The evening world., 1894-10-16
THE TRANsGRESSOR."

out unnecessary verbiage. That is what
everybody wants to-day. The unfor-
tuEate dramatic critic who feels that
he positively has people depending on
his Investigations is uneasy and op-
pressed. Occasions often arise when he
wishes that he had never been born.
This is one of them. Miss Nethersole
has been very largely doomed az the
coming actress, the Bernhard of the
future Sarah forgive ~, the great
dramatic novelty--and so on. She comes
forward with the star-mark branded on
her Observation-Disclosures there by ill-ad-
vised admirers. and under those circum-
stances It is always difficult to shine
! The stars in the heavens above would
grow pale beneath such obstacles.
Miss Nethersole made her first appear
ance in America at Palners Thea tire
last nigt in play by a. w. Cattle. en-
titled The Transgressor." She was
fearfully nervous. poor little lady so
nervous ut first that she transposed
words, but she overCame this sensation
later on. and gave a tolerably fair dis
play of what she can do. She Is nice
| iooking-not pretty-with features on
| which the placidity of Mrs. Kendall
| Helen Dauvray and Jane Hadng seems
to he the most striking characteristic.
She is slight and small. but she is not
sinuous or graceful. Her appearance, in
fact, Is most emnently commonplace
not that this matters very much.
Stars can triumph over physical facts
and beautiful women are sometimes
LUMINOSITY stupid.
The young actress was called upon to
play the part of girl who has married
a siver-haired gentleman. She loves
him fervently, and believes that at the
time of their marriage he was a widow
er. 1t is discovered. however. that Eric
Langley's wife lives She Is hopelessly
insane, and has been in that condition
twenty years. railway accident
robbed her of her reason. Eric seems to
be a most unCanny person For two
decades he had not even looked upon his
wife, because when she went insane she
gave horrible laugh, and that fright
ened him. Sylvia has big scene when
she learns how she has been deceived.
but she Clings 20 Eric. and al the end of
the play IA telegram is received bearing
the news of the wifes death.
How did Miss Nethersole interpret
where she is supposed to he fascinating,
ingenious, girlsh and natural she over
acted most lamentably. She laughed
rritatingly, she gurgled she kssed-and
with what large. noisy, smacking kisses
she overwhelmed them all!-she threw
herself about the stage and she clawed
at the air Such simple phrases as
"Will you have cup of tea ?" or Some
p he
most thea trical way. There was not
a vestige of ease or repose in her man
ner. She did not save herself up for
her big scene. 1t was perpetual strug-
r gle for efTeCt-a case of stage manager
, needed very badly. The programme de-
clared that Miss Nethersole supervised
/ the production herself She should in
stantly secure AN assistant
r The big scene came in due course
| Mind. we had suspended all Judgment
until this scene arrived. We were still
, disposed to adore Miss Nethersole. We
70 made all necessary allowances for hei
S timidity, due to the ordeal through
+ which she was passing. Alas! in th'
. third act Miss Nethersole was absolute
i ly crude. She had one or two quiet, al
mirable moments, instants of pictur
esquc theatrcalism but they were few
and far between. She ranted; she tor,
her hair tand poor Wilton Lackaye's, a
webb; she pulled down her eyes unit
they Japanesed themselves; she extend
ed her mouth: she cutched at every
body, and she chewed up the scenery.
Miss Nethersole has dramatic instinct
OF course; she has temperament, as well
but AT present her ability has not ma
turcd. She il not ripe enough TO stan
She would he valuable leading lady
and good stage manager would be u
infinite service to her, At least, that
what her performance last night sus
IN gcstcd. In other plays, she may develo
other personal advantages. 1t would b
y. absurd to condemn her irrevocably, he
.. cause she failed in "A play that is stmpl
ri beneath contempt
L. It is positive duty, however to ad
!. that there are leading ladies' here VII
~, would have done infinitely better. VIII
~ ont seeing Miss Nethersole again, | di!
-, tiurtly assert that she is not to be con
pared with either Julia Arthur ~ Min
= ME Selgman. Miss Arthur, who electr
~ lied an audience in such vilidinot
rs affair as "'rhe Black MASK" would HAY
IL made The TrlmsGrCs Sor' toerahl
p. Miss Nethersolr moreover, is not ;
e good an artist as Mr. Bernard Beer
~ She is younger. vomrlier, more pleasing
H. but she is unable to score the 'iac poin
u. that poor Mrs bernard Bccrc surceede
in realizing.
Mrs. Bowers Mas the hes, member
the supporting company. She did r
nd markedly well with a bad part and 81
~