New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-30
THE DRAMA-MUSTC.
MODJESKA AS MAGDA.

The return OF Nine. Modieska who made her
entrance last night at the Fifth Avenue Theatre In
drama called 'Nagda." places within the pubic
reachby virtue Of her personal presence and arts
tic GLAMOUR beneficial pleasure that will be well
coined with eager interes; and grateful satisfaction
No dramatic artist OF this period Is conspcu-
Gus than Nine Modjcska for distinction of person
aty, charm % temperament. dciicacy OF method.
simplicity and grace Of style and all that is. meant
by loneliness. alike artistic and personal. During
the seventeen years Of her American career Nine.
Modjeska has been beautiful presence upon our
stage, and now. in the meridian Of her powers ana
her fame. she naturally may command. to the fun
est degree, tha, affectionate admiration which At
tends upon "A noble nature. sincere purpose and tried
and proved ability. Her advent Is that OF pub
lie friend and favorite and her delightful art would
be enjoyed. without respect 10 the play. whatever
1t might BE- in which she should choose to appear.
She greeted with the heartiest p,auds.
The drama that presented Is Il domestic compo-
sition written by a foreigner named Suderman. 1t
porirays a strife OF the will between resoute.
rebellious young woman and her arbitrary father;
ana ii appears 10 have been written in ddactlc
spirit. and with great ardor Of moral purpose. The
message that its author wishes impart would
declare that children should obey their parents but
that parents should not be unreasonably exacting
in the demands that they make upon their children.
That is not a remarkably novel proposition. and
probably il will neither Cypress the intelligence of
the community seriously disturb ts composure.
Morality is inherent in everything and II may
always be safely trusted to take care Of Itself.
Art should neither enforce "A precept nor teach a
lesson. Its moral drift viii determine its !nfiu-
encc. and OF its moral drift ought 10 set
toward nobility ana not toward evil. The trend,
however should be spontaneous and not maGis;e-
rial If he sautes me with scrap of morality
In his mouth" says Sir Oliver Surface. Il shall be
sick directly" The stage is never less attractive
than when IT devates into ethical controversy and
Ia S.ill Dr r.
latiNe admonitiOn as 10 the public morals. There
has of late been vastly too much OF that altogether
suIcrfiuous theatrical solcitude.
Mime. Modjeska, as an actress, Is imaginative, ana
romantic and she readily rises far above the leyel
OF all such characters as Mazda she played Inc
part fuenily and ieXbly, and with tn greatest
ease. MA-dt In actual lIie would be d Troublesome
and dlsaSreeable pcrson-vain. SELFISH Ill-brci, COW
etOus o. admiration. mconsideratr OF others. ana
bent on having her own way AT any cost ana i.
spite OF any consequence. Magda, In the person of
superior 10 h,r natural 'hloNm 'il,' ana auyh ~
would make her conduct Impossible The climax
0nlv b,s becomn nos s,iir y, ,,i. an fa' Ensi'G.
speaking stage, through importation of foreign ~
writer's lust now ON the continent Of t.urop, wn,.
unable to attract attention 10y right means. seem
Improperly rather than not be- noticed at al. Mr.
SGdcrman hH- thousht 1t cNi'r'iirni t. max NJ
bv in,lmatine 10 her father tina; sh. mas bcan lad
wr,Iin'.ss And i, is vert ni.rhior1us =, Wolinl
50 deadly can bee dealt as that which defaccs The
IDEAL ami stains thc glory 81 4 pure womlnhood.
loiry wi ' b swept ir,m ih, sGsc In many
ways We are fallen on eti! tines The th.Airr
has been drcadfully misusei and. Win but liiue
exception; 1t Is IN bad hands. Yet IT, cInnoi hr thht
The Intelligent decent -'lf-f' sirrt.ng pcoihr oi
America VIII much longer 60! nfc ihr ,uif'h, H
position Of crazy ior".sn vnIailiF. Mn MOI
go..H,'n, loi,. has M. ,n..i r..tc cf..rilc.
and the deepest reverence for thlf art 90 which
w., u,Jt. al nn ~ I"f,el .t r,v ~
'Maeia." II contains ID dramatic clements Of un-
unworthy NJ her genius ana her r,nowu. Shr was
f"licious. indeed ia d'norns nc temp rh'n"nt -
rene u c9nyentonali'y hu, ih'rcin She nece-sriy
defeated tn apglcahilty ~ ~. character ana m
il, experience Of a woman ~ genius might per
pic can be prrIcai.I upon the basis 90 au "NceI-
s s;1,hi f"S The ~ Ilcy c,s, lv ~, flsye
ady's return 10 her stern fathers nous" could
readily be- removed by nr precipi'ate departure
from il. ana that in actual No. is waai wouiI have
happened The irt'rir" between thc lady aHl h"r
oh lover ana thos. between TIA. lover ,"ho 81
made a mere mean caricatuIcl AMI her father. are
clcvcrly constructed but they obnoxious 10 good
compelled t. examine details hat nre unit for
print Nine. Modj"*kn's fugs"sl~l analysis ~ r.,
male human nature waS 'Ncr~lnEH r'min'N 'nH
IL was ma Re Win great variety aui power Ih'r"
are things. however that the mcrc male under
s,aninS !. rot ab" - f,'I'w ani win ihss' ihc
So IN , i1 n 92i , H2 qs'G T1 m l2 any IN
slayery. Nothing. comes ~ me play. - last
snI "l' nJs -. H. ''' No. ~, or K t
when. i'm her splendid disgrace. she comes back
G1 Gg m ce MR. o iai she S4' s'r 9 6
impcrlous father and oyiucol IN" excellent quail
styl. Is -, tlmes .ln"u,riv nisrcn, Of i,vreire
barrett. tn" closing sc' o." would hav" NOR" 'urc
pcn ID T''' '' '''''''' '''
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ram 4. 81