New-York tribune., 1896-01-29
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
ADA REHANS NEW CHARACTER.
THE COUNTESS GUCKI."

,,ment and romantic grace with superficial playful
ress-has seldom been more conspicuously shown
hon II was in her performance Of HermaEce. other
,sn called the Countess Gucki in the new play
~, Mr. Schonthan produced last night at Days
rbeatre There are times in acting when every
1.-Two depends upon the sincerity v!vacity. ardor,
sweetness gee and sustained power of one per-
-o-mer and this one OF those times. Mr..
cobonthan has sketched a ably pleasing type
~ woman and he has provided a gossamcr irvesti
80 of gav incidents for its setting: bu; he has
,o,a an absorbing story and he has not devised
si,rations nr.ns.caiiy important. His comedy
o,s,sts Of slender characters and lsht incidents,
ond IL may he described as a fabric OF COME COM
nlexi;ies and playful coloquy irradlatcd with the
ryarmth of youthful feeling and touched with sent.
,oon. Withou: q brilliant actress in the central
baractcr The piece would be pictorial rather than
Sramatic--a wa,er-cOlor sketch. Miss Rahan. act
,,c with great visor. and putting forth all hcr
evceptional power and sll OF rallery and bewitch.
mont vital!zed 1t with movement sparkle, and in-
+erest and carried Il to decisive success. The vic
tory was essentially personal and this fine actress
has proved again. not only her superlative ox-
ce,,ence IN comedy but the signal Importance and
triumphant potency of individual ds;incton.-of
he.ng somebody and not nobody.-n eXcrtinG the
forces OF dramatic art.
The scene Of The Countess Gucki' is aid at
Carlsbad in isl9 and picturesque environment is
thus insured of furniture and dresses
The place Is the home of the Counsellor Won Meter
ste!g (Mr. Lewis, wherein are resident hat ami
ah,e fussy officer his imperative. worldly wife.
Clementina (Mrs Gilbert). his booming niece IL.
Miss Nelson). his servants Wenzel ,Mr. Snophero
and Rosa Miss Hoffman,, and, most consp'cuous!y
OF all his brilliant sisterin-iaw. Marn Trsch1u. the
Countess Hermance Miss Rehan). To that house
come his nephew. Leopold (Mr. Herbero. wshfu to
u.n the love of Liz and speedily prosperous in his
wish To that house also,-a stranger desrous TO
make the acquaintance Of the handsome ladies VINO
dwell there,-comes Bruno Won Ncuhon Mr klch-
mani and much in the manne: of the pert ana
audacious young beau of old English comedy en-
deavors to thrust himself upon their attention. lie
,s acquainted with Leopold. but Leopold distrusts
his overwhelming assurance and will not introduce
him, and therefore he must make his way py Ms
dextorty With that qualification he is Thoroughly
equipped and he IS. Observation-Disclosures ms
mlschievous effrontery,-a gallant. honest A'h''!
person He presents himself TO Lii, pretending
20 have found her handkerchief. but, as she has
been warned against him by Leopold. his scheme
fails He next presents himself to the countess
Hernance, making use Of the same eNpedieh' put
the a.ert Countess percelves his drlft ana ner'A!
repuses him-exposng the pretext OF the handkeI-
chief and covering him with comic confusion lie
,r.dsnt,,lv learns however that Hermance in
tends to make a Journey in public express car
rage which contains only two seats. and he speeds
forth to engage seat In that vehicle lie mas a'so
learned that ,ain rooms are 70 oe let III 'ie
house OF the Counsellor Won Mettersteig ara ne
makes haste 10 accost that functiCnary. to oajole
him by Nattery and TO hire the lodging; hui before
aha agreement can he ratified the Countess Her
nance again discounts him by rem ndinS the Couh-
sel,or that the formidable Cementna has stpu a'eu
for elderly tenant
And not only does the sprghty Countess defeat
him an invading lodger she has OWNED MS pu'
nose as to the carriage, and she exchanges p'ac'S
with her elderly Aunt Clementina, so that ne Is
obliged to travel with that dame. and TO take care
NJ her luggage His next proceeding, though ls
wiser and more effective. During the absence o.
Her,nance and Clemehtina ne brings his rheumatic
but taunty Old uncle. General SuVatscheH 'Ni''
S.evsns, 70 the house OF the Counsellor ana hiTes
the lodging in the name OF that commander so 'ha'
vben the ladies return they find the General en-
sconced in their dwelling and dutfully attended py
t.s loving nephew. But Hermance IS hol YET co''-
ouered She recognizes in General SuNatsc"ei d
former suitor for her hand, ard as even ten year, VI
absence have not cooled that military chlei'aih
srdor she proceeds 10 tease the nephew by manifest
INC n,ucb kindness toward the uncle The General
again proposes marriage and is again decHheu-
whereupon he insists upon removing hlhsel 10 Z"
neighboring hotel. and upon Installing 'he gay hruo
In his place. That adventurous ana pe's'9.c"'
youth has now become deeply enamouTed OIL he'-
nance. while she is unconsciously beginning 10 re-
ouite his affection sudden accession Of pique and
jealousy caused by Llis artless exposure OF ihe
handkerchief incident. serves "a make her acquah'
cd with her actual feelings; bat when she learns
that Bruno has really befrended Lii and Leopoid III
their love affairs, she ceases TO mysify him aooui
the General and becomes prOp!tious to his suit Her
candor earnestness and impetuous spirit IRE the
timid counsellor TO disperse Cementna schehe ~ ~
wed Lii 10 a rich nobeman. and, AZ the last, LIN
IS berothed TO Leopold. and Hermance IS pNgheu "
Bruno. the end is the orange blossom o' PioS
pectiye happiness. - . -, ,,,o - ,
uooine dore in yeil-ordered German household
and under the formal conditions OF oIa-idshioheu
German society. IL was good devce 10 shON
reso,uts self-dependeace and breezy. cxped4tious:
generous iorceIul character against Ddchei ounu VI
petty artifce and convention. A true ana tehce'
won,an who has had some experience Of life. With
out being saddened by II, is wooed. unqer huoIouS
conditions by a pertiDaciouS young ltHoW, ier'.e
in his resources comic in his cooness. sincere III
his feelings. and gay in his derneanor ana thc pui
Various moods as they gradually change from merry
Indifference amused interest ana hh@1y 10 e Ieep
picahIe operation Of temperament which, in actual
lie underes love and controls a.. the symlaliill-s
and antina;hes OF mankind. MICS kehah mas
fully and Justly dpp-ehcndel this principle ana ior
those observers who consider these SUBJECTS WIN
csoy1ntess Hermance is not only pleasure because
OF It's fine feeling and buoyant Deauty Dut o'"5"'
fully Instructive study of woman nature mature o ,o.
Miss Rehans ASSOCIATES IN the c9"vuS GO uySeniIa sen
much sgnihcance The passagidds Wre 11 pretS ex
ness NV ss Nelson and Mr
upon side and oashf1 ad n ardoT owe sf o grow sp
Nj Rariblng must have been brlsker as bruno
W a ~ mr. - ~ nsisr Waiack Mr. Richmans ad-
vantages though decided ana cohspJ,oouN ,,,,co
has a flnc figure physical strength c0plous 'oIos
youthful pleasant face and an engaging unnp, ma @
and he devoid Of professionai sA, ds,rn vas
crude in execution often msrrfa His wii snies
"a S.r ss ,hex could be perceived. are for serious
acting although he seems not n to have io han NAV be-
come q commodar: IN this occasion ne exeHpii.e'
the heavy lightness and "serious hinb yanY Bruno
marked by shakespeae "a, sem, m,litarv relatives
too assiduous at,entlons TO the ,,,n exhi,arat-
ing spirit Mr. Lewis and Mrs Gilber, WIZ os fhe
presented in their customary somic haIu's and the
Imperative and temporarily predominant W. Mss
both were deliciously natural ana hnroa {, with