The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-23
ADJUSTMENTS.
sonErnIss ABsCr nakk WAINWRIGHT
AyD LoUrs JANIS.
Hsv the Former Happened 60
Adopt the sssee-Beosh's 0piais.
81 Her werk-saceess Of Two
Famous Actors ~ stars.

| About nine years ago remarkably
handsome young lady, with wavy
brown hair large and iastrous dark blue
eyes and peariy white teeth, was en-
Ieeuraged by a retired actress, to whom
she had applied for lessons in elocn-
ton, to try her fortune On the stage.
This advice was given TO the net
granddaughter OF a famous Virginia
bishop, and the daughter OF brave
old commodore. who lost his life in
defense of his flag nj the siege OF Gal-
weston, and ii was this sound advice
that caused Marie Wainwright to
adopt the stage. Two seasons later
Miss Wainwright was playing leading
business in the fine stock company OF
the Boston theatre. and there met her
future husband, Louis James. Ma
RE Wainwright made her debut
as one of six Jalieis who
volunteered for complimentary bcne-
1T rendered to George Rignold az
Booths theater, New York. and Is the
only one OF the six who has been sue
eessful in Shakespesre's heroines.
After several seasons in Boston Mr..
and Mrs. James were for five con-
secutiye seasons the principal support
of Lawrence Barrett, and always
shared the honors with that star and
more pecially in Francesca da Rimi-
nj. In the title role Miss Wainwright
created one OF the most beautiful char
acterizations ever seen upon the stage,
while Mr.. James, as Beppo the Jester.
always received a call with the star.
Daring the engagement of the two
great tragedians OF both hemipheres-
Salvini and Booth-at the Academy of
Music in New York, about two wears
ago. Marie Wainwright was selected
OF all the actresses of America to play
0paelia and Desdemona. and fairly
shared the honors with the greatest
actors liyiBg-Booth and Salvini. In
deed. the latter pronounced her BESIDE
mona to be the most artistic he ever
saw
Louis James has been Justly called
the most versatile actor on the Ameri-
can stage, for he has paved every line
OF character and has been eninentlv
successful in all his creations. lie
gained great prominence rs the origi-
nal OF many leading parts in Angus
tin Days Fifth Avenue theatre stock
company, New York, when that
famous company had among its MEM
hers such distinguished people as Clara
Morris, Fanny Davenport. Ada Dyas,
sarah Jeueit, James Lewis, Mrs. Gil
bert. Charles Fisher, John Brougham,
many OF whom have become success
ful as stars. He was afterward mem
Der of palmer's celebrated Union
Square company.
Abou; two years ago he and his wife
left Barrett and commenced their career
as stellar attractions, making their de-
bat in McNicker's theatre in Chicago as
Vireinius and Virginia, and they
achieved such wonderful success as
to entitle them to places in the fore
most ranks of American actors. Since
their opening they have added to their
repertoire the most popular of Shak-
speare'> tragedies and comedies, and
they will present here "Virginiusn on
Thursday night. and of their perform
ance, Nym Cryphkle, the celebrated
critic of the New York World, says:
Ito be able 10 hold large and in
teiligent audience as il was held last
night by q is old play, may be ac-
counted a triumph of legitimate his
torionism. and Mr.. James and his ex-
cellent wife deserve special common
dation not alone for the admirable
work they did in their own persons,
but for their staunch refusal to exc the
performance ont by any of the realis-
tic elap-trap which is now so common.
'.virginiusn was played, not exhibited.
II was interpreted, not merely deco
rated. L. is true, that what is known
rs thetraditional business was in sever
al instances departed from, but al
ways with an intelligent and pardon
able purpose of simplifying and i'm
proving it. The intent was not so
much To furnish cartoons as to supply
acting. The great desire was not 10
ultimate the incidents so much as to
pcrlray the characters and depict the
passions. The consequence was that
the great forum scene in which Nir-
ginius kills his daughter was made as
intense as We have ever seen il. and
the audience, wrought to q condition
OF suspense and sympathy that was
unusual. broke ont in acclamations
Of genuine old-fashioned appreciation.
Miss Marie Wainwright makes a de-
lightful, ingenious Roman daughter.
Her love for Iciiius. so uaiyely and
giriishly expressed by the most intelli-
gible bat most delicate touches, Is by
no means the least noteworthy part of
her performance, and it may be said
that she realized. with singular fidelity
% the spirit of the play, all that is
sweet and womanly in il.
The supporting members OF the COM
pany are all good, which Is recording a
rarity, and the Roman mob and lictors
we're unusually well drilled and inn
posing"