New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-28
NINE. DISE rs FEDORA.

Tho ,mnressIon ~ truth and simplicity that was
made by the acting of Nine. Duse on the occasion Ok
her first appearance was deepened and confirmed by
the performance that she gave last night. 1t was
performance OF Fedora, in Mr. Sardous drama Oh tpas
nome and II WAS received at the Fifth Avenue Iheae
with freauont plaudits by numerous audience cheny
OF Italians.
Fcdor,, is an unpleasant female who has become the
victim OF marital inddelIty, bad passions ana
sexual intatuaton. She has undertaken by espai
and trsachery to avenge her slaughtered husband
slain suddenly in adulterous intrigue-but she has
fallen in love with his assassin, and, after having
enrapped him aud also saved him, she dies mseraoy
aud by Violence overwhelmed with his curse. Her
uatur. and her conduct entirely and exclusively
animal. She IS assumed TO be very handsome ana
TO possess uncommon power as a fascinator OF man.
She has neither heart. conscience nor principle. she
t. simply an ardent and tumultuous hysical organiza
lion violent IN all things and I'm all things detestaoie
That beauteous being was Invented by Mr. sardou
for the uses OF sarah Bernhardt and the audiences
OF that actress have ruthfly declared that Fedora
arouses all the forces and elicits all the peculiar
charms OF their enchanters 0puent nature.
Nine Duse embodied Fedora in accordance with
her own temperament. which Is human she can ex-
press Ioye-a thing that sarah Bernhardt has never
done-and she can express the dellrlous anguish OF
low. that fears mortal peril for It's idol. That she
did and that done by her Win inc
complete assumption OF sincerity and the seeming
nant characteristics of her method The question
whether her embodiment is true or false 10 tne
authors Ideal may be left to experts In moral mon
strosity Some people like to ruminate on Gamma
tion and can visit Nine. Tussauds Chamber OF
Horrors and come away refreshed 10 ouieis sucn
uusons AS Fedora, together with all the scent
b,ps and MYSTERIES. and burnt feathers appertanin9
,her.unto are a colossal nnicon OF disease. Tho
result that remains from Nine. buses impersonation
i an augmented and clarified sense OF her 10
markable and varied talents. she possesses III
marked and unusual degree, the faculty On winch
:, many Of her fellows FEATURES . are
euriousiy intcrested), OF assuming personalities dis
tnct from her own ard of expressing emotiohs %
strongly and so naturally that they deceive me
spectator and sometimes begue him OF his tears'
Not intellectual and not philosophlc, but suo"sy.
self-cOnccnrated, she sways by the adhra"ou ~
oilleIs and, having fine person ana Il syihp'"eo'
voice, reinforced with thorough professlohai u""'
Ing she Is able to impress herself strongly upon AN
audience. She pleases, not alone by the simple
manner Of her actlng-by the care with wmeh siis
CREATES eects-but by herself. The essential qu'Suon
whether her acting conforms to natife-it nature %
assumed to mean fact-could always be ahrnlauVey
answered She feels deeply aud Is faihiu
IN what She feels. The two performances
thus far given Dave not indicated sense
OF high poetic ideals OF capacity io'
heroic or tragic characters. Mme Duse Is emotional
and there is a multitude with which emotion stands
for the perfection OF art. The fearful pocket-hahd
kercihef OF Camille remained In It's retirement last
night and there WAS less Of CONSTRUCTED ana puny
certainly this actress uses iar
too snueh gesture and uses it 10 crude ana paitry
effect. Nine Duse however, appears to posseSs mo
right Instinct which prescribes an individual inaiN0s
tor s,cb individual. The quality that she mas not
revealed Is the overwhelming irresistible an'hori'y
~ c.n,us To say desciiptiyely, that she does not
reach the height OF Charlotte Cushman Is TO naIaUs
hut half the truth. she Is not the eqmi ., ~s
Tiara Morris was. In power and she Is , no. Ares
na,nbe with Ellen Terry In the qlan,y '"%. A hs
,ne IMAGINATION and thrills the heart. III I,s
use Of feminine Establishments there was So IA
her manifestations OF power were a,ae ana , so
clns,ye She made the tigress human S's .
Fiavio Ando gave n spirited polished iorciu,e III.
'arSoDa,ion of Lors Ipanon. Nine Duse was
called with enthusiastic plaudits alter eaon Gurs:
nnrsonal impression OF rich and wllowy beauty "es
n soclaes are named In the appended cast