Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-26
as stories rehashed from Eastern and old
newspapers, with local adaptations. are
not in favor with this journal.
ADJUSTMENTS.
The Gran d.


thronged the Grand last night for the
opening performance of the Modjeska
season, the desire to see this cousum-
mate actress in Mary Stuart having
drawn it thither. The play itself is one
long, sustained piece of defamation,
and defamation of a very high grade,
interfused with a pathos which, in deli
cate and skillful hands, affords an ex-
quisite artistic qualification. Madame
Modjeska is an ideal MARY Stuart, :"
somewhat opposed to the historical ira
ditions of the character, but singularly
faithful to Schiller's conception of it,
Her beauty is of spirituelle and most
interesting type, strikingly calculated to
enforce the poet dramatist's weird, subtle
and melancholy -cadenced Interpretation
of the tragic episode of the Scottish
Queens career. Her dressing is reve-
lation in the art of costuming, and her
carriage and gestures are inimitably
graceful. In the even passages of the
play her voice is measured and un-
strained, and until the sensational pas
sages are reached she suggests moth
ing OF the kindling energy, pas
sion and magnetism which enable her
to take entire possession Of the hearts
and emotions of her auditors. The
poetry of motion has never been more
perfectly illustrated on the stage than
by Madame Modjeska. Indeed, hei
whole reQdition OF "Mary Stuart" is
poetical in the extreme. She bursts into
the forest of Fotheringay from prison
bars with the glad sprightliness of bird
released from its cage. Her interview
with Elizabeth is histrionic triumph
Reused to the assertion OF her dignity as
woman and Queen, by the taunts of gooG
Queen Bess, her voice has the resonance
and clarity Of a trumpet, her eye the fire
of an outraged Goddess, and her gestures
the nobility and freedom of a b. rn actress
of the superlative class. She fairly elec
trifed her audience, and the curtain rant
down amidst a perfect whirwind of ap
plause, followed by the presentation of {
magnificent floral tribute. Certainly tn,
fair land of Poland never produced be
ing better calculated to inspire enthusi
asm than Madame Modjeska. He
slight foreign accent is at no time OBJ
trusive, and tended rather to heightel
than detract from her finished elocution
| The company playing at tn
Grand not only has q sta
of the nonpareil order in Madame Mod
jeska, but it is itself OF very superio
cast. A goodly number of accomplished
artists are comprised in the roster. Mrs
f. M. Bates enacted the ungracious r6l
of Elizabeth" with spirit and intelli
gence, sharing at times quite literally il
the applause awarded to the star. Th
"Lord Burleigh" of Mr.. George Osborn
was conscientious nd meritorious piec
OF acting. Mr.. E. II. VANDERBILT as tn
earl Of Leicester" was thorough
equal to the occasion, and gave the idea
courtier, tickle and designing, in real
istic and capital style. Miss ]. Tuholsk
acquitted herself OF the lugubrious par
of nurse to perfection, and there was
quite general regret that Miss Chariot
Tittel had so little to do, she did tina
little so charmingly. The curtain wa
rung up at the conclusion of every act
and on one occasion Madame Modjesk
came before the curtain.
The season has opened with the prom
ise of continuous large houses. To-nigE
As You Like 1t, one of Modjeska's favorit
impersonations, is underlined.