Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

64
two procoedures can bo observed: the author seeking to
a remote and picturesque situation familiar, or giving to
frmiliar situations a touch of the remote end picturesque.
As en example of the former process one might take .illiam
Gorman Wills *s "Tragedy" Juana, produced by Wilson P,urrctt ot
the Court v-icatre in liny 1881, with designs by E.W.Godwin and
Helen i'-Iocjeska in the title role. The play deals v;ith the love
of a t'nar i'or a opo.nish noblewoman - he had been her lover,
but prudently tore himself ry.vay and took orders, much as a
sensible person, with no feeling for poetic justice, might
join the French Foreign uorlon. >iov. the Friar returns, foolishly,
to become Juana* E coni'essor, and to mortify himself vdth the
spectacle of her becoming the betrothed of another, less worthy
man. The story is extravrfcrjit and violent, and itssetting
exotic, but 'Jills labours to make it familiar* Aft or the dishonour
of a poor reception in London, .'ills revised the play:
both versions, the second entitled The Ordeal; A Trrgedy in
Three Acts entirely reconstructed from Juana, are in the Lord
Chamberlain* c collection of plays.
In tho preface to the first version alls claims that
he has aimed for a natural effect in his verse - "a short
line is so often precious to an actor - monotonous finish
so often fntal". .Hie rvoiclance of "monotonous finish" apnoars
to owe something to lirowning* s influence, but v/hereas Brov/ning's
tic verse v;r.s "difficult" in recponce to tlie "difficulty"
of liic thoughts, Willc's ahov;s a poet striving by onjpri'bo .'cut
and misplaced rhythms for the co:.jnon touch:
Poclro
As to tho now confessor, Friar John,
I know kirn better thnn thou wottest of;
He V;:O.G ny 1 cly'e tutor, tauLrJit uc r.ll
I over :nov;. T^at ic a pretty snoci:,
Is't wool? Ho, linen.
liis finger S3 on her
i'riar Jm. /., the goomy lover, has a talent for feeble sent
neos:
. :rioml;".hip cannot koop rsaco v;ith floetfoot joy,
And r/rrtuiation nlayr? the hys^ocr
ftejoicing in m ui-iicnor ,n jubilee.