National Republican., 1883-03-17
"DUKEs PEERS" is the title tho Pitts
burg Chronicle gives to the Uniontown jury.
This is hard upon Dukes.
ADJUSTMENTS.
JANAuscnEK,s NEW rLAY.

"Iilla," the melodrama which Nine. Janau-
schek recently added to her list of plays, had
its first presentation here last evening before
large audience. The fact that il is not
new play but an old one newly treaty will
not operate in its disfavor with this genera
tion. "The Woman in Red" as it used to be
called, has lain unused for almost thirty
years. Nine Celeste, who is herself the merest
memory now, was successful in it once, in the
old days when melodrama in its heaviest
form was the staple of the stage. 1t has most
of the faults of its class. 1t runs upon a razor
edge very often and is kept from abrupt con-
clusion in any one of half dozen places by
the mere and obvious determination of the
dramatst to have il go farther. Its Provi-
dcnce is slipshod, its reasoning often at
fault, its characters subject to attacks of vapid
thinness, its scenes frequently forced, and its
language often turgid. Moreover it is too
long Played upon one strain, and with no
important variation, it would be wearsome
with any artist less skilllul and potent than
Janauschek, and even Janauschek is taxed to
sustain the interest of the last hour.
Nevertheless it has scenes of lucid and
very great power and the story though SLOW
enly told is essentially of pure dramatic quail
| ity. 1t takes strong grasp upon the specta-
tor in the very first scene and would retain
its hold unweakened to tho last, , lifts superfui-
| ties were trimmed away. Something of this
has been already done, rs by contrast with
the play as it used to be; but more remains
! TO do.
Janauschek dignifes the character Of Zilla,
and indeed the whole play. Her performance
commands higher admiration than il would
if the character itself were of higher form.
She grasps the dramatic possibilities in it,
and throws them into bold and clear relief
She has not been seen in any other part
save the part of Lady Dedlock, that has
brought out the same meodramatic quality
which is here so impressvely called into
action. 1t is this quality which fill.
tho third act with an interest SC
warm and so intense. 1t reappears in
the sleep-walking scene of the last act--a
touch at once natural ingenious, and vivid
| These two scenes-that between the fortune
teller and the countess in the thirt
act, and the scene in the last ac
from the moment of Zilas final entrance
will rate with the best things the stage cur
give u.s. They are in tho highest dcgrc,
mele;lramatic, and alive with a subtle magnet
ism such as only the greatest actors can com
mand.
Janauschek is fortunate in having fount
this drama. 1t is better suited to her year
than anything else she has appeared in.
exhibits her at her best and, indeed it call
at one point or another of its develop
ment for precisely such touches as il
other plays have won her mos
applause. 1t has tho further advantage o
poverty in the other characters, none Of which
even in the reading would be found to riva
Zilla in even momentary interest. The onl.
other character that has any claim to consist
ent clearness is that of Constance, which /
brief, and even at its best is chiefly valuabl
as a foil to Zilla.
1t would be unfair to say much of the com
pany in such play, after the good work the
have done during the week. Even good act
ors cannot mako bad parts more than passi
ble
"Zilla" will be repeated Mt tho Nationa
theater this evening.
Next weeks attraction at Ford's will b
Miss Carrie Swain, in play entitled NAB,
NOTES.
The prospect Is that the "Lights o. London
engagement at the National will be more success
full than that of last autumn. The sale is uneS
pectedly large, not only for Monday evening" bu
for the whole week,
Leon aud Cushman's minstrels will occup
the stage Of Lincoln hall next Thursday, Frlda
and Saturday evenings.