Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-09-07
M4THER'S MASH.
The Fair Actress Captures all Hearts and Leaps
into Fame at n Bound.


The Fair Actress Captures all Hearts and Leaps
into Fame at a Bound.
The first appearance of managerH Hills
new star who was expected thereafter
to shine with a refulgent in the theatre
cal armament, came off in Chicago Au-
gust 26. The following criticism of the
debutante taken from the Chicago Trib-
une of the next morning would seem to
show that the expectations raised are
in a fair way to be realized.
The debut of Miss Margaret Mather.
an event which has been looked forward
to with great interest and high expecta-
tons for many weeks, took place at Nc
Vicker's Theatre last evening, and was
in every way a success. Long before
the doors were opened every seat in the
house had been sold, and when the cur
tain went up for the first act an au-
dience which included the fashion and
wealth of Chicago was present. The
present is perhaps the first instance in
the city where there has been any local
enthusiasm over an event of this kind,
but although the audience last night was
predisposed IN favor of Miss Mather and
her manager, Mr.. j. NJ. Hill, it was
none the less a critical audience, and
the applause, which began upon the
first appearance of the debutante and
was repeated SO frequently before the
final fall of the curtain, was genuine.
and came from the hearts of the people
Three recalls were demanded at the
close of the first act, and after the Sec
ond the cheering was even more pro-
longed and hearty. When Miss Mather
had responded to these demonstrations
of approval there were loud calls for
Mr.. Hill, and when that gentleman APP
peared before the curtain the manner of
his reception showed that he had the
goodwill of the people of Chicago, and
that they admired his pluck and energy
fully as much as they appreciated his
judgment.
The public expectation over the first
appearance of Miss Mather in the some
what ambitious role which she had
chosen for her primal essay had been so
far wrought up that the debutante la
bored under a disadvantage. The i'm
mense audience, though kind, was criti-
cal and there was only too much reason
to fear that the standard by which Miss
Mather was to be judged would be a
hard one, and that, instead of awarding
praise for m%eritorious effort to a begin
ner, the audience would condemn her
for any falling short of perfection. Be-
fore such an audience, in such a theatre
and in view of the Widespread interest
attaching to her initial appearance, the
success of Miss Mather last evening may
fairly be termed phenomenal.
In the first act, where Juliet enters to
her mother and theNurse the daughter
of the Capulets has but little to do save
to look pretty. Nature has done much
for Miss Mather, and her graceful,
though somewhat girlish actions Juliet
by the way, was but II instead of 10, as
declared by the Nurse) at once won for
her well-deserved plaudits. She got a
recall at the end of this act, and it was
well deserved, for she spoke her lines
with good delivery and a self-possession
most remarkable under such circum-
stances.
The balcony scene in the second act
is generally taken rs the test of Juliet's
powers. We hardly agree with this
judgment, but certainly Miss Mather
gained upon her audience during this
act, and her rendering of the pretty and
endearing speeches which fell to her
lot was faultless. The applause which
followed was most generous, and from
this point on it was evident that the new
aspirant for favor had the thorough sup
port of the house.
Time will not permit of any elaborate
ANALYSIS of Miss Mather's acting. 1t
must suffice to say that she most agree
ably disappointed those who had come
prepared to scott at the idea of an un-
known American girl essaying the part
of V%erona's daughter. From the be-
ginning of the third act until she fell
prone on the PROSTATE body of her lover
natural and her delivery u~nstrained.
Most certainly she has studied in a good
school; her gestures were natural and
pleasing, and her knowledge of the BUSH
ness of the stage marvellous for one who
has yet to gain the ripened experience
which comes with years of study.
In the parting with her lover and in
the stormy scene with her father and
mother she was at once strong and ca
pable, showing a thorough mastery,
not only OF unc text, out OF the spirit OF
the great master who gave it. In short,
Miss Mather grew in strength as the
situation demanded, and called forth
the higher artistic talent. and her first
appearance upon the mimic stage must
in all fairness be chronicled as a sue
cess of the fullest order. Her best
friends could not have asked for her a
better reception than she met last night
and her worst enemy-if one she has
could not gainsay the warmth and gem
uineness of the applause which rewarded
her effort.
The support was excellent. Mr.. Alex
ander Salvini as Romeo labored under
the disadvantage of a somewhat stacy
action and an imperfect knowledge of
the English language. He was good
in his way-but it was sometimes hard
to preserve ones gravity while listening
to his peculiar rendering of some of the
most pathetic passages. Mr.. Levick's
Mercutio was good and Mr.. L. o. Jep-
son made a first-class Friar Lawrence,
Mrs. Jameson. as the Nurse fully sus-
tanned her reputation, and Miss Jose
phine Bailey gave a fair but somewhat
Slight rendering of the not particularly
strong part of Lady Capulet.
IN a. tI.r.nal