New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-16
NINE. HODJESKA'S NEW PLAY.

The prospect Of seeing Nine. Modjeska in a new
mart drew a large and fine audience TO the Garrick
Theatre last evening. She has long been he'd In
honor and esteem by the public. and the opportun-
ties of enjoying her brilliant and finished art are
rapidly growing few. She will not be seen IN any
neu NAV after the present one. and this week Il is
declared will altogether end her career on the local
stage The sole qualification which the audience
was able TO obtain last night was that OF seeing
new character assumed by her. This was OF course
No small Measure of itself The play has the Tile
~ Mistress Betty or. the Career OF Betty Single
ron and II is written by Clyde Fitch. To borrow
term from another art. the work is In the last de-
gree thin and washy. The characters except 'he
central one are only puppits to be grouped arou"u
her and 10 form background. The play was appar-
emily written with no other object thah 10 give
Nine Modjeska Il part which should display hsr
-. M her charms as an actress In various adj
,artageous lights. 1t seems also TO have been con-
,rvad with view to being used as farewell play
The figure of the actress Betty Singleton
La,ched as IL appeared with no greater torce tnan
the others was inspired by Nine ModJeska her-
Golf with A life beauty and a personal fascina-
49,, tht redeemed it, and made it a fine and
'oss,,a thing TO see The folly OF such woman
:, ,brovine herself away at the start on such a
man as the Duke her husband. must be overlooked
ard forgotten and then this story or her sorrows
can make its direct appeal to the Imagination and
tho heart There is a bright bit Of life and color in
,ha first act when the actress who Is leaving the
age forever is surrounded by her rejoicing friends
and the applause is ringing from the house. A
onck and cleverly accomplished change OF scene
from the greenroom to the stage and back to the
yreenroom is made here and Nine. Modjeska
most graceful and in her little speech OF fare
,x.il 70 the audience-the real audience. which be-
Tame FOR the moment the audience within the play
The scene at the end of the third act. when the
vretched and injured wife renowned In turn her
husband and her lover. was also done with power
md effect and the illustrated the nature OF
tha vomau who out Of the very fulness. affection
and passion OF her own heart, could utterly disre-
ga rd the SORROWS OF man whose worst offence
was 10 love her too we'll The really best bit Of the
NAV was the little dialogue or Betty In her garnet,
,vhen her fortunes had quite fallen with the poor
old admirer who had Of old gazed at her from the
Callerv and who now brought her his dinner
10 save her from starving. The part OF this old
man was capltally played by Robert McWade. The
scene was far satisfactory than the one
moment later OF Betty's madness and death, though
thar too was thrillingy done But the other was
truer TO nature. simpler and more sincere In fee
ing The new play Is opportunity FOR the exhibit
ton OF several sides OF Nine. Modjeskas delight
full skill in interpreting character and feeling;
More than that is not to be found In II. The full
cast has already appeared In these columns