The sun., 1896-02-25
ACTRESSES IN CONTRAST.
ELEONORA DUSE IN THE SAME
NIGUT WIN LOIE FULLER.
The italian Player Rcnppears In 80 nmiile"
ut the Finh Avenue-Thc Ipg~nious
skirt Twirier Returns to Roster AZ Hinrs
.-"Thc A ru, nj the I.nly,, In thu How crr.


been made on that same stage, and 1t was there
that she had for the first time gained the rccog
niton Of English speaking audiences as n great
actress. She had there won instantly the ad-
mIratiun Of adept observers. but a more general
appreciation OF her acting Ind arisen rather
slowly. so that the engagement had half passed
before our good taste began TO express itself in
good dollars. The conditions OF her reappcar-
ance are different. Her genius is now celebrated.
A btainy AS well rs mudish audience crowded tho
house and gave II welcome to her without doubt
or hesitation. She did not need to attain the
height of the public's best esteem. but merely to
maintain II. The assemblage which she faced
was not. as before, hcsitant to trust its own
Judgment but was eager to accept her on sight.
II was no longer n surmisc that she was an ex-
ccptioual mistress of tho dramatic art, but n
certainty, and the applause to which she
bowed upon her entrance was spontaneous
hearty. and prolonged. without the help OF the
ushcrs. The greeting over, those people who
were not Italians settled back in their seats. re-
called all their rccollcctions of the familiar
Camille" and undertook to get their moneys
worth OF pleasure from buses representation OF
its heroine In an unfamiliar tongue. That they
were able to do SO was manifest throughout the
performance by frequent yet discriminate ap-
pause. She was called out many times at tho
ends OF acts
There was nothing In Duse's acting to call for
repetition or amend III ent OF tho views already
published in THE SuN regarding her art
pressed in Camille" the play which she had
chosen for the start OF her new season in New
York. She makes of the outcast an unideal yet
adro!tly fascinating creature up to the point
where pure love RwnKcns her better womani-
ness. and disgusts her with the foulness OF her
life. Thereafter the aspiration toward cleanli-
ness, the sorrows OF her failure to become de-
cent, the agonics other broken heart while again
smearing herself with mirc for the sake OF her
infatuated adorer. and finally the pi,iful scene
Of her death, are depicted with graphic
suhtlety and uncommon power. We have
had more intense Camille IN Sarah Bernhardt
more swcepingly emotional one in Clara Nor
ris. and others which ia one respect or another
were more etfectual in forcing this perniciCus
woman upon our sympathy: but it is safe to
regard Duse in embodying in her tdnIiGt a more
complex and yet clear and human exposition OF
characteristics and motives than has been given
by any other actress.
One thing is worth noting in the art Of Duse.
She is not n naturalistic actress in the sense
which the term is abused by the advocates of
moGotony in stage performances. she is no
deyolee of the commonplace. she does not
make her pictures with IA camera III black and
white but with II brush in vivid coors. She gets
uhnterestihE hGe.ity OF careful photosraier.
hut with the bold brush of Az original painter.
who sets back the particulars. brings forward
the principals. and 80 cuiIl'oses masterpiece.
1t Is true that she docs not di,tort aud
II is more Importantly true that she exavEerntcs
ike Il vertable genius IN stngrr!aft. She IS
not theatre. but she Is dramatic. and quite as
lar removed from what We cad realism as sic
Is from what We call rant. \ composite Of
sarah Bernnnrdt ana Clara Morris. each nt her
best IN candle would MAKE AN EleunOra Duse
in that role. Could higher praise be given to
the Ita.!an player:
Loie Fuller exhibited to the enthusiasm OF .
large audience which had gathered Ut koster IL
Bial's last night To discover how her European
had come about five OF the dances
which she has lately performed In Paris There
was no uncertainty in tho minds OF her
spectators as to the complete Justification
for tho praise which these ella borate
mechanical efforts have aroused. They
were surprisingly beautiful throughout, even
more remotely connected. II possible. with
the Iri OF dancing than the unassuring serpen-
tine which laid the foundation for Loie's fame
used to be. But in their result they were thor
ouGhly artistic. even il Miss Fuller proved to be
only good aim for the rays OF an expert elec-
trician and the Industrious welding Of acres Of
flmy six. The final effect, with whomever
credit may lie. delight to the audience.
Three OF the dances" la Mutt" "Lc Firme-
ment." and lie lys do S!ll-had figured III the
ballet OF Same." The last OF these was the
only one in which there was any effort made at
eI Ipressive dancing aud that part OF it was brief
and crude. Throughout all the dances the audi
ence enjoyed the effects OF delicate t!nts and
co!ors thrown on the !iuttering silk which Miss
Fuller handled So expertly. The first dance
WAS done IN q costume or spanG.cd net.
and the beauty OF this lay In the retrnction OF
each other in bewidcrins ana exquisite com
binatons. The poses were taken on square /
Of heavy glass 50 the lights were no, only
thrown from the side. but shone from under the
stage. lhe effect OF this was especially striking
In the dance called Fire" and the drapcrcs /,
which Miss Fuller waved in the air g!owed like
live coas. They fickcred Ike flame. and |
the changes in color TO deep purile
n The Il Whit mite Dance" added 10 the familiar ser.
pentine only the novelty OF fresh color effects |
lnd some new nnnravrrs OF the silks. but !
- The firmament,' in which the stars. the |
moon. the clouds. and other natural phenomena |
were represented on tie waving skirts. wa.
" as a flower made of the sIlx swung high INTO |
the air over the dancers head.
There Is the same central attraction TO these |
dances that there always was. !nt they have |
been developed INTO an extremely artistic per- |
sS Gx Miss the usr asr i. s no the "is ss" Of s
lancer than she ever was. but She ap- !
pears to have a strong riGht arm, an! a left |
1nc. too. for that matter ANA sle il faCIle
than any OF her imitator- ever were. !
he audience greeted her with icrvor ana seemed
able t" under,taud why Europe had enjoyed /
put the article before her name, just AS II Is |
likely TO do in the case Of AL really great or en- |
uent persons. some people sent several bas- !
Hcts Of flowers. and her gymnastics over them /
!. aiuy showed tnat she possesses a supplencss /
speech about her heart without trace OF accent !
beyond that good old Chicago burr ON the "r' |
sra nsHt Tor l. oy ana she it. t"T ner
dances " are quite rs beautiful as report said ,
they were.
When the curtain first rose last evening at