Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-04
THE DRAMA.

Helena Modjsska is a great actress.
Such is the verdict that the world long
since rendered upon her capacity such
was tie Judgment given with doubled
emphasis by the audience who witnessed
her superb performance in Fulton Opsra
house on S.s urday evening. IL was an
unco.nmony brilliant assemblage that
thronged the opera house upon the Occa
sion of the visi: Of the famous
Polish woman, whose life reads like rO-
nance, and whose achievements form
part OF the contemporaneous history
of the drama an audience representative
of the wealth, fashion and highest culture
OF the community, and ono that vas as
attractive to look upon as it was s0mpli-
mentary to the distinguished stranger who
made her Introductory appearance among
us after such heralding Of trumpets as
is rarely surpassed in managerial art. Pop
uIar expectation was raised to its highest
pitch, 1t is great compliment then to
the actress to say that the expectation was
fulfilled to round proportions. The play
was "Adiienne LecOuvreur,' 'rOSa pleasant
kind Of a piece at all :; French folly and
laison are closely interviewer with its
theIne, which is that Of pure and devoted
love failing of its fruitl6n, and the devel-
opment of its events operates as a tension
upon the feelings of the spectator that is
only broken here and there by tho glimpse
one is afforded of the depth Of love and
devotion which woman's heart is capable
Of bcstOwing upon even an unworthy
object. For DeSdre, upon whom this true
hearted woman lavishes the wealth Of her
affection. is a cowardly sort Of person, the
recital Of whose deeds Of valor upon the
battlefield sounds strangely in contrast
with his treatment of Adrienn6, which is
acknowledgement of the >. ature Of manhood
that might ba looked for III such q soldier
and Il hero. But as to Nine. MOdjeska's
Interpretation of the title role as conceived
by the author there is scarcely room for
division Of sentiment. 1t is il masterpiece
of dramatic art. complete in its structure,
finished ia its every componenr, and beau
ti'ul to look upon. Each outline is as
sharply defined as though chiscled from
the polished marble, and upon it is
stamped the imprint Of genius, while there
is al indefiuable charm, beauty and
deiicacy OF finish in every phase Of the
creation that gratities the sease and fills
the measure Of a perfect and completed
whole. Modjeska does not glitter and
sparkle in her acting her work glows with
steady lambent light, like unto the vestal
flame of old, whose lustre il
never dimmed; though the fire may
ever and anon take on Increased
intensity, there arc no sharp contrasts to
surprise the spectator nor even cause him
to think the flame is fickering. The great
actress furnished remarkable exhibit of
her power in the green room scene during
the recitation of the lines from the part
she was about to assume in the play at
the Comedie Francies, but this was re-
newed with doubled energy in the situa-
tiOn where she cOnfronts the woman she
has learned to despiss and hurls the thun-
ders of her scOrn at the cringlng creature
from :; battery charged with intense feel
ing. This was q magnificent bit Of acting,
for which, however, the audience were
prepared by their early observation Of the
quality Of her talent, and in tha final SceEo,
where death comes to end loves young
dge ,m, there was view that had all tho
effect Of grim realism and seemed to
fascinate tho on lockers by its peculiar
power. In the portrayal Of the emotions
Of love aud jealousy, passion and sacrifice,
this woman showed herself an artist
whose power lies in her ability to grasp
the full meaning of tho part she is
called on to play, and to reproduce
it with conscientious fidelity. In tue
scene where is enacted the struggle be-
tween love and doubt, whero the first
promp:ings Of jealousy obtrude themselves
but where she is reassurad by recalling
the words of Mauriee, "on my honor"
that honor upon which she relies 30 surely,
there was some very fine play. But all
through the performance indeed there
were scattered gems that reflect themselves
in any view that is taken Of Nodjeska's
impersonatiOn.
Mr.. Barrymore's Mdurloe was vigorous
but rather too American
to make it an IDEAL performance the best
of the support was by Mr.. Grifiths, whose
Mchonnet, the faithful and devoted friend
and prompter, was capital; Miss Kate
Meek marred an otherwise clever rendition
of the part of Princess Bouillon by an occa-
sional tendency to 90 astray in hor lines,
while Miss Helen Leigh was satisfactory
as the dashing and scandal-loving Dush-
ess. The other ladies and gentlemen did
what was required of them satisfactorily.
The costumes, particularly those of Mad
anne Modjeska were uncommonly rich.
LIST Of Unclaimed Letters.
List Of unclaimed letters remaining in
the postOffice for the week ending Dec. 4,