The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-12
ANU SEMENTS.
SaIvini This Week.

Alexander Salvini, who is to be at the
Seattle theater the last four nights of the
week. has the reputation of being an actor
OF remarkable versatility. He appears to
De equally at home in such plays as
Elaine" by Longfellow, and "L'Ami
Fritz" by Erckman-Chartrian, as he is in
roles OF chivalry and romance, which he
has OF recent years made so popular. The
actor who can leave his own individuality
outside the stage door and be the person
whom he portrays on the boards, for the
time being, is necessarily rarity. 1t is
only the vital spark of genius that can
effect the transmigration. Bernhardt in
the passionate drama, Coquelin in COM
edy, are brilliant illustrations. In their
case it cannot SO truly be said that 1.-The
play is the thing" for they dominate a
school of drama which they create and
which practically dies with them. They
excite as much interest IN the fictional
and impossible as the aforesaid figure in
the realistic.
Alexander Salvini, the son of an illus
trious father, has been much talked
OF person of late years. He did not
beget much recognition at first, for the
public were prone to think he was doing
much as other sons have done, simply
making capital OF a name. It has watched
him closely, however, and has recognized
in short order that the Salvini escutcheon
taking on brighter polish. instead of
being dulled by his stewardship. Al
though Italian by birth, he is an Ameri.
can actor by training. His professional
scholarship he obtained in Mr.. Palmer's
stock company, where he also learned to
speak English. From that time until now
he has only essayed the roles before him
by others, but with each successive part
he has undertaken he has increased the
distance from his predecessor in the char
acter.
In taking up the romantic drama as a
stepping stone to higher fame, he has done
wisely. This class of stage play is more
or less new to the present generation, for
during its recollection there have been no
DArtagnans or Don Caesars worthy the
name. Whether Salvini possesses natur-
ally the fiery abandon, the reckless daring
or the nobility of these old time heroes of
chivalry the public is unaware, but after
seeing his performance it would be hard to
convince an auditor to the contrary, and
were Salvini pointed out to him in the
street, his Imagination would voluntarily
replace his overcoat for the mantle and
his cane for the rapier of the court gallant.
Salvini is nothing if not in earnest The
touches of pathos and generous sentiment
which ever and anon show in the charac-
tiers of D. Artagnan and Don Cesar never
fail to arouse in Salvini's Interpretation a
responding throb in front of the footlights
The general coloring he gives them, his
gay banter and non-assurance, make him
seemingly as unconscious of his real sur
roundings as are his auditors.
The arrangement of his repertoire dur
ing his engagement, which opens Wednes-
day night, will be as follows: Wednesday
and Friday night and Saturday matinee,
Don Cesar de Bazan;" Thursday and
Saturday evening, THE Three Guards
men," The lavish management of Mr.. W.
NJ. Wilkison will enable the popular actor
to present his repertoire during this en-
gagement on a scale never equaed in
plays of this school in the history of Seat.
tie theatricals.