Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-29
Copyright, 1892
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Mrs. Leslie Carter.
That is the name of a woman who
appeared about eight years ago in this
city as the heroine of Henry Guy
Cartoons play, 1.-The Ugly Duckling,"
with no particular success, although
some few critics thought they saw
beneath the amateurishness of the ac-
tress traces of real genius, which if de-
Veioped in a congenial atmosphere,
might eventually lead to greatness.
a little later Audran's comic opera,
Miss Helyett,' was Americanized by
David Belasco, Mrs. Carriers manager,
and she appeared in the title role with
some success, although as singer she
was decidedly below par Miss Hell
yeCt" simply served to demonstrate
that whatever might be her short
comingS Mrs. Carter was at least pos
seSsed of versatility. She did nothing
OF note after that-nothing at all in
professional way, | think-until David
Belasco's Heart of Maryland was
produced, when she appeared as the
curfew heroine, Maryland Calvert. In
this role she was quite successful, and
no observant person could fail to see
that she had grown wonderfully in an
arustlc way. This year, Heart of
Maryland" was sent on the road with
some one in Mrs. Carriers place, and
she was reserved for the title role of
'Zaza, which is the current attraction
at the Gerrick theatre in this city.
''Zaza" is sort of Camille play
which has been very successful in
France. 1t was adapted to meet Amer
to- 7~;~--A- D~--=a I~l--,SO
and is presented under the manage
ment of Charles Frohman.
"Zaza' is not play designed to
teach good morals-its effect, in fact
is precisely the reverse-but the plot
is interesting and well worked out, and
1t is no eXaggeration to say that no
play produced in New York in many
years has created so much of a sensa-
tion. After the first performance it
was impossible to get tickets except far
in advance, and, after all, the box Of
ice is the supreme test of the popu-
larity of a play.
'Zaza' is in five acts, the first of
which shows that portion of the stage
which is behind the scenes in a little
music hall in the French provinces.
Zaza, with her singing partner, Cas-
cart, has acquired a little provincial
fame, and therefore occupies the star
dressing room. She is a child of the
streets, brought up by drunken aunt,
and is therefore as nearly as 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,
and she treats them with camaraderie
that pleases all and offends none. She
is then introduced to Bernard Dufrene,
and her troubles begin.
Dufrene is induced by Zaza, who
wishes to win wager, to take her out
to supper after the theatre, and just
at the close of Zaza's turn" at the
music hall the curtain descends.
The second act shows the couple six
months later established in a little
home in the woods near st. Etienne.
Dufrene appears to be reasonably fond
OF ZaZa, but the passionate devotion of
the woman to him is almost pitiable
in its intensity.
He has for some time been telling her
that it will be necessary for him to
take a trip to America, and she begs
that she be allowed to accompany him.
When he refuses and speaks of writing
to her regularly, she deplores her lack
of education and refinement and rec
Sgn:2es the justice of S decl5 OF. still
she is very happy.
Dufrene kisses her a great many
times and then starts for Paris. While
he is gone her eX-singi1g partner ap-
pears in great Woe He tells her that
off Of oil te, ct
largely increased salary have poured
in upon him and urges her to return to
the stage. This she, however, refuses
to do, and Cascatt, after a good deal
of hesitation, decides as an extreme
step TO tell her of the perfdy of the
man in whom she has confided Du-
irene really has a wife and childin
Paris, but they have been away in Italy
during the six months in which he
has been with ZaZa at ST. Etienne.
zaza determines to invade Dufrene's
home and expose him to his wife.
Zaza carries out her threat in the
third act but, the mistress of the es-
adjustment being out, she is compelled
to wait with the young woman who has
accompanied her to Paris. In the
midst of one of several violently de-
ntnciatory speeches with reference to
Dufrene child enters, and ZaZa in
voluntarily checks herself Question
ing on the part of Zaza's friend devel-
ops the fact that the child is the daugh-
ter of Dufrene. Here occurs a little
rather maudlin conversation between
Zaza and the.child, which is really the
one serious blot upon the play How
ever, Zaza's good impulses overcome
her, and she leaves the house without
having carried out the purpose for
which she had entered 1t.
Zaza is back at her I'D Aone at St.
Etianna in the fnrfkl IN EHH As>Snair