The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-11
AM ISEN EMS.
Janausehek n. Deborah Mt the Academy

Janauschek ms Deborah Mt the Academy.
The first appearance Of Mile. Janauschek in
English drama has been expected with 40 interest
based not merely on tho enthusiasm she created in
German tragedy but also intense curiosity as
to the result Of her daring attempt to conquer the
English language in less than twelve months. With
any one of other blood the attempt wouli have
been madness; but Mile. Jonanschek Is Geek.
one Of that wonderful slavonc race who learn Ian.
gusges as boarding school girls learn waltzes; and
her year OF labor has made her English nearly per-
feet perhaps. as foreigners could be. But this Is
not enough high art needs in such acoessions per-
lection. A fne dramatic Interpretation can not be,
10 the enjoyment OF it. whatever may be true Of the
after criticism, dissected and Analysed II is pie
ture, and as such must be whole. Whatever
breaks the continuity and mars the harmony
OF this whole has an artistic effect for
eyi far above its mere dynamic Importance. The
use, too, Of foreign tongue betrays itself not mere
ly in defecv3 pronunciation, but in unfamiliar and
dssonant inonations. The artist, great as may be
his ROVER lie III at ease no finest quality OF his i'm
personation gets its proper expression. and we see
his excellence through glass, darkly In certain
parts OF Nile Janauschex's Interpretation, wonder
full 10 her mastery OF the language this difficulty
was painfully manifest.
In one CT two places the elimination OF the whole
action lies in the tragic intensity thrown into single
elcuation-the name Of her lover; but, alas this
unucky name is the very word Of the whole piece
which she pronounces with the most decidedly for
| Cisn accent. This accent was one occasion so
marked as to border on the comic, and at the hrst
| glimpse Of the comic, farewell illusion, fare" ell
pat1os; no power on earth can save tue actor from
anticlimaX
The play Of" Deborah is perhaps as dismal apro-
| ducton as was ever put on the stage, with more
lessy dr. AIRY ~ the STRANGER" OF blessed memory
None but irst.rate ebiitv could break through the
dense weight Of Gloon whlch han upon II AMI iii
| II into Any somhlauce OF crjoyablencss
| Nile Janauschek did this in spite OF msny IN
f., orable circumstances Her acting In tho earlier
parts OF the rlay did not reach the perfection VIC
| had hoped, her nature seems too large, masculine
and Intense, to even condescend TO the amiabIe or
the pathetic, and her success was reserved for the
| scenes where size could be grand and terrible.
| Put her despair when the door l. closed on her BY
| her imhecile lover was superbly given, with the
more eject that It set out sharply against the less
| picturesque scene which hsd preceded. From the
entry In The churchyard til the end of the act was a
| gr'dul cum'nation of dramatic force tier std
moment OF bewilderment, after the first bitter out
cry on recognizing her lover In the cnnre J. was p'I,
chO.ogcally true to the last degree The camness OF
her cOntemnt the scene proceeded VAS equally true
TO nature, and the mingled and disgust Of her
exclamation, - And you 6tlityed ~" enough 10
crush a man OF stronger nature than the uulucky
recrcant, In the climax of tue scene-'hc eur'e-
which makes the focal point OF " Deborah" as the
gai den scene does in = Mari, stuart she outdid
herscl'-it might not be too strong form of speech
TO ray that she tnunderod and lightened
Mile. Jnnauschck's nsure and carriage are impos'
ing and majesuc. Her very advantages OF person
SOM tiues lead her to certain large e1nggera-
uon OF gesture, hut her action Ia, on the whole
no, vigorous ami sometimes cassically fine. She
possesses tremendous power In the delineaiion OF
all tlat Is dark and terribe-jealousy scorn, rage
defiance, imprcc tOn--but We await with interest
| her appearance in characters requiring subci
| imaC nltion and more delicate shading.
II Is almost needless To add that the audience fol
lowed -cr step hv step with Sympathy and applause
and the burst Of enthusiasm at the end OF tie inpre
cation scene warm and general as actress
could desire or kid gloves endure.
| TIE pla7 not, on the whole, wen put on ~
| stage, The scenery WAS uncommonN rich and wei
| painted, hut not ALWAYS appropriate TO the situd
ton and n calcium moon with its queer extra
astronomical CREATIONS, and an uncommonlY awk
ward thunder ma1 with his big drum, aroused The
| Wu IT wCnt-ani the hisses--0i the andlory. Ibcs
&C ESQ les ought not, perhaps, to count Tor much
| but as We have aid before, their nlsWandComen
spo.ls the picture and is dangerously apt TO b