EL GRAN GALEOTO. Jose Echegaray's (The Great Galeoto,' certainly the most famous Spanish play of the 19th century beyond the limits of Spain, and the workwhich the international reputation of its is founded, is an exceedingly effective example of the tra ditional Calderonian drama of jealousy, in which the honor of the husband is attacked by a peculiarly insidious enemy. Gossip here be comes the Galeoto, or go-between, which unites the lovers, the use of the title having been suggested by its appearance in the episode of Francesca in the fifth canto of Dante's 'In ferno,) where it has reference to the relations of Galahad (Galeoto) with Lancelot and Guine vere. Echegaray is an adept in stage effect, yet his drama is never deficient in a certain weight and dignity which, when tempered with re straint as in this play, impart to his fervid emotionalism a distinction uncommon in the theatre of his time. These qualities, together with a faculty for realistic detail, have led foreign critics to regard him as a psychologist, and the play as a study of the effects of gossip on the lives of innocent persons, who are in fluenced by- its suggestions to their ultimate ruin. From this point of view, however, the
work is curiously incomplete and unsatisfying; in Spain it has been recognized since its appear ance in 1881, as an excellent stage play, which conforms only superficially to the canons of Ibsenism. The mediocre verse of the original has diminished its popularity and importance of late years upon the Spanish-speaking stage.
The best English translation is that by Eleanor Bontecou, included in 'Masterpieces of Modern Spanish (New York 1917). Other versions are by Hannah Lynch (Lon don 1895), and by Jacob S. Fassett, Jr., (Bos ton 1914). 'The World and His Wife,) a free adaptation made through the German, has been played widely throughout England and the United States. For criticism of Echegaray, consult Bueno, Manuel, 'Teatro Espafiol con temporaneo) (Madrid 1909).