The New York herald., 1875-11-23
MISS CLARA MORRIS AT THE FIFTH AVENUE
THEATRE

The story OF Debora is one OF the most pathetic
known 10 our stage. IL Is also Of tho most dra-
matte II appeals to the passion Of love, to the pride
and prejudice OF race and to the natural sympathy VIC
have with suffering and the magnanimty which in
noble nature always trumphs in the end hate and
revenge The poor Jewess who wanders as an outcast
through alien land, supporting by her labor
tho aged members OF her race, suddenly
awakened to lovo and womanhood by one OF
tho enemies Of her race, triumphing
her destiny Of contempt and wretchedness by tho
force Of this love, and finally descending from her
height Of bliss far rapidly than she it, and
falling into misery far deeper than that from which
she came, distracted by the dcsertion OF her lover
maddened by jealousy and finally triumphing
evil through spirit of forgiveness that Christians
could not excel-this poor, despsed Debora is Of
the heroic characters Of the modern drama She is
'likc one Of Shakespcares women" in this that II Is
wholly pure and that she heghtens the bright ideal Of
womanhood MoscnthaI created a new r6ie when he
wrote "Debora" and IL is not surprising that his play
should be translated In many different FORMS and have
inspired the Imagination OF some Of the finest Of living
actresses.
Miss Clara Morris in adopting this character has very
credtaby desired 70 add to a repertoire which Is
already valuable and large. In "Article AZ, Madeline
Morc X "AiSe,n Divorce" Macbeth "Evadne,h
Camille and other plays she has established herself
leading representative of the respective herones
upon stage. To all OF these characters Miss Morris
gives powerful expression To some Of them she gives
expression which is consistent with their truth and with
the elements Of beauty which should always control
dramatic ART while in others she produces painful and
repulsve effects. To decide to which Of these
classes her Esther tas Mr.. DAILY calls the heroine OF
\ 1.-THE New Leah'D belongs would be improper now but
may certainly affirm that II does not belong like
Cora, in ARTICLE a., 20 the last Miss Morris has but
recently recovered RON painful Illness this her
first assumption Of the part, and doubt in future
\ performances she will greatly improve in the
ton Of her idea
The reception Of the lady was enthusiastic and she
was called repeatedly before the curtain The fragile
I figure and expressive features OF Miss Morris
Oriental in the costume OF the Jewess and she looked
the character admirably. In the first her first de-
cded effect was made when she shrank instnctively
! from tho anointed hand of the priest even though
I IL was raised 10 protect her from her foes.
Examples OF fine feeling aud pathos were
frequent throughout tho play and warmly appre.
cated BY the large and attentive audience But in the
grander passion force which Leah, or Debora,
Esthoras the character is differently nsmed-demauds,
I her deficiency was plain. The cry OF 'Joseph Jo-
sephil with which Mime. Janauschck thrilled
/ oil listeners when the Jewess is repulsed
| irom the door OF her lover, not
uttered by Miss Morris with any exceptional
energy and the famous curse which ends the third act
was lacking in intensity aud power. In brief Esther,
at least ms II was performed last night docs not seem
to us TO be one Of her best personatons nor do we
think i adapted to her peculiar and undoubted abli-
ties The play itself follows the main points OF the
story, but transpOses some OF the scenes. IL "
vel written and effectively constructed The sce4erX