The New York herald., 1878-01-15
ADJUSTMENTS.
MoDJEsKA AS CAMILLE AT THE FIFTH AVENUE
rUrATRF

IL was easy 10 foreSeo tnat MILO. MouJeskh Wouio
give rendition OF Camille OF surprising interest,
subtety and pathoa Her performance Of Adricnne,
her training and her physique were all In her favor.
II is not wonderful then that during the five acts OF
specious but ingenious morbidty which Dumas the
younger devoted TO the dedication OF eonsump.
tive strumpet, this finished actress held her
audience last night with the spoil OF an enchantress
When the son OF the romancsr weighted down by his
fathers fame began his literary lilo he saw that to
catch the crowd he should take up a different line.
Unlike In trade, where fathers Is Of the Ut
most advantage, the son Of great lttGrateur finds
that, instead OF being pittsd against all his fellow
craftsmen. bo is singled out Tor conspicuous com
parson with his parent. Led by ambition to DO
writer, and by prediction TO analysis OF things,
he turned his life experience 10 account and issued
his Arst study Of what he had known Ga Dame aux
Cameas." II is thirty years since no his first
novel, and quarter OF q century since tho samo
work dramatized for tho Partisan stage Nothing
but It's consummate art saved II. Tho stage had
long before known ''the strange woman," but here
the attempt her from subsidiary rcla-
tion to tho drama and place In her barren breast all
tho hopes and emotions that worthy OF the purcst
The daring attempt succeeded beyond expectation
Barred out OF England, except In the operatic form
that Verdi gave II, It has been 10 wcll known
to tho American stage, particularly through the late
Matilda Heron, that there need bo space
the story OF play which has remained tho type OF
tho meretricious drama. In Franco the creation OF
Dumas has borne hideous fruit indecd and may, we
hopo, be said TO havc reached It's utmost depth Of
human degradation In the WORKS OF M Zola who has
pitilessly dsseced the social that Dumas laid
before the world in asetng OF satin, gold and jewels
WITH however, the perfect consciousness that
u cancer all tho same. After the sensitive have went
over tho finely wrought agonies OF the harlots sacri
tee It remains for Judicious to grove,
the judcious arc entirely free from Tho rant OF the
amoug women aud the ..unco' guae" among mon
1t is the story OF tho social kennci, although
ssSa ss%s o M's sun sx .sa snd mrs rs
II Is we'll to remember that always, particularly
he msdau Of cxous,e art So That OF hs ady ws
interpreted IL last night II is tho first article OF
creed OF a certain school OF modern art tnat ethics
ana aesthetics are things not Of necessity TO be
| associated, but Camille distinctly an ap-
poul TO the world that those who are by
profession heartlcss and immoral possess au fond
hearts like other people and something that comes
beng moraty after all. In this liEh. Modeska
played the part. The surface lifo OF Came-that Of
the heartcss, gay, defiant creatnre-was portrayed
with a charming abandon, giving some in.elligblo
the protection" OF the old Duke, tho persistent
mraton Of Count aud tho passionate devotion OF
Armand. Her Camille Is accomplished enough 10 play
with pretty effect the piano tho lento Of Cho-
pins "lmpromptu" when she wishes to dis
aess sa her tho e hss Rsss
the Partisan palate and tho airs mignons which arc
ynS n
her Jewelry, as less VOL observant actresses
have aon.; but puts forward dainty l,:,le
key to .ho subtcness Of tho study Modjoska has
o. Armand socks tho unloosing OF his son
from the tolls Of the woman who has
her aoiUs was sucaued but superb
subsequently. where she breaks away from Armand
with chastity leisoing OF laughter following
Ing, tho house broke out into storm OF
applause after moment men Of silence. which
on her hearers This Is the greatest and most difficult
scene OF the pay.ccrsainly for Camie-tho fourth
act being all deirium. that almost acts itself
Her death sceno was touching and effective. Asa
whole her performance was an Illustration OF tho
woman with powers somcwhat limited. 1t was pow.
| erfu by It's intensity.
A curious incident Of the .emper Of the actress
snpns Cages Of she real sooy ook in down Sn' ss
OF the window and then quietly turned to have her
hearl broken by Armand's father II looked cruel.
but queen Of art be interrupted hcr fne
moods by such pigmy voice OF mere nature pipes
through u capary's throat. some people thought It
| act
The malc support was depIoraole. The Armand OF
Nr. W. Burroughs was that OF broo m handle, only
kindlod to humanity by nfrequont spasms. Fechicr,
who created Tho part In French, was playing few
was terribly misplaced. He was never made for
the eardonc aud hence although careful usual
y ss as
Castor played fairly. but was made mp as to the hoad
ns Es Of Eah S.ndS and
good. 'Csmille" will be repeated through the week.
PARK THEATRE-"RIsKs."
Last evening Mr.. John r. Raymond appeared at
thoPark Theatre IN play called 'Risks !" which
new to metropolitan audiences. "Risks" Is divided
into i've The action the marriage Of q
scion Of the Knckcrbockeracy TO "a simple country
girl" Their union, which Is effected at tho girls
Ie kep h0 nd a der
ont on rich society -worshipping aunt. After the
marriage tho aunt suddenly summons him back
New York, and the young wife during his absence
finding . letter signed "Your Wife," and
fancyipR herself betrayed, runs away from
homo. In her wanderings she strays into tho
garden OF tho maiden aunt's mansion, who're party
s 10 progress Hero her supposed betrayer avows
himself her husband, bu, not until sho has wandered
OF tho scenc The last act brings her back TO her
homo, whore In n struggling sort OF way everything Is
set right Naturally would expect the lover and
the bride to be the most prominent actors In all this
business; but is not So The ch,ef actor. and, IN.
deed. the lilo OF tho wnolepicce, s Pennington Penn
broke an insurance agent, played by Mr.. John r.
Raymond. In this as in Mulberry Sellers Mr. Ray
monds acting Is deserving Of much praise. Neither
play can DO for ceverncss OF construction,
for plot dialogue yot, with Mr. Raymond to capcr
quantity through, either may bo witnessed with
good deal Of pleasure. In Risks nc has almost =
sort of economy which permits man to pay liberally
durDg his liic for the privilege OF dying rich Per-
haps II Will bo said the character - tonewhat exag-
zeratcd and thut ho drifts on tho scene without al
ways having an object to bring him forward. He Is
always welcome. however, ana IT Is becauso OF MS
presence tbat We feel we can laugh heartily at
''Risks," though it bavc impcrfcctions
In ali the comedy aud ovo making of tho play the Ian.
guage OF RISKS" rather OF the commonplace order.
It's un is quite natural Its pathos Is not. The set
ting and scenery very ne and tho general cast Of
characters Is fairly good There some nconcciv
ably queer passages IN the playsuch Tor instance,
that between Hester Kendall ana Bella Newton, the
country wic--and the finish Is rather buugled.
In tho cast arc, with Mr.. Raymond, Mr. W. J. Le
Moync, Mr. j. G. Savle and Mr.. Percy; Miss Minnie
Palmer, MISS L,c Edridgc. Miss sidney Cowell aud
Miss Florence Noble. Mr.. lie Moyne presents
effective portraiturc OF kindly Old grandfather Mr..
Savc, the lover, Is very chary OF hts "g's," In
variabiy calling morning "mornin'," &c. Miss
Palmer discovers unexpected strength In the emo
tonal character OF Bella Newton and Miss Eldrdgo
decidedly forcibe rs Hester Kendall. A largo house
Witnessed the performance with every evidence Of
qualification ut the results attained.