Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-28
A CRITICAL REVIEW
OF
THE GOTHAM STAGE.


Mrs. Leslie Cartcri
That In the name ~ the woman who
appeared about eight years ago In this
city NJ the heroine ~ Henry Guy earle
tons play. THE uriy Duckling." with
no particular success. although some
few critics thought they saw beneath
the nmatcurlshn,as Of the actress traces
OF real genius. which " developed In n
congcniai atmosphere might eventually
lead TO greatness. A little later Au-
drans comic opera. Miss Hoiyctt," was
AmericaniScd by David Bclasco. Mrs.
cafter's manager. and fhc appeared In
the title role with some success. al
though NJ "a singer she was decidedly
below par. Miss nelyct," simply
served TO demonstrate that whatever
might be- her shortcomings Mrs Carter
was nt least possessed ~ versatility.
She did nothing Of note after that
.-nothlnE NJ all IN q professional way.
] thlnk-until David iiclAsco'a Heart
Of Maryland" was produced. when she
appeared as the curfcw heroine. Mary.
land Calvert In this role she was
quite succcrEfui. ana no obscrvant per-
son could fail 10 see that she had
rrown wonderfully In nm artistic way
This year Heart 81 Maryland" was
rcnt on the road with some one In Mrs
Carriers place. ana she was reserved for
the title role Of ''zaxa." which In the
current attraction at the unrrlck the
alter In this city.
''Zaxa" IN n sort Of Camille" play
which has been very successful In
France. II was adapted 10 meet Amer
lean requirements by David BelaHco
aud Il presented under the manage.
ment Of Charles Frohman.
'zhxa" ~ not play designed 10 tench
good mornls-itA eject, In fact. la pre-
eirsiy the rcverrc--but the plot 10 In
teresting and well worked out. and u
Il n" csnrKcrntion TO say that no play
produced In New York In many years
has created 20 much OF n sensation.
After the first performance II was Inn
possible 10 get tickets except far In adj
vance. and. after all. the box office N
the supreme test OF the popularity 81 a
play
"2nxn" n In fve nct-, the first Of
which shows that portion Of the stage
which N behind the scenes In "a little
music hall In the French provinces.
lsEa. with her singing partner. cas-
cart has acquired little provincial
fame. and therefore occupies the star
dressing room, IN. II a child 81 the
streets. brought up BY drunken aunt.
ana II therefore AZ nearly Ms possible
devoid of all the moral sense and deli
cAcy which We usually associate With
woman. More or less offensive male
characters haunt her dressing room.
aud she treats them with n camaradcrie
that pleases all and offendH none She
N then Introduced 20 nernnrd Dufrcne,
ana her troubles begin.
pufrcne Il induced by Zaxn, who
Wishes 10 win wager. 10 take her out
TO supper after the theaier. and Just at
the close of Iaza's turn" at the music
hall the curtain deHcendH.
The second act shows the coupie six
months later established In little home
IN the woods near -. Etlenne. Duffcne
nnpoata 10 be reasonably fond Of ZaEa,
hut the passionate devotion " tho wo-
man TO him Is almost pltiahle In its In
tcnHity,
lie hns FOR some time heen telling her
'hnt " VIII be necessary for him 90 take
TRIP 10 America, ana nhe bcFH that
the be allowed 20 accompany him. When
he refuses ana speaks Of writing 10 her
regularly. she deplores her lack OF odu-
cation and refinement and recognizes
tho Justice Of his decision. SIN she IN
very happy.
pufrene kisses her great many
times and then starts for Paris. While
ne N gone her oN-Hlnging partner an.
prarH IN great Woe. lie tells her that
oHers of professional engagements at
largely Increased salary have poured In
upon him ana urges her 20 return 10 the
H'Pge. rhia she. however. refuses 20 do,
ana cascari after a good deal NJ hest
htlon, decides ~ an extreme Htep 10 toll
her ~ the perfidy ~ tho man In whom
shr mas conilded, Dufrene really has a
VIE and ohlld In Paris, hut they have
heen away In Italy during the six
months IN which he has been with Zaza
at 81 Etienne. znzn determines 10 in
wade Dufrene's home and expose him TO
his wife.
2nzn carries out her threat IN tho
third act; but, the mistress OF the cs-
tHbllahment being out, she Is compelled
10 wait with the young woman who has
accompanied hor 90 Paris. In the midst
OF one NJ several violently denucintory
speeches with reference To Dufrene IA
child enters. and Znzn Involuntary
CHECKS herself Questioning ON the nurt
~ InzaH friend develops the fact that
the child is the daughter NJ Dufrene.
Here occurs a little rather muudin
generation between zaza and the