves most
evident.
The Faithful is In three acts. It's
action is confined to the story of a
usurper's rise to power and final down.
IalI, although for a while he proves that
the wicked may flourish From his
humble post as son OF steward Kto
rises by his trickery and natural force
TO be ruler strong enough to dominate
his neighbors and claim the valley long
IN tne happy dominion of Asdno, who is
an enlightened leader beloved of his peo-
pie. 1t falls to the lot of Lord Rtro to re-
ceiVe the envoy OF the Emperor. So to his
palace must Asdno and Kuruuo. his
In. IN h. u. 49,
intending then to place before the deputy
the story Of Rra's usurpation of power
ana land. BY trick Kra SO humiliates
the philanthropic Asano that he is COM
peued In obedience to the deputy tn kill
nlmsel1 after he has attacked the tricky
lord. Then his followers withdraw To
await their opportunity to avenge him.
The Climax of the Play.
Meanwhile nothing halts the growing
domination Of Rtra. He puts the peonIe
OF the dead Asano under his woke
despoils their province and. supported h.,
.ne highest powers Of the State, grows
IN wealth and arrogance So sunken
IN his estate seems Rurdno, who had
sworn to avenge his friend, that even
ms associates doubt his loyalty to his
oIu vow: But he Is not the heiples,
NAAhN appears. lie has Encri-
llced even the appearance of manhood
that he may some day find the onnor-
tunity to kill Riro, who is about To he
crowned duke by the representatives az
the highest authority.
confident that his enemies are too
scattered to rebel against him. the
,yrant on the eve Of his great honor
iismisses his guard anda drinking with
'ne OF the women OF hM palaces, Tolls
~ MS ease. Then Rurdno, leading the
'althful Ronir, Kills him with the daeger
IL ASdno. over all. however, is the IA
afsm OF Japanese belief As thew are
aging the dagger of Asano on his flow
ring grave the command comes that
ney must Kill themselves as the pun
shment for their crime against their
enemy. On this note the legend and
he play that Masefeld has made from
come to an end.
Inc language In which Masefield has
etoid the old legend in his play is sim
lie but elevated, and often its phrases
move with real nobility. The Occasional
'erse which the poet uses serves as a |
ong or the climax of the net or ex-
presses some poetic thought of the
peaker which is suited to this form.
about the language there is ALWAYS a |
erehlty characteristic of the fatal resig- |
atom OF the characters 10 implacable |
ate.
The Scenery and Acting,
The simplicity Of the backgrounds
gainst which the action moved was an
Id in the impressveness of the NAV
slther In the palace OF Kird, the repre- |
entation OF simple room I'm ancient
apan. or In the country of Asnno. which
'as represented by gigantic scene
ainted with landscape In the decora-
Tvs style OF Japanese art, the scenes
Tere played Rollo Peters read inteIIi-
emily In his mellow BARITONE voice the
hrases Of the martyred Asano. but nos
lred tprtuously to get himself into
japanese attitudes, while the other
ctors moved with freedom and con-
rived to give the impression he was
eeking so laboriously to create.
Augustln Duncan has scarcely the
lasttcity for the long scene Of the
econd act, in which the agony OF Rurano
yer the death OF his friend leads TO the
tterance OF much OF his philosophy OF
fe, but his acting was for the most part
ncere and impressive. Walter Geer
nd Walter Howe were admirable as
vo Japanese noblemen. Helen West
sy's sketch OF a discarded wife was, Of
curse. carefully studied in all the exter-
ais OF mask and action: she acted,
borrower, with more than her usual
,eling. and was always Ineligible.
Indeed, THE Faithful" was worthy
the high standard OF the Theatre
uild in the selection of it's material. and
lie manner in which its pllrpose was