The herald., 1898-06-14

q OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

MODJESKA AT THE BURBANK
That the popularity of the great TRACE
denne had suffered in not the smallest de-
gree from her novel departure in appearing
al house which is recognised as the home
of popular-priced drama, was made amply
evident by the very large audience that
was gathered last night to witness the per-
Torrance of MARY Stuart" the play with
which Madame Modjeska saw fit to open
her engagement. Not only was the au-
dience a large one, but It comprised the
flower OF society people, who make 1t
point of social practice never TO omit at
tendance on an important first night. The
status of the Burbank as high-priced
house may therefore be considered settled.
The supporting company acted their
parts so we'll as to win distinct applause In
a number of places-applause which was
given them ON points of merit, and no
doubt extorted in part from people who had
hitherto thought that nothing good could
come out of the peoples temple of the
drama.
In addition to the regular stock company
Lester Lonergan, as the Earl Of Leicester,
and Olive Oliver, as Queen Elizabeth, each
won laurels. The play being written in
blank verse necessarily made the work
harder for most of the people, seeing that
the art of delivering that kind of metrical
composition has been almost lost. Never
theless, the lines went with great smooth
ness, all things considered. OF the support
Ing company George Osbourne was by far
The finest exemplar in the art of delivery,
his periods being we'll rounded forceful,
distinct and always impressive The other
gentlemen lost strength in somd degree In
H., n,t1 fatt1a
ton, fault possibly to be ascribed to tine
| excitement Of a first nights performance.
But the action went with perfect ease, and
| one might have thought 1t was the fiftieth
performance of the company in the piece,
so free was it from any hitch in the work.
| ing.
Mr.. Lonergan made a gallant looking
| Leicester, and was a strikingly handsome
addition to the cast. Mr.. Napier was an
| effective Mortimer and gained a recall after
| he killed himself, which he made the mis-
take of accepting. Mr.. Nlcrolson's Bur-
leigh lacked the ponderous sententiousness
expected from the representative of the
part. 1t would be improved by more grav-
| itN and elaboration. George Osbourne, the
younger, made capital character sketch
| of the old Earl of Shrewsbury. The Mar
earet Kyle of Essie Tittell was excellent,
small as the part was, and Miss Howe did
much better after she got over her furry
of indistinctness in the first act.
| All told, 1t may safely be said that Mod
| ieska has never presented this play here
with more satsfactory support, nor with
| better mounting and accessories. Every
| scene was appropriately pet on the stage,
and the play as a whole was admirably pre-
scented.
The leading lady, Miss Oliver, was
highly pleasing representative of the Eng
lish queen, wanting only in the atmosphere
| of the period that seems to envelop her
rival. Miss Oliver showed at her best in the
| great scene at Fotheringay, in which she
exhibited considerable force.
| OF Modjeska's PRESERVATION of the unhappy
| Queen of Scots, it is only necessary to say
| that she showed no traces Of her illness and
| no lack of strength in the delineation of all
| the subtle characteristics that give color
| and force to her creation. There is the
same marvelously sweet infection, the
same, beautiful carrying tone which with
out apparent effort permeates tho whole
| atmosphere of the theater, and there is the
| same wonderful combination of pride, hate,
| love, submission and naughty defiance by
| turns which go to make up one of the most
perfect assumptions on the modern stage.
Above all, 1t is in the regal carriage and
| bearing that the great actress dominates
| the scene, and all the more completely be-
| cause her royal mien seems native born
and has nothing in 1t that suggests the art
of acting.
The performance of MARY Stuart" was
a great one in every way, and it will be re-
peated tonight, and again tomorrow for
| the last time
The following is the cast of characters:
| Queen Elizabeth. ......Oliva oliver
| Earl of Leicester. ........ Lester Lonergan
Earl of Shrewsbury......Geo. Osbourne. Jr.
| Lord Burleigh. ......John I. Nicholson
| Earl OF Kent Frank Tanning
| Sir Amias Paulet.. Geo. Osbourne
| Sir Edward Mortimer. Henry Napier
| Sir Andrew Melvil.. Gilbert Gardner
| Burgoyne-Physician. Frank Bacon
| Officer of the Guard. ........ Edmund Crane
| Hannah Kennedy ............... Marie Howe
Margaret Kyle. ..Essie Tittell
| No.. Mo1atfa Maraoh al