Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-07
Stage Noises and Nerves.


 In "Navarraise," the little war opera lasting three-quarters of an hour, which Massenet, the French composer, has written to show that he, as well as Mas cagni, with his "Cavaieria Rusticana," or Leoncavano. with his "Pagliacci," can condense lots of dramatic sensation in one hour. There is an explosion of can non and musketry. which deafens the au- dience and fills the house with gun pow der. London physicians say that no ner- vous person ought to see this little opera, in which guns take the place of musical instruments. In The Girl Left Behind Me-" although there is one of the most exciting war scenes on record, there is comparatively no noise. The firing of Volleys is all in the distance. No one Is startled Or alarmed and the audience is not choked with gunpowder smoke There are many nervous persons who will not go to see war plays because they do not like guns. They need not be afraid of "The Girl I Left Behind Me" There is nothing of the ld-fas hioned mill itary drama about it. The noise and tu- mutt of battle are vividly suggested, and the excitement produced in the audience is always intense, but there is no firing of guns and pistols before the footlights. In writing this play for one of New Yorks most fashionable and exclusive audiences Messrs Fyles and Beasco knew what they were about. People do not want to be deafened.
 If it be true that the public are the best critics then "The Girl I Left Behind Me-" which will be seen at O'Brien's opera house next Monday night, has nothing to complain of as to the reception with which it has been received on both sides of the Atlantic. For two seasons it pack ed the principal theater in New York city and is now playing to enormous business in London England. In fact, every where this play has been presented it has been received with open arms. The se- cret of it's success is undoubtedly due to the fact that 1t appeals to all classes of society, and while it is a war play, it contains none of those noisy features which often keep people away from plays of that character.
 Clara Morris in "Raymonde.'
 The great actress, Clara Morris. begins an engagement at the opera house Thurs day night February 13. This great ar tist will present new play called Ray monde" It is an adaptation of Dumas famous French play, Monsieur AL phonse.' The Detroit Free Press says the play at best is of the French Frenchy, but in the present instance a decent measure of respect is paid to our national prejudice against the undis- guised exploiting of sexual sins. The play is one of acknowledged great dra- matic strength. and in the very human and sympathetic part of the sorrowing mother Clara Morris finds abundant op- portunities for employment of the rare talents that even in her girlhood con- pelled the worlds ungrudging admira- tion This great player is not to be measured by any conventional usage or judged by accepted standards She is a law unto herself. Her effects often are produced in seeming defiance of any and all established methods of stage proce- dure but she never fails to wiring the heart when pathos is her cue; and in de- picting certain wonanly emotions she spontaneously rises superior to artificial possibilities and for the time actually appears to be whirled about and beaten down by the storm and stress and pas sion which she herself has evoked. She looks we'll and almost suggests a renew al of youth and an inheritance of the ardent soul and spiritual insight that long ago raised her to the highest of fame.
 Her support Is all that the most ex- acting and blase play-goer could demand. Exceptionally brilliant service was per formed by Miss Lavnai Shannon as the coarse grained Jezebel. Madame Guich- ard: by J. M. Colville as the high-minded and noble old commander, Montoglin; by Myron Leffingwell as the contempti- ble, but natural Monsieur Alphonse. and by Walter Walker as the true-blue old salt, Remy. Little Margery Valentine n the childs part of Adrien, "the cause of all the trouble" was agreeably child like and guiltless of the painful precoc- ity by which most stage children man. are tp spoil their perfOrmanceS