Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-08
BOOTH & M0DJESKA,
PRESENT THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Al
THE OPERA HOUSE
A Performance Deserving the Name Of Notable
Although Not Above Critieism-A Fine
Audience Present

The picture presented from the stage OF
the Opera House, last evening, during the
performance of THE Merchant Of Venice,
must have been almost as interesting, and
certainly quite as beautiful, to those upon
the stage. as was the series of stage pic
lures to the audience The audience, while
mainly made up of Wheeling people, as a
matter of course, was in its entirety, one
seldom matched in a Wheeling place Of
amusement, as it represented probably
twenty towns outside of this city, and was
representative of the culture and refine
ment of many communities. The
ladies were brilliant with the
hues of handsome costumes and bright
new head-gear, while there were flowers
everywhere. the air being heavy with their
perfume during all the evening. Many gen
tlemen were in full dress, and made up,
with their ladies', little congenial parties
scattered here and there throughout the
auditorium. Every seat down stairs was
occupied, and the orchestra was even driven
from their accustomed place TO make more
seating capacity, but there were many seats
vacant in the two last rows in the gallery
upon either side of the house. Possibly
one hundred more of an audience could
have been accommodated there. The or
cbestra. evicted from behind the little rail
ing i'm front of the stage, occupied the room
beneath the stage. from whence broken
bars of sweet music fioated out upon the
air between acts, but not more than one
fourth the people could have had any intel
ligent idea of what was being played, the
evening being thus robbed Of one OF its
chiefest pleasures.
As to the play, it was well-done, but
there was nevertheless disappointment
To many, whose hopes had been raised
too high. This disappointment was prin-
cipally with Modjeska. who was apparent
" not in the best possibly physical con-
dtion. and who besides, shows signs OF
wear. Booth himself was the great actor he
is at all times, but still the selection OF the
play was unfortunate as not giving him
full scope for his remarkable powers.
1t is seldom that the Wheeling public has
the opportunity to see two such distinguish
ed actors in conjunction as Edwin Booth
and Helena MOdjeska. Although the play
selected was one in which the audience
took kindly, and frequently applauded with
discrimination, vet il was not such play
as the public would have selected, and not
one to which the chief opponents were seen
to the best advantage. However, the play
was well staged, and such was the interest
in the central figures that attention To the
performance was undivided throughout
the evening.
Although the name OF Booth is perhaps
more frequently associated with characters
other than "Shylock.n in the role of the
merciless old Jew, there was seen the same
strength of delineation. the same absolute
forgetfulness of self. and the same f0rceful
Co.. al lone
gestures as are common 10 ms
more frequent roles. In the i'm
personation one could not fail 10
see depicted, true 10 life, the sordid,
avariciOus. revengeful Jew. In the Court
scene. where the issue is the pound OF
flesh" the varied phases Of emotion caught
responsive chord in the hearts Of the
auditors, and hearty bursts Of applause
followed the rendition.
The rich heiress. in love with Bassanio
the Observation-Disclosures Portia, as as
sumed by Nine. ModjesSa, was not very
far removed above the commonplace, and IL
was evident in some parts, as has been said,
that she was not in her best
form. although she received many
marks of approval through the even
ing Modjeska displayed her strength
and action more particularly in the
Court scene, whore she appears as the
"Young Doctor of Rome" has the case
tried before herself and at last gives iudg-
ment against the Jew The climax in this
scene was we'll received, and at the close, as
in one or two other instances during the
evening. the distinguished actors were
called before the curtain 10 acknowledge
the marks of approval The role OF
"Bassanio" by Otis Skinner was strongly
portrayed as was also the character OF
Antonio in the hands Of Frederic Nroom. |
These two characters called for no little at /
tention during the evening, as both had |
good voices. good action and We're well |
suited to their respective parts. |
"Jessica.n the beautiful daughter OF SHY |
lock. " was clevcrly handled by Miss MAZDA |
Craigen. and she was captivating through
ont. The other characters were well sus-
tanned. and the support on the whole was
Of an excellence seldom seen IN these parts.
The vocal music was very line In some
respects ii was notable performance, and
was fairly satisfactory TO the large assem-
blage in attendance,