New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-28
THE DRAMA.
NINE. EEJANE.

vn,e Reiane who mide her first appearance
upon the American stage last night, at Aobeys
Theatre as Nine. Sans-Gene. was welcomed with
enthusiasm by an eager host of admiring people,
and she was taken at oace to the popular heart
Enioyment of her acting is natural spontaneous
and inevitable and recognition OF II is not com-
PEELED to hesitate. Mnp. ReJane power - "o'
only technical equipment but personal '"ai '
Her face irradiates meaiing; her voice Is sympa'
thetic: her carriage is bioyant her speech II Sill
very: her execution Is rapid and crisp she can
be caprcious. coquettish. alluring, disda'hiui'
icsome impudent at one moment common, AZ
another passionate, and size has such reposs
and self-control that she can do all innings eaS''
The character of Nine. SansGene has become 10
her sort of second self, anc she impersoha'eo !"
without the least apparent effort
Among several we-worn dramatic expedients tha'
are used in the Moreau-Sardou play is the dramatic
expedent of contrasting roush-diamond Oh
woman raised by marriage from low estate anu
sunerfcially uncultivated, with the women OF a
wealthy and polished society. Catharne huoschef'
called Nine. Sans-Gene. has been an army washet-
woman but she has married with fortunate ad-
herent of Napoleon and she is the Duchess OF Dat-
zig wife of a Marshal of France, and as such she
figures throughout the action of this drama, IN tns
Court Of the First Empire. In the days OF her WASH"
ng-tub she had, with her lovers assistance. saved
the life OF wounded and fugitive Austrian oilicer,-
one OF the defenders OF Marie Antoinette. In inc
attacks OF female foes at Court In reconcuins M
poleon-once her impecunious debtor for laundry
work-to her uncultured manners and her prusqu'
speech and in again scheming for the rescue OF
the same Austrian officer previously befriended WHO
IS now unjusty an object OF the imperial suspicion
and dislike. The play group OF episodes IN
one of them, Napoleon having expressed ms uls.aso
of he manners, the Duchess apprlseS MIN OF ner
Identity with the laundress Catharine Hubscher 70
whom he still owes certain francs for washing MS
linen when he was poor lieutenant IN the army.
and that monarch evinces various symptoms OF
the late remorse of bve" In another she has a
royal battle with some OF the Bonaparts princesses
taking very much the tone or the British sauor
aboard a man-of-war in the South Sea, VINO, wneh
certain dusky potentates from neghboring ISLANDS
had come 10 visit the ship. reported to MS COM
mander the occurrence OF an accident, saying, one
OF them kings is fell down the hatchway In these
episodes she Is active. mischievous. prfiant, pas
sfonate-and Nine. Rejane was all that those WoruS
imply In others her nerves are tried oy peril ana
her feelings are excited and lacerated oy appre-
hension and therein also the actress showed herser
ca silly proficient by warmth of varying emotion ana
fore the curtain many times, the night wore on.
Her identification with the character Is absolute,
and In the utterance of varying emotions there Is
a continual play of feature and tone that Is mex
pressibly delightful Nothing more charming mas
been seen nor has the French stage, FOR many q
year. sent hther any thing so good as TINS actress
The drama is set in heavy and elaborate scenes,
the more important OF which are notable FOR tho
unobtrusve beauty Of good taste and true opuence.
The general representation was smooth ana agrees
able Napoleon was portrayed as COMPOUND or
tempered and explosive police-offcer The constitu
OF the company is shown IN TINS recoiu Oh the
.r.tt ION of