Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-01-28
PRICE. FIVE CENTS
GlLPIN A MARVEL IN FANTASTIC,
TRAGEDY, 1.-THE EMPEROR
JONES'"

1t was related among tho ancion.
creeks that q man named Promethrus
so provoked the gods by his unhoiy mn
Dltlon to he their equal that they chain
Ell him TO rocky cl:M and soni - WI
lure 70 knaw eternally at his heart,
The Emperor JONES'" pluying tb,s
week at the Shubort-Michigan tinoter
the tragedy Of Negro who aspired 70
equai the rascaHty taught him by
whites, has some Of the grandeur, Tho
heroic proportions and pathos of that
Hellenic legend.
1t Ia weird and gl1ohtly play: not u
PHEASANT one, yet one tremendously
worth seeing. Onco> seen It will MT he
forgotten easily. It's settings are done
"lth nigh artistry by Cleon Throck
morton OF the Proyincetown Player,
VINO are presenting it. Its protagonist
Brutus Jones is acted marvelously by
colored man, Charles 8. Gilpin.
me picture Of that superstition tor
tured black man is fairly burned, scar
ea as with a. hot iron upon the brains
OF ms audience. Whether it penetrates
TO the,r hearts probably depefids on
tneir Individual racial viewpoints.
The play is by Eugene O'Neill,. ono
OF Americas foremost serious play.
wrights. In larger sense, It IS not
the tragedy ofBrustus Jones alone Du,
part OF the tragedy his race in America
snatched but recently from savegery on
~ TO be nodded by mal-treatment.
The story In brief.
brutns Jones, an exporter on q Pull
man car, who killed fellow Negro fur
shooting loaded dice; an ex.conyiet,
who killed q white guard for beating
him; escaped from prison, hus found
ms way TO West Indian island. The,
AFTER brief partnership with reAe
gaze British trader by playing upon
the 5upersttution of the natives, ne bAs
made himself emperor.
~ has robbed tho natives to the ut.
most planning a getaway with wealth
"hcn he sees them ready to rebel. He
overstays his time. and is forced %
flee their wrath through a black for
est. In tho forest, such bits tr civili1a.
ton rs he has picked up in the United
States fall away from him as his liery.
es are preyed upon by the primitive
terrors of tho night by the incnss:,nt
heating or the tom-tom drum which IT.
dicates that he is being hunted for
death; by ghosts Of the men he has XIII
ell; by visions OF tho slave-block. of
which he has been told in childhood,
by dreaming himself IN the hold OF !,
slave snip; by seeing a vii ch-(octor
with an alligator god.
The bullets with which lie has L,or
cd his revolver to repcl his pursncrs
are all fired at phantoms.. He become.
lost in his frantic flight and runs in
circle hack to the muZzles Of his pursu.
ers' rifles. he is slain with silver bul.
lets, having impressed upon the nativ.
es that leadcn ones will not harm him.
This bare outline Of the story will
scarcely indicate the tense drama in
the play. The house Is darkened from
the time his flight begins; all the
scenes thereafter are in semi-liglt or
darkness; the monotonous beat of the
tom-tOm sounds throughout The air Is
charged with suspense.
Bad as he Is. Jones holds the sympa.
thy Of those who behold his sufferings
He is so much better than the despica.
bic white trader played admirably by
Cecil Clovelly. Flashes Of the hSlinoi
which have lightened the darkest DAYS
of Negro life, make Jones humanity an
pealing. Gilpin plays practically the e,
tire drama alone.
A curtain raiser, the Province.
town Players give comedy in two
scenes, "Suppressed Desires based on
the recent rage OF psychoanalyss, very
amusing.
Detroit Journal, January 12.)