Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-08-04
M0nIEsKA



Grand opera House.
For her second appearance at the
Grand last night, Modieska and her ex.
company produced "Adrienne Lecou.
vreur." The play is strong one and
requires great cast to do IL anything
like justice. The prominent parts were
all in the hands Of true artists last night,
and the production as whole was high
ly satisfactory to the large and fashion
able audience which assembled TO wit
ness It's exciting scenes. The consuming
OF the picturesque scenes was all that a
taste for the splendid could crave.
Modjeska's own robes were wonders Of
the art OF the modiste. They could
hardly have been built in any establish
ment short of Worth's. The diamonds
also, Of the great artistic, were very
splendid.
Ia these beautiful costur.ee Modes
ka's figure was truly oueenly. Her
every movement is replete with grace
and her presence and motions are an en-
trancing Inspiration of womanly lowell
ness. In the drawing-room scene in the
~. Act, she reminded one of tina line
in vergil's Eneid, where the great
Latin poet speaks Of Juno. and says Of
the goddess, "Shs moves a queen"
Throughout the entire play, in all the
exigencies Of the difficult role, Modjeska
was at the very height Of art, yet so
natural did its grace sit upon her, one
10. ka ilinotAx. hat
he saw a reality and not play. She
never falls to that dead level OF one who
is merely going through the part" and
she never lets herself sink to the worse
bathos of one who commits that vulgar
crime which Shakespeare calls,
Sound and fury signifying nothing"
With her It is at all points that nice
appreciation of the situation which just
reaches Its requirements without appar-
emit effort, as If it was the first and only
time the scene was presented. and that
in the natural course Of real life. In
the very difficult scene of madness and
death at the end she Is supreme in her
grand presentation of the terrible emo.
tions Of love and passions of the last
throes of departing life.
III Tue HnoDno t4 VI LUX
face, the changing light Of her eyes, the
flexible lines round the mouth, and also
in that liquid music of her matchlessly
sweet voice Modjeska has natur.
al gifts that are quite half
her triumph. In the tenderness Of
her chances and her sweetly affectionate
caresses bestowed ON her lover. and the
proud, stern flashes shot out upon her
rival, she develops wonderful power as
an actress. Modjeska combines the
force of genius with all the finest detail
of art acquired by the closest study Of
the character she displays. Her "Adri-
enne" will be treasured in the memory
as q poetic creation dear to all play
goers.
Maurice Barrymore's Count de Sake
was in all respects worthy of supporting
the great artistic He was superbly
dressed, grace itself in his movements,
and took the role of high-born gentle
man as II
ITO the manor born"
Mr.. Vanderbilt as the Prince was
very happily cast to the role, as his YER
satile genius seems to be in all roles I've
essays.
Mr.. Compton as "Michinnet'' the
prompter. added fresh laurels to those
he had won as "Adau." on the first
night.
Miss Lytton, in the role of the ''Prin.
cess" was very charming, and acted
with dignity, grace and spirit. And
Miss Charlotte Ti.tel, as "Mlle Jouve-
not. in her Turkish costume again broke |
up half the young mems hearts in the
house. If the old fellows had an un-
broke spot left in their old emotions she |
would have made havoc in their hearts |
too.
For tonight the great play of Donna
Diana is underlined-it is needless |
to say for the first time in Los Angeles,
as it is but the second time it has been |
on the boards in America. 1t will be
seen for the first time, there. |
fore, by the whole house. 1t i
contains the plot Shakespeare used
from which to develop his immortil |
much Ado About Nothing" The or.
iginal was penned three centuries ago
for the delectation of the proud and in |
tellectual grandees of Spain at the acme
Of their vigor and by one of their most
esteemed poets. 1t has been adapted
specially for Modjeska, and the title
role is one in which she takes peculiar
interest. 1t requires very strong cast
to play it, and is, therefore, seldom
seen. Los Angeles should feel peculiar.
ly favored in its presentation here, and
blass plsy-goers who complain that
''there is nothing new under the sun" in |
the histrionic line must be sure to see |
Donna Diana"