Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-02-15

New YoRK, February l2.-Mme. Helena
Modjeska appeared in this city last night
at the Star Theater, where she was hearth
" welcomed by a numerous audience and
where she presented a new play written
for her by Mr.. Maurice Barrymore, with
the title of Nddjezda. This also was re-
ceived with favor, and, indeed, some points
with admiration. 1t is a dark and sad sub
ject that Mr.. Barrymore has chosen for the
basis Of this play. He appears to have
thought that a dramatic treatment Of this
| dark theme would elicit from it striking
theatrical situations, and q vigorous and
impressive display of the passions under
circumstances of a terribly tragical char
acter. The result of this thoughtful and
careful labor has shown the correctness of
his judgment. The heroine, "Nadjezda,"
is called a dual" character. 1t is a very
strong character-one hat is actuated by
a variety of motives and displayed under
| a variety of circumstances one that is de-
| yeloped and expressed in action more than
in words, and u accordingly that is like
ly to endure upon the stage and prove
I us.s-l to actresses hereafter as well as
| Nine. ModIesa. now. In the first act OF
| the piece "Nadiesda" Is y mother, and the
motive for her conduct is love IL. her
bard! frengied grief at his death and rsnt-
, eous hatred fer his cruel destroyer. Her
| emotions here are ali mssaive; intense, ter
| rible-the emotion of q breaking heart snd
a distracted brain. Her enemy, q former
lover, has captured her husband in battle,
and, having promised to send him back to
her, does send him back to her-a Corpse.
In her frenzy "Nadjezda' first dedicates
her child to the mission of vengeance upon
the murderer and then swallows q poison
and dies in her dslirium and sin. In the
| - II A. 60 GaN-9.A-loff =. AZ l,,..h
ter. The motive of her conduct now is
love for her lover, whose wife she is de.
sirous 70 become. All the conditions are
changed. She is dwelling with her guar
dian at Nice, Italy. The guardian is in
vengeful pursuit of a man who has robbed
him of his wife. The man is the same
who murdered "Nadjezdais" father, and
whom she has been sworn to kill. That
man, an old libertine now, is one of her
~suitors, and furthermore Ia fact unknown
to all but her guardian) no is the
father of her lover by the guar
dams wife. The guardian of Mad.
jezda" is capable of arranging and does ar
range a duel between father and son-the
father being his wronger, and the son be
ing the child of his truant wife. He does
this, moreover, with a full knowledge Of
the truth, and when this duel is ended
without death he contrives that the son
whom he has indicted into one OF those
secret leagues, which exist in Europe fol
the purpose of political assassination
shall be commissioned to murder the
father. This gives rise to the chief and
closing situations of the play. Nadjesda
in order to shield her lover from possible
peril, has sought the old libertine, mean
ing only to warn him. Chance disclose.
him to her as her fathers assassin, ano
she strikes him down. Her lover finds
her, and reproaches her with ~infidelity
She swallows a poison and dies.
WHAT NJ MoDJEsKA SAYS OF THE PLAY
The stage of the Star Theater says the
Tribune seemed to nave been changed int
the stage of the Fifth Avenue last night
for Confusion held the boards. Nine. Mod
jeska's company was finally rehearsins
Maurice Barrymore's Ndjeskd, and as som,
changes nave been made since it's produc
ton in Baltimore there was plenty OF worl
for all. No alteration, however, has beer
made in the name, and several member
of the company, by dint of hard study, ar,
almost able to pronounce it the rest spesl
of it as "the new play" A handsom,
young man rushed up to q Tribune re
porter who passed through the stage door
and in breathless tones said: 'The stag,
has been waiting for ten minutes for you
Get on at once" Then seeing the epo
er's astonished look he added: ''Oh, I be-
pardon. thought you were one of on
people" This was Mr.. Barrymore, VIII,
seemed to be trying to put himself int
five places at once. In the interval of hi
h%urrying to and fro he managed to sa,
that his play was not founded on any per
sonal "reminiscences of Nine. Modjeska, O
has been stated, but was entirely origina
from beginning to end. Not that l d
not expect to be told on Tuesday morn
ing" said he, 'that l have drawn OF hal
a dozen French plays, and taken a littl
be a regular thing nowadays"
A tall, graceful woman, dressed in
sweeping silk dress of somber hue, re
lieved by a ichu of cobwebby lace, passe
from the stage, and Nine. Modieska, TO
my American home once more, you zee,
she said, "for as that l look upon Ne,
York. We have had a pleasant tour Ell
cept for the weather. That was terrible
and l have SO missed my daily ride. / ar
excited about our new play, but / do no
mind that. / like excitement, and do nc
feel the hard work when ! have somethin
novel with which to occupy my thought,
l ike a new part. / ike to create a ne,
character which no one has tried befor
me. 1t is terrible to have too much trad
ton, although some is absolutely essentis
for the sake of young actors. I think, q
is natural, that Mr.. Barrymore's play l.
strong one. My W part suits me exec
lently, comedy and emotional drama bein
happily blended. But there is my cue an
! must run away.