The record-union., 1899-09-23
ADJUSTMENTS. A

1t is rare thing for a Sacramento
lneatrlcal audience to call out an artist
aIter eacn act OF a long play. Once or
twice IN an evening is usually consider
ed a me compliment here, for our audi
ences are not enthusiastically respon-
siVe as a rule. But Clay Clement was
called to bow his acknowledgements aft
er every. act of THE New Dominion, :
at the Clunie Opera House last evening
by large and delighted audience 1t
was tribute in full sincerity; it was a
warm, critical and heartfelt expression
In approval OF refined art. The play is
simple story, not of much depth. or
breadth, stirring but few of the emo
tlons, but it is a charming and touch
ing story delightfully."- and naturally
told, without even the suggestion of
extravaganza or over color. 1t was
just as delightfully."- acted by a COM
pany of competent players. with but
one character that suggested that i'm
provement could be made by the
stronger personality of a more accom-
plished artist. But the whole circled
about the central figure of the German
Baron, personated by Mr.. Clement. His
assumption of the part is a creation
1t must be the result of long and close
study of models. In his hands the part
was a work of refinement and artistic
nnlsh. 1t was art in coinage; it was
dramatic painting by a cunning hand.
with bold strokes and delicate touches
so mingled, that the harmonious effect
was very near the ideal of high art. Mr..
Clements delightful comedy. with lust
enough of the shadows of painful sit
uations proves that he has a fine sense
OF humor-for he is the author of the
play-and keen perceptions of the gro
tesque. His support included Mrs.
Clement, a. tall, stately and handsome
blonde, vivacious and graceful; J. D.
Williams in the heavy role, strong and
life like in his personation of one made
coarse, vulgar and brutal by wealth
manly, gentle, high strung Southern
man of honor, decayed gentleman of
the old school, was fine piece of work;
Mr.. Lonsdale, in cleverly assumed
Juvenile role of briefess lawyer, with
ambitions, a good heart and merry
disposition; Miss Bertha Foltz, who as
sumed the role of the modest. loving
Virginia girl, whose nature has not
been hardened by contact with the
world, and whose affections are as
frankly confessed as is her admiration
for the manly and the beautiful Miss
Schnabel, who finely and with great
skill personates a poor relative. in
jured by but still devoted to an un-
worthy object of her love; Mr.. Norfleet
who made the body servant of Ran
dolph, one of the neatest pictures ever
drawn of the old time colored household
servitor, and Mrs. Marshall as a wife
of shallow nature and complaining
disposition. Six other people of the
troupe were not in last evenings cast.
On the whole its was support that
served we'll the purpose of the play,
suggesting but few thoughts of better
ment. Tonight Mr.. Clement passes
from comedy and genial character
study of the milder order, to melo-
dramaand tragedy, the play being 1.-The
Bells" with Clement as Matthias. Con-
cerning the play the San Francisco
Bulletin says:
Everyone who has seen Sir Henry Trv-
ing has seen THE Bells" and everyone
else has heard of it in connection with
the star of the English stage. 1t is
melodramatic in color and theme, tell
ing the story Of a cold -blooded, COM
mon-place murder, and the remorse
which wreaks it's own vengeance on
the murderer. But it is something
more than melodrama in being a psy-
Geological study of uncommon interest
and unquestionable thrill, a revelation
of the intricacies and burning tortures
of a self-accusing soul. The auxiliary
characters are mel ely grouped about
the central one, in a dim, shadowy way
like the background of a picture de-
pending for its effect on one central
figure. The strain and struggle Of
this figure stands out in high relief,
with a kind of terrible effect of being
painted in red and black
The Bulletins" critic does not think
Clement the equal of some others in
Matthias; that his osoliloquies and re-
Elections have not sufficient depth, but
adds:
The actor is at his hight in the
dream scene. All that is imperfectiv
realized in the more questioning and
slower moments, is made UP for in the