The evening times., 1899-01-24

Lafayette-"The Countess Valeska-"
"The Countess Valeska," in which Julia
Marlowe appeared last night at the La
fayette. is not new play. being now in
its second season. II deals with the d
theme Of the struggle between love and
duty, and while the scene Is laid in time
of war and cannon, busle-calls, and the
the tramp of horses feet are heard out
side at intervals the main interest is
emotional-there are no pistol shots on
the stage TO disturb the artistic effect.
The part OF Countess Valeska is in some
respects one of the strongest which Miss
Marlowe has ever had. In the hands of
some actresses IL might be regarded simply
as affording an opportunity TO wear ex-
quste COWS. but though these gowns do
appear, and add a great deal to the beauty
of the production, they are the smallest
part of the charm in Miss Malowe's work.
The great defect of the role is that. al
though there are several opportunities for
strength, and the romantic, even tragic, in
terest OF the story is intense, there is no
chance given for the winsome playfulness
of Rosalind, and nothing of the touching
pathos notable in the part of Highland
Mary. In a word, there is no contrast in
the character; it is all on a single key.
and if it were not so well acted might
prove monotonous. But one does not think
of that while the Countess Valeska is on
the stage.
In this heroine there is seen the intense
devotion to an ideal, combined with the
possibility for powerful feeling which is
characteristic of the Pole. These qualities
are clearly brought out in Miss Marlowe's s
Interpretation. She is not merely the beau
tiful woman struggling to decide between
loyalty to her lover and devotion to her
countrys cause; she is the Polish woman,
with all the traits of her race and people.
Though the countess fidelity has some
things in common with that of the Scotch
girl in Bonnie Prince Charlie" the two
are entirely distinct. The climax of Miss
Marlowe's portrayal, perhaps, comes at the
end of the third act, although in the sec
ond. when she struggles against the influ
ence Of her lovers determination, she rises
to a height which may fairly be called ge-
MUS One may not recall the play in its en-
tirety but there are perhaps half dozen
minutes in it which photograph themselves
on the memory; and the actress who can
produce that effect is truly great.
The supporting company, as whole, is
fine, William Harcourt, as Achim Won
Lohde the tall Prussian," does not fill
the requirements of the part, though his
work is uniformly good. John Blair gives
careful and thoroughly artistic portrayal
of the Marquis Won Sturmell, and Donald
Maclaren, as the mercurial Captain Muech
enburg, offers some capital comedy work.
James Cooper, with the few lines of the
steward, is very amusing, while Becton
Radford, as the brother of Valeska; E. l..
Stuart as Lieutenant Lamotta, and Dod
son Mitchell as General Lamarrois, are
all capable Norah Lamison made a de-
cided hit in the part of Elizabeth, and Mrs,
Sol Smith preatad much amusement the
housekeeper. The minor bits are all well
taken, and the piece is staged with most
careful attention to every detail of seem
cry and costumes. "The Countess Vales-
ka'' will be replaced Thursday night by
LAS YOU Like IT.