New-York tribune., 1898-01-11
THE DRAMA.
JULIA MARLowE's NEW CHARACTER
"THE COUNTESS vALEsKh."

"THE COUNTESS vALEsKA"
Last night at the Knickerbocker Theatre. Miss
Julia Marlowe produced a romantic military plav
called THE Countess valeska," and embodied I,s
heroine. The house was full and the perform
aace was observed with eager interest and well
coined with cordial favor The new play ls An
adapted translation. from a German original by
Rudolph Sratz, II is comprised in four acts: IL
contains twenty-one characters together with
many auxiliaries; It's scene is laid In Poland In
1907; Its action is supposed to pass the evening
Of a battle. and It presents episode in the ex-
perience Of noble lady who acts under the con-
nictng influences Of patriotic ardor and amatory
passion. The chief situations are devised with
skill, and the introduction OF Napoleon the First
who hovers around the movement rather more a,
a name than person. Is made to impart to them
a certain historical Interchangeable. no doubt
10 the admirers Of that sanguinary bandit over
whose Infamous name the magic OF Imaginative
hcton. FOR almost century, has been weaving
the garands Of honorable renown.
Those situations involve the Countess Valeska in
a time-honored theatrical dilemma. She is pas.
sionately devoted to the cause Of Poland and
therefore is loyal to Napoleon. By whom that cause
is protected: yet she loves Pruss;an officer ono
Of Napoleons enemies and she secretly harbors
him, disguised as her overseer, on the night before
the battle OF Friedland. when Napoleon has estab.
shed his headquarters In her castle A condition
Of suspense is thus established. and this condition
IS enWrapped with ar atmosphere OF danger. The
complication is made steadily to Increase. and no
sooner has peril been averted than snother Is
seen TO impend. The identity Of the overseer is Of
course. suspected by the military representative ot
the Emperor. In command Of the castle. and that
ofi1cous PERSONS eyes are all the sharper because
he also loves the Countess Valeska and is sumu-
lated by Jealousy The Prussan fugitive. not
tent with refuge. enters into a conspiracy to kill
Nhpoleon,-hs chief colleague being his father. who
sha ia of Xafa in "a
disguise of shepherd.-and so resolute and so OBJ
durate he in this grossly dishonorabIe and fana-
teal course that he illustrates all Naleskas devoted
and most generous endeavors and schemes 10 save
him. and at last. by his brutal vehemence. he COM
pels her 10 alarm the garrison and deliver him 10
his foes No hero surely. was ever made 70 act
more meany or with Of superhuous folly
Nothing but deirium could account for such be-
havior-but perhaps delirum tho authors
object II sometimes makes a brave show. In tho
end the lover escapes court martial and sudden
death, by defeating his French custodian In an i'm
possible duel and then jumping out Of window.
to participate in the battle of Fricdland
The posture OF Incidents is kindred with many
that have in such novels as those 4
weyman and Hope. and the play will charm FOR
once by awakening desire to know how It
ends The complications OF emotion in II are even
intricate than those OF incident The Coun-
Vaeska loves her Prussan. and yet does not
yet will spurn hm-presenty idoizes him. and at
last denounces him-rescues him at all hazards
and parts with him. The character may be taken
as a type OF all the vagares Of passion that arc
possible to a high-spirted woman. Miss julia Mar
lowe was beautiful to see. and she evnced remark
able sensibty and emotional force. To lapse
into a distracted condition. to be torn by conteni-
Ing feelings. to rush wildly up and down. with
shrlu cries of anguish and sobbing words OF half
artIculate despair-that Is, for some people. the
summit of expression and the perfection or acting.
Miss Marlowe was repeatedly called before ine
curtain. with plaudits and cheers. Her performance
Of Countess valeska. in its revelation OF ner
heart and her trained faculty. is the best that sns
has given here
CAST OF THE COUNTESS VALEsKA.
Achim Won Lohfe
Iohde. i~aI'e'
Begun. -
Tuekes.
Roger MARQUIS Won Sturnell AIfrei heh1tleN
Mueckenberg -I"hai
General Ian arrOS. -
Major y AuZOni
Coer
Her Mattheu
T.ensk
Aweyde
Russian.
NepOmuk. "
Countess Valeska .Jua
Elizabeth
haHe''he ""s'"