+ Outlook. 82: 375. F. 17. ’06. 90w. + Pub. Opin. 40: 187. F. 10, ’06. 220w.
Phillips, Stephen. [Nero.] **$1.25. Macmillan.
In this latest play of Mr. Phillips “the world is a picture, not a stage, and all the men and women not players, but talkers.” (Lond. Times.) “It is a play, because it shows a will conflict—the struggle between Nero and Agrippina, between natural affection and lust for power—but it is even more a spectacle, illustrating polychromatically the successive stages of Nero’s madness. It has fine poetic passages—appropriately ‘purple’—as we shall see; it has vivid studies of bed-rock character and fierce elemental passions. It blends the fragrance of rose-leaves with the scent of blood. It sates the eye with splendid pictures and the ear with voluptuous music of both verse and orchestra. At the end of it all one gasps and is a little dizzy, in short, it is a tremendous production.” (Lond. Times.)
“It is to be feared that Mr. Stephen Phillips will add little to his reputation by the latest of his dramatic poems.”
– Acad. 70: 223. Mr. 10, ’06. 720w.
“The action of the play does little but show us the different phases of character, but that it does with ingenuity and sufficiency.” Edward Everett Hale.
+ Bookm. 23: 291. My. ’06. 640w.
“It is a poor descent of the talents, from which one can only wish the author a speedy return upon himself to the promise of six years ago.” Arthur Waugh.
– Critic. 49: 20. Jl. ’06. 1050w.