The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-07
THE LOCAL STAGE.
A Magnificent Production of snr-
dou's "La Toscn."


dou's "La Toscn,"
Once upon time a great actor, In T,
coaching young man about to make his I
the gallery; that II ne succeed "A in pleas |
ing that part Of the house ne might ic
gard himself as well start Il on his Journey /
along the rocky Thespian road.
The wisdom Of this injunction was made !
more than apparent a Sweeney Z COMBS |
opera house last night 1t is not ofie1 /
that Houston gallery may be honestly
commended for its discrimination, but in
this particular Instance the occupants Of
the first floor from the roof scored sid
scored heavily at that They witnessed the
production of powerful drama, written
by world-renowned master; they saw
acting which would appeal to a heart Ct
stone-acting OF such a sublime nat;r as
10 inspire even the least impression bile to
wonderful Nights above the clouls --lud
they applauded. The small audi d. wn
below saw, too, but, for the moHt pat, it
sat silent and uuresponsiye in ne fuce of
some OF the strongest work whi n as
ever been done or ever win be done IN
any stage Even n small audil1ce can
show that II understands and appreciate
a perfect piece OF dramatic art susn As was
the presentation of Sardsu's La Toaca'
last night, but this audience di1 not. II Is
bad enough for theatrical managers who
/ have expended thousands Of dollars in pcl
/ fecting their productions, - come to
I city which deserves and which IS cor
/ stantly demanding good attractions, Tnd
play at a loss, but it is worse for alLlsts
/ like Blanche Walsh and Melbourne MAJ
Dowell to be compelled TO do The hardest
kind OF work without being assured that
their conscientious efforts are app eciated.
There Is only one way to induce standard
attractions to come here and that is to
treat them as they deserve. Several OF the
many high class organizations which ave
| appeared in Houston this season have suf-
fered and 1t is only reasonable tn sl;pp5 sc
that they Will not be wildly anxious to
come again. Tho final result Of nil this
Us obvious. a word to the Wise in .hs
case should be sufficient.
Some of the people who have reen Bcrr-
hardt say tina, Blanche Walsh is greater
artist than she. This may be and prob
ably is an extreme view Of thu lnat' er,
but the fact remains that Miss Walsn's
portrayal OF the character OF S1rdou's
tompestuous heroine last night could rot
well be improved upon. That Miss Walsh
, is genius can not be denied That In the
part Of LA Tosca" she does work which
entities her to n place among the most
eminent emotional actresses OF the dat
is equally incontrovertIble. She Is me-
merely q woman playing a part She is a
living, loving, suffering human beng who
makes one feel the emotions she portraSs
and who Is, wlthal 80 natural, 20 unat-
fected and so thoroughly artistic in cyOy-
thing she does as to make her powerful
Interpretation OF the role NJ The poman
diva, whose jealousy was her undcilt, a
thing TO he admired and wonlofed q, In
hp FhRn Z he aIaNu hpr ny.
she Is the incarnation of maidenly AZTEC
ton and artfulness notwithstanding the
Jealousy which will manifest itself In
the second act, when this fatal passion &C
hers is aroused to the utmost hI: .vaGic
power Ia ilrst apparent. and IN the scene
where she lays Scarpia dead Mt hey feet
! at the moment OF his fancied triumph. this
power Increases and grows on the observer
with Irresistible force. And. when al rs
over and the man she loves so pass.mat9ly
lies cold In death, even then 4 victim OF
the relentless hate of the other man wiz,
has blackened all her life, her acting Is
of such nature as to defy descl ,pllC n.
The pencil falters and the words sought for
fail 10 come. II such an uncouth expires
sion may be safely used In connection
with such subject, Miss Walsh makes
good" and that, too. to the fullest possible
a extent
: As Is sometimes the case IN such or
n PLANTATIONS, Miss Walsh Is not surrounded
. with an aggregation OF amateIfs ana re-
cent graduates Of dramatic schools Aside
$ from Mr. Mcdowell whose wore in con-
o nectlon with his lato wife Ia SO well trown
10 theater goera all over the country, the
. company is made up OF )soNle If tGrSual
e ability. The minor parts are all wtll
70 handled and the entire rolpetiIn is en-
2. ished and complete in every detail, Mr.
" MacDowell's rendition Of he part OF tie
a bastard ScarpiR is a more than srt'stic
y piece OF work and too much commendn-
a ton can not be given him. He shows to
n especially good advantage In the torture
Is scene and In the fourth act, where with
10 undesirable wlekedneSs. he pursues the
10 unf rtunate La Tosca with l relen,lessne. :
I, OF purpose, the accomplishment of which
ls nothing short OF the knife In IT'S breast
J. could have prevented His work Is o:
d such nature rs TO mako one forget NJ
ID tirely the fact that tho scenes one Is witt
n Messing and the passions that are p9r-
"a trsyed, are not real ones. Mr.. Elliot does
lie some splendid work as CayaradossI
II Tho company Will repeat LA Tosca" Al
IL a matinee this afternoon ami VIII close IA
re engagement tonight with FEDORA" II Il
~ often that Houston $ favored witt
"a productions SO nearly approaching per.
a fyctiep and the opportunity to soc then
10 should not be allowed 10 pass unheeded
" The house should be pacS,d at both per,
In tcrmances,