The times., 1897-12-26
NEW PLAY BILLS


NEW PLAY BILLS
Mrs. Fishes appearance at the Gr trd
this week in Tess of tue D'Urberville'S''
is sure to Prove q dramatic treat. There
is no finer realist in art than Thomas
Hardy. and Tess OF the D'Crbervil. IS
is perhaps the best example of his real
ism IT is Human 10 tue core. ,iar ~
does not proceed by bringing n gen raj
truth 10. the facts uf humanity for Illus
tratiou or proof, but impresseS she truth
itself upon the mind and heart from tie
reality as he discovers and pictures 1t.
one OF the greatest charms Of his work
is the sympathy that pervades it. There
is in his fiction nothing superficial tr
insincrre. His figures like transcripts
from life itself. and his grasp OF nntives
and emotions is mastery. His readers
of Tess realize that lie is poftr Iyihg
the character OF men and women If The
eartl end no fanciful creatures OF mag
uation.
Tess herself is one of the finest and
truest studies of woman's character Inder
certain conditions ever described, and its
versal. Tess VIII long lie one Of tie m..st
Interesting of tie women CT fiction. and
the peculiar pleasure of the reader IF the
book viii Lc enhanced. it is quite oerta II,
by the stage picture that Mrs. Fiske offers
of the story ard her own incarnation O!
the heroine. Any earnest and mea sura bly,
adequate dramatization of huCn a W Jrk
is bound 10 shed new lights on an authcr's
tails, 10 assist the Imagination of one IA
uiliar with ibC story and lend fIesh in p
terest to tte ohara cterS. Mrs. Fiske will
he supported by a company ccmI oSed en-
tirely of sterling and able actors. The rast
includes Frederic de Beileville, Forrest
Robinson. John Jack, Frank McCOr NJ *.
Wnfred North, George Trader Mary shaw Z.
Mrs. MaryE. Barker. Anna V Vislaire Dorothy
Chester, Sydney Cowell and Edith WIigh 1T.
Secret Service" will be on view ut the
Lafayette Square Theater tomorrow Iiight-
william Gillette was very well liked in
Washington long before he placed hims eli,
by mes aus of Secret Service in an en-
during aud comfortable position on tie
pinnacle of fame. Before folks hal f'r-
gotten about The Private Seer etary'' and
Held by the Enemy and his other sue
cesses lie had brought himself yividls Tor
ward again with Too Much Johls lsnn."
And before that became cold everybody in
New York was talking and everywhere
else everybody was reading abOut The
latest 3nG greatest of all things GiIlett-an,
Secret Service"
Mr.. Gillette is said to have made Use OF
the UnitieS in a way which cannot ut
be effective; the setting OF the scene OF
three acts In one room in General Varnpy's
house, and OF the remaining ape in room
of the war Department telegraph Office
nearly. and the concentration OF the
entire action OF the play between s and
II o'clock of a single evening, must
operate powerfully in heightening all
the dramat tic values Of the incidents. NJ.
Gillette's own assumption OF the pant Of
the hero-spy has been commended as being
practically perfect. Others in the EAST
are Miss Sara Perry, Miss Hope Ross.
Miss Ida Waterman. Campbell Gol,an,
Walter Thomas. and Joseph Brennan.
This week at the National Theater Fanny
Davenport, supported by Melbourne Mac
Dowell and a strong company, will revive
her Sardou repertoire. Monday and " Id
nesday evenings she will present LA
Tosca;" Tuesday. Fedora and Thurs
day. Ilday and Saturday New Years.
matinee and night, CLEOPATRA" Fanny
Davenport has esta blished herself in a
place which few American artists ever
achieve. COUPLED with a remarkably raSt-
less, er erectic artistic sense, she has
thorough knowledge of the stage foster ID
in her from childhood up To these TWO
qualities may be ascribed, principally,
her immense success. Not alone satisfied
with making her own character as much
in Keeping with the highest art standard
as possible, she directs every performer
in her company and by her encoura cement
hints and persistence, manages to infuse
into everyone the same spirit that actuates
herself Not hing seems to go unobserved, IN,
supernGmeraries have ten times the Ell ,rsy
| of action required of them W hen inspired ny
| the dominant artistic presence OF the great
| actress " ho superintends every rehearsal.
| Some yeats ago Miss Davenport created
| quite sensation in La Tosca,'' and the
| piece met with much comment, both from
| press and public. Since then 1t has been u
| favorte with Miss Davenports admir- .rs.
Like all of sardou's heroines, La )sca
1
| love for Mario predominates all else. but
| mingled, with this is a strong vein of
| Jealousy, which causes the undoinS of
I both the woman and her lover. Il Is in
| characters like this, which afford sharp
| contrasts, that Miss Davenport eXcsls. 1t
| has been 50 long since Fedora has been
| played here that it may be well to briefly
] recall the story of this powerful drama.
| 1t is most elaborate work, with strange
psychicG, and thea trical interest, crowtiei 4
| varied, significant, "a nd effective move
ment, and is perfect example OF con-
tinuous dramatic suspense. Cleopatra
still remains as pleasant memory to all
who witnessed the performance when last
given IN his city by this popular actress.
Humanity" is the comprehensive title
OF Sutton vsne's great play, which is to
be presented at the Academy this week.
There is considerable of humanity in iu Ind