The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-22
MODJESKA'S
CLEOPATRA

It is a matter of dramatic history
that, some thirty and more years ago,
Dumas wrote to Modjeska asking her
TO come to Paris and play his Camille
I cite this because it seems to give a
definite idea of Modjeska's age. She
was not a child prodigy when Dumas
wrote the letter. In Poland at the time
they considered her art quite adult
Thirty years and more later-to be
punctual, it was last night-she played
the heroine of Shakespeare's Antony
and Cleopatra" for the first time in
her life; played it gloriously. ravish-
ingly. Age cannot wither her nor Gus
tom stale her infinite variety-to Dor
row some familiar but fine writing from
the play.
The years asked no odds last night
at the Baldwin. The conception of the
part, the detail of execution, the ply
steal and temperamental identity were
sure and consistent One cannot say
of this as of her Lady Macbeth, that it
is beautiful, poetic and terrible, but
hardly bold and obvious enough. And
still ii is not the sizzling Cleopatra Of
Bernhart-Sardou; 1t is more subtle,
more unerringly seductive. 1t blazes
and RACES in the proper season and
never is marred by the absurdities Of
over refinement, but to the last thrill 1t
is the Cleopatra of Shakespeare, ripe
with beauty, passion, wit, wiles and
music. Modjeska's Cleopatra comes
late, but it will rival with the triumphs
of her youth and with Mary Stuart
Rosalind, Adrienne and Magda live in
the gallery of her master creations
Ladas Benda, young nephew of the
actress, who designed the pictorial part
of the production, has been most for
In, hn Il
splendor of the scenes. It is a Califor-
MIA production, and as such one of the
best if not the best that we have ever
had. There is hardly one of the more
important scenes that is not a finished
work of art. Although there are no
instances of individual gloriflcation in
the work of the supporting company
the ensemble is capital and the whole
play moves evenly. Mr.. Herman could
improve Antony by making him more
romantic and less heroic. But on the
whole the presentation is one of record
and will be a success far and beyond
the few nights left for it at the Bald
win. ASHTON STEVENS
Modjeska and her company will pIav
Antony and Cleopatra" the rest of the
week. The new Frawley Company comes
to the Baldwin Monday in new romantic
play, An Enemy to the King" Follow
ing Is the complete cast:
Erranton de Launey "a Hue1ienot canta,n,
T. NJ Bell; Claude lie Chastre t,Ioyernor Of The
province OF Orleanais and Berri) Theodore Rob
erts; Guillaume Montgnac (secretary To tho
Governor), John T. Burke; Henri lie Comte de
6Eerquln; Alfred Hickman; Blaice Tripauit,
sam Edwards; Frojoc. Mangert followers of
~Ernanton), Lionel Clarke, Frederick Ttder:
Roqueln Sabray Huguenot soldiers) William
brewer. William Abram; Giles Barbonouche
antoine, Jacques, Francois Dragged soldiers of
Iortune) George Foster Platt Joseph p Keefe
Robert q. Wilson, Louis Payne: Pierre Hugo
tattendants of Mile. de Varion) Frank Cooley
carey Livingstone; Pinto "a minstrel1 nd q
Conway; Rougin, Godeau (innkeenersl Henry
Bellows, William Brewer a priest Charles
Wynne; captain of the garrison at clocbonne
Castle, Allan Morey; guard at the castle Of
Clochonne, James Turner; a falconer
Ormonde; Julie de Varion. Miss Rlancbe
Bates: Jeannotte cher maid), Miss Fanchnn
Campbell; Bribri (Rougin's daughter, N,ss
Georgia Welles; Marianne (Godeau's wife,
Miss Eleanore Carey; Giraida "a gipsy), Miss
Adora Andrews.
The young California star, Nance
ONeil. viii play in THE Jewess" all of
this week. At the Columbia next week
she Will appear as Nancy Sykes in tie
play by that name adapted from "Oliyer
Twist" and as Parthenia In "Ingomar."
This is the last week of THE First
Born at the Alcazar Lend Me Your