Evening journal., 1892-11-26

manager, with very much more zeal than
discretion, had heralded the advent Of his
star in such a ridiculously extravagant
manner that high standard was set and
by that standard Mrs. Beere must be
judged. Realizing the nervousness of a
star ina strange land, deferred my visit
to the Manhattan opera house until Thurs
day, so as not to do the lady an injustice
by criticising her first nights performance.
Mrs. Beere has a very good supporting
company, the play was well staged, and
she was the initial attraction in the hand
soonest opera house l have ever seen.
Therefore, although LENA Despard" is a
horribly weak and senseless play, the
actress certainly made her American de-
but under auspicious circumstances.
Mrs. Beere is perhaps the greatest dis
appointment of the present theatrical sea-
son. She does well enough in the ordi-
nary conversational tones and common
place dialogue, but when it comes to emo
tion her lack of power is apparent. She
appears TO be conscientious, however, and
does her best all the way through. / can
say without hesitation that there are num-
bers Of leading women and stars in the
United States who can put Mrs. Beere in
the shade in acting. reading and personal
have got the opening date at the Manhat-
tan opera house than a crying child who
insists upon having a piece of the moon
could get a slice Of fair Luna.
A few more experiences like that Of Mrs
Bernard Beere will bring supposedly astute
managers to realization Of the fact that
the American public will judge foreign
actors upon their merits, without regard
to the exaggerated statements of their al
legged numerous triumphs ION the other
side" II Mrs. Beere is considered a great
actress-a second Bernhardt-in England,
all have TO say is that the English people
have suddenly acquired a theatrical obfus-
cation which is incomprehensible TO me.
In LENA Despard" Mrs. Beere only once
gave evidence of the probable possession Of
a spark OF genius, and that was in the last
scene of the play, when she poisons her
self Despite her absurd fall, she was
really good in that, the stimulation of the
agony caused by the liquid fire which she
had swallowed being admirable. In the
scene before that, however, when, after
having confessed to her husband that she
had sinned earlier in life, she implores his
forgiveness, she so signally fails to rise to
the necessary heights that this, which is
one Of the best episodes among the very
few good ones in the play, is made posi-
lively ridiculous.
don't suppose that Mrs. Beere's man.
ager was responsible for the comparisons
i which have been made between her and
Mrs. Langtry, but there have been advance
estimates Of the merits of the two ladies in
the same play, and these have invariably
been. to the disadvantage Of Mrs Langtry.
This is rank Injustice, for Mrs. Langtry is
superior in nearly every respect TO Mrs.
Beere. Her magnificent, regal appearance
| is of itself a great deal in her favor, OF
course
Mrs. Beere's appearance, on the other
hand, is anything but impressive. She is
very tall, with a thin face and an ordinary
figure. She walks awkwardly, with a
stiff, uncertain movement, while Mrs.
Langtry sails across the stage with the
air of one who owns this planet and is on
the way tosecure options on several others.
No one would think Of calling Mrs. Lang
try the English Bernhardt," and yet she
is the superior Of the woman who has been
doomed and pulled ad nauseam under that
| pretentiOus sObriQuet