The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-26
MINNIE MADDERN FIsKE.
She Presents the "Queen of Liars" AT
the savannah Theater.


1t seems long time, and yet it is but
hve or six years since Minnie Madden
was seen here. Her acting then was al
ways marked with unique charm of
its own. and many person declared the
stage had lost a genius when she retired
And so it was with more than passing in
terest that Savannah theater-gOers await
ed her engagement here, which began at
the theater yesterday afternoon.
Mrs. F1ske more than realized the
prophesies of her old admirers Her act
ing mas matured. She may properly be
eaiIed q star in her profession. 1t is in
lfs. tlskes absolute naturalness; her
nuehty to nature, that makes her per
romance so marked. This is almost
starting at times. Her gestures are the
SIMPLEST, her manner the most common
place, and yet, what depth and feeling
unere rs in it ALL She makes one feel the
very thoughts that she merely suggests.
- me queen of Liars" in which Mrs.
tlske appeared at the matinee and even
ing performance yesterday, is an admira-
ply constructed, and, except for a few
faults, an exceedingly Interesting play.
dlr, Harrison Grey Fiske has evidently
done some clever work in bringing it from
the French. That Mrs. Fiske can make
so much out of Marie de I.oche is a great
tribute to her genius. In the hands Of
any other woman 1t would most likely
be a character of little interest. In her
hands, 1t becomes one Of great strength.
Her powers are probably best illustrated
IN the second act, in the scene in which
she becomes desperate and declares she
never had any luck" and in the third
act, at the point at which she vainly inn
all. At these particular passages her art
is superb.
Miss Ida Waterman, although a trifle
stiff at times, plays with admirable effect.
Frank r. Mills gives touching perform
ance of the priest, and Helen Macbeth
made sweet ingenue. Albert Grau play
ed character sketch of Frenchman ad-
One fault to be found with the company
is that the people do not speak loud
enough, with the exception of Mrs. Ffske,
whose speech, although rapid, is always
| clear and distinct They should follow
her in this regard as they have in their
other methods, in order TO perfect an
already beautiful performance.
Mr.. James Nell, who appeared in the
role OF Marcel Natter, needs no introduce
| ton to a Savannah audience. Savannah is
friends were upon him. Much credit he
did himself and them, though the pro-
duction affords little opportunity for
him TO do the work of which he shows
himself Observation-Disclosures to the curtain
fall on the last act With the close, how
ever, he portrays admirably the rage Of
before discovery was equally as marked
and strong as his anger when he learns
what his wife has done.
The play tonight will be "a DolPs
House, by Ibsen. Up to the time when
Mrs. Fiske first appeared in this play
il had been regarded as a dramatic SER
mon that appealed to but a few who saw
in everything that the great Norwegian
dramatst has written symbolic matters
quite caviare to the general. When "A
DollS House" was presented publicly the
play was generally made local to Nor
way by costume, by furniture, and by
domestic paraphernalia supposed by
| its special interpreters to materially as
sist the symbolism with which they in
vested the acting of it, 1t was a great
achievement for Mrs. Fiske to so natur-
ally and humanity Illustrate the part of
Nora in this play as to compel, even
from the critics who had seen all the
great artists that had appeared in the
role the Acknowledgement that she most
nearly approached the ideal of the char
acter. Ibsen himeslf, although he has
never seen Mrs. Fiske in the piece has
| been so influenced by his friends and fol-
lowers who have seen her portrayal of
his strange heroine, that he has specially
commended her and expressed the live
| lest interest in her general success as an
| emotional actress. Mrs. Fiske not only
has made Nora a living woman, whose
| every emotion is followed sympatheti-
| cally, by the average audience, but she
has so peopled and staged "a Dolls
| House that 1t appeals strongly as an
entertainment, and Ibsen, formerly re-
| garded by the multitude as a mystical
| prophet of something not generally I'M
| derstood, stands out through the light
| or Mrs. F1skeS genius as a skillful and
powerful dramatist whose purpose" Is
| secondarily regarded in the interest with
| which one follows the development of
his stage story