The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-16
+. ADJUSTMENTS.

city for many a day witnessed the pro-
duction of "Magda" at the Clunie yes
terday afternoon and saw Nance
O'Neil in what is perhaps one OF her
greatest roles. A fair audience last
night saw her as Therese in the new
play, 1.-The Shadow and was griev-
ously disappointed. The tragedy-it is
certainly that-begins in pain, proceeds
in sorrow and ends in death. 1t has its
genesis in shame, it's life in regret and
It's end in woe. 1t is one unend1ng
ache, without a CLEAN of light or sigh
of relief. 1t is a story of nnhappiness,
weakness and of mistakes, on the part
of every one related to it. The one
pleasant feature in the performance
last night was the splendid wardrobe OF
the STAR which dazzled the eye and
awakened the liveliest expression Of adj
miration on the part of the women, and
won even the praise of the men. But
how poor, indeed, must be a perform
ance of which no more may be said.
The drama is unworthy the genius Of
Nance O'Neil. 1t gives her no real OPP
portunity to exercise her dramatic
powers. 1t affords no one except
Barton Hill to do even a bit of clever
acting. His General Bidard was an
exquisite piece of art, but doleful and
woful for all that 1.-The Shadow"
might, for it's dramatic strength, pass
muster if the unreal things about it
We're cut out, but that would leave little
OF the text or situations. 1t is simply
ridiculous to suppose that rational
beings situated as are those in the play
make such blistering errors as they do,
and bring themselves to such a pitiful
end. The best advice that can be given
to Nance O'Neil is to cancel the play
from her repertoire. She may take a
hint from the dead silence of the audi
ence last night. But once did she re-
ceive a hand" and but once was she
recalled. and then not with enthusi-
asm. The discredit of the play is no
discredit to the artist except in this,
that she is mistaken in choosing it,
She made the most that can be made
out of it, but that little is altogether
unlovely and unattractive. Tonight
however, she will redeem herself in the
estimation of lovers of dramatic art
As Lady Teazle in that splendid old
English comedy, 1.-The School for
Scandal" We may expect to find her
sparkling and brilliant as she can be.
will find opportunity in all fullness to
please and to crafty exacting tastes
1t is to be mounted and costumed very
rlchly. Indeed, we are assured by
those who have seen Nance O'Neil in
the comedy with the present support.
that a more richly dressed group is
scarce to be named. Last seen here
Lady Teazle was personated by
Kathryn Kidder, who, we should say.
cannot be ranked as the equal of Miss
ONeil, for that or any other strong
personality, fine artist though she is.
The box office of the Clunie Opera
house opens tomorrow morning for the
reservation Of seats for the production
here on Saturday afternoon and Satur-
day night Of the latest French comedy
Mile. Fiji" adapted to the American
stage and taste by Joseph Grismer. OF
the play. as seen in Los Angeles. 1.-The
Times" of that city, exacting in it's de-
mands upon the stage, says: 1T is to
be presumed that the adapter has toned
down the original play, in some degree.
10 make 1t more acceptable to English
speaking, Anglo-Saxon audiences. But
1t would be impossible to eliminate
from such play all the ''risque" fea-
lures without leaving it fiat, stale and
more or less improbable. Much of the
fizz and sparkle of the champagne re-
mains, though it be considerably diluted
in the translation. The play is a COM
edy-drama, in which the comedy is con-
stantly kept uppermost 1t is invari-
ably entertaining, and the action is
Disk from first to last. Making due al
iowances for its French antecedents.
the play is without serious faults of
construction, and is as full of dash and
go as could be desired. Running
through 1t is the faint outline of a GEN
uine love story (none the less charming
because the lovers are man and wifel.
which is daintily evolved and fof
course) is brought to- satisfactory ter
mination, after the usual stress and
tr1bulation. One of the interesting
features of the entertainment is thu
vitascope pictures, which follow the
play These give a variety of views of
the Dewey parade and reception In New
York. and evoked hearty applause