(Under the guidance of Herr Goethemann.)
- Question. Have you witnessed the performance of the Actor-manager?
- Answer. No, but I have perused the tragedy of the Author-publisher.
- Q. Is it a curtain-raiser?
- A. No, but it is a hair-lifter, in three acts.
- Q. How many are the persons of the drama?
- A. Four.
- Q. Of these, how many are objectionable?
- A. Five.
- Q. Kindly resolve this paradox.
- A. All are objectionable that come on the stage, and one that doesn't.
- Q. You speak of the stage; where has the play been given?
- A. Nowhere. It has not received a license.
- Q. Is it the close season?
- A. No, but so much private license was taken by the Author-publisher that the public censor did not see his way to adding to the amount.
- Q. Then we shall not see it interpreted by intelligent actors?
- A. No, for even if license were granted, the Author-publisher would take all the parts himself.
- Q. I do not follow this scheme of plurality.
- A. I quote from his own printed advertisement, "The right of performing in public this play (sic) is reserved by the author."
- Q. Did you state that it is a tragedy?
- A. Yes, but inclining to farce.
- Q. Does it move the reader to pity and terror?
- A. Yes, both. Pity for himself, and terror of the next thing of the kind that he may have to read.
- Q. Has it any other of the high qualities of the Greek Tragedy?
- A. It says it has the unities.
- Q. A severe attack?
- A. No, the Norwegian kind; a form of Teutonic measles, painful but transitory.
- Q. Is it heroic?
- A. No, but it is suburban.
- Q. Is the conclusion worthy of a great tragedy? Does it end in a lurid light of whole-souled passion and death?
- A. It ends about 4 A.M. the next day, with a cock crowing. The protagonist has come home intoxicated, and remains so. I regret to add that he pushes the heroine, she having displaced his beverage by breaking the glass. She slaps him upon the face, and eventually loses animation. I do not know how the other two end, because they were not home in time for the curtain. As it was, the Author-publisher nearly spoilt one of the unities through waiting for them.
- Q. All must be well that ends so well. Is there a problem or enigma?
- A. There is always the insoluble riddle—why did he write it?
- Q. Is it full of situations?
- A. Not inconveniently so; but there is a dramatic moment.
- Q. Which?
- A. I do not know.
- Q. Then why do you say there is one?
- A. Because the Author-publisher says so.
- Q. But is it not wasteful to have three acts, and only one dramatic moment?
- A. I should have thought so; but the Author-publisher says he has shown economy.
- Q. Could you give me an idea of the manner? Select a striking incident or a passage where there is subtle characterisation.
- A. One situation impressed me very much. I think it must have been the dramatic moment. I reserve it for my next.
(To be continued.)
FILIA PULCHRA, MATER PULCHRIOR.
I loved a girl, divinely sweet,
An unsophisticated creature;
I did not scruple to repeat
She was divine, you could not meet