Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-08
METROPOLITAN THEATER.

Miss Jeffreys-Lewis. in " La Belle Russo,
drew fine audience to the Metropolitan
Theater last evening. Her support was ex-
cellent, all that the exacting could demand
in reason. In Mr.. Mestayer she had worthy
foil that made her own skill the more prom.
inent. MIR. Grismer had role calling for
no effort on his part, but his reception by an
audience familiar with his acting was none
the less cordial. In ia Belle Russo" JEFF
freys-Lewis rises superior to the play,
which, after proceeding on the scheme
of very interesting plot, illustrative
of the tangled web vicious adventures
weaves for an unfortunate man to entrap him
into sn unholy alliance, and after working
out some exceedingly sensational and entirely
probable scenes, falls fat at the close. 10
preserve the unities of the play the heroine
should come to some desperate end but the
playwright prefers to leave her in g situation
that gives fres rein to the speculations OF the
audience as to whether she becomes a penI-
tent woman or goes about to hang herself, as
well she might. Even the matchless skill OF
the actress cannot relieve the climax OF an
otherwise spirited drama of its insipidity, and
she is left at the fall of the curtain cIInging
to the curtains of an exit, when as fitting
Close she should be pouring down
the poison at her side which her
malicious hand had cOncocted for
her triumphant enemy, But probably
this ending is purposeful, and to teach an
over.expectant public that not all the rogues
are properly punished. Miss Lewis thor'
GU ghly pleased her auditors. The charActeriz-
alton demanded of her was not elevated, but
it was subtle, and she invested it with IN
tense interest, and entered into 1t with an
almost reckless abandon. Her art has grown
upon her and is more finished and rounded
thsn ever. In every detail the artist shows
through and stamps her work as Of the higher
order of professional skill. In one respect
the lady created q decided sensation, all her
own, for the perfect stimulation OF unutter-
able love, and the abandOn with which she
flung herself into arms ready to receive hsr
1.-THE form, drew from the male half of the
audience profound sigh, and among the
other half created pronounced hutter. The
same plsy will be repeated this even
ing and handsomely mounted, and in the
hands CT thoroughly accomplished artists,
and sensational as it is, it cannot fail to draw
large audience If a suggestion will be
tolerated by the doorkeepers, the venture
may be made to advise that they furnish
those who lounge in the outer lobby with
gsgs and felt-bottomed boots. If these fail,
a large audience will cheerfully attend the
burial of the Doors who insist upon loud talk
lug and unmptflsd stamping in the outer
lobby, if only the doorkeepers will murder
the offenders. In the midst of the perfect
hush of rapt attention Miss Lewis last even.
ing won, the chatter at the door was simple
robbery of pleasure from an audience that de-
sired to give its ears to the actors on the stage
and not to the ill-manuered fellows outside the
aonr These have long heeU q nuisance and
the sooner they are absted the better.