The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-20

An Interesting Interview with the Charming
Belgian Actress.

An Interesting Interview with the Charming
Belgian Actress.
At dusk last evening a pretty little
woman wearing black satin dress, adark
cloth coat and modified Gainesborough
hat that fared up from a row of curly
bangs that fringed her forehead, was in
telviewed by friend of the ARGUS. II
was Mile Rhea, who is To appear ut Har-
pers Theatre next Saturday evening in
the dramatic masterpiece yclept Adrienne
Lecouvreure and who viii in Brussels. In
May next, produce Francois Victor Hugo's
translation of Romeo and Juliet. She
is bright. intelligent and enthusiastic and
speaks English much more fluently and
with far less accent than she did last
year. OF course she adores America and
Americans, and during pleasant little
chat last evening declared that she in
tended to makeFannual theatrical pilgrim
ages To this country.
| After speaking of her recent travels in
the coal regions of Pennsylvania and oom-
planning of the unpleasant weather and
the SCOT, she frightened up and said:
You have heard of 'Theo. Is she not
charmingf" Before the interviewer could
answer this question the fair interviewed
caught her breath and did it for him. '<Of
course she is know her. and when l
saw her in Paris | told her she would Ger
tainly please everyone here" The re-
porter ventured to say. that Theo would
probably appear in this section in April
next with Capoul. ''Capoul," repeated
Mile IShea. 'Ah, poor Capeul he has
lost his voice." and she wrung her hands
| in u-last- act of Camille sort of way that
Expressed to a nicely how she regretted
the singers misfortune.
s'RoMEo AND JULIET IN FRENCH.
From anecdotes of Capoul the con
versation drifted to Mile Rhea,s proposed
production of Romeo and Juliet, under
royal patronage, in Brussels late this
spring. She said: Il made all the ar
engagements for the production before l
| left Europe and have played Juliet twice
| in this country. In Brussels l will play
| the part twice in English and seven or
| more times in French. The supporting
company will be composed of English
| actors, who are to be engaged by Mr..
Ryder You wonder, no doubt, that it
should be novelty to produce Romeo
and Juliet" in French, but if you had any
idea of the manner in which French trans
lators have mutilated Shakspeares plays
you would wonder no longer"
Here Mile Rhea paused and wrung her
hands to express her indignation at the
literary mutilation. Shakespeare" she
continued, has MEYER been popular with
French theatre goers, and it is to a great
extent due to the translatOrs. Francois
Hugo has male my translation of Romeo
and Juliet. and the language is beautiful,
oh, so very besutiful.' In describing the
various beauties of translation, she be
came quite enthusiastic and gestieulated
in very pretty and effective manner.
INTREPTD DEBUTANTEs.
When the paroxysm was over she smil
insly continues: AZ myself called
on Victor Hugo and asked him to be
present when play Juliet in Brussels.
and he has consented. Oh, know ii viii
be success. The French people know
nothing about the beauty of the play, for
it has never been performed in that coun
try. 1t is grand play, and | only won
der at the courage of English and Ameri-
can debutantes who come out in the char
acter of juliet | shall want ten years to
understand and play that part"
As Mile Rhca has added Adrennc LIE
couvreure to her repertoire this year those
of our people who have seen Sara Bern
hardt ia the same play will have an OPP
portunity of instituting comparisons be-
tween Rhea and the willowy French wo-
ma next Saturday evening.
AS the renowned Rhea will only appear
in Rock Island and Peoria in this state af-
ter leaving Des Moines,it may be seen that
we are to be most signaIly favored, and
this too, at remark ably low prices-$1 90
and rs cents only.