The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-12
AMUsEHlENTs.


The remarkable young woman, a ma
tive of California, who adopts the
stage name Nance O'Neil," this even
Ing begins an engagement of six nights
at the Clunie Opera-house. We speak
of her as remarkable because her rise
in dramatic art has been phenomenal,
meteoric, SO to speak. For, endowed by
nature richly with gifts that fall only
to the few, she has had but short climb
ing of the ladder. In most cases ex-
cellence such as is hers is the result
of arduous and long labor She did not,
1T is true, at once make her Hottest
flight, but her probationary period was
SO brief that it may be said she achiev-
ed fame almost at bound. She is a
revelation of temperament and of con-
quest by strong personality. She in
vests the parts she assumes with origi-
nality, which, while not infrequently
in violation of the canons of art, is,
nevertheless, SO strong and. masterful,
that her hearer- forgets or forgives her
innovations in admiration for her gem
Jus. She is not the greatest of Ameri
can actresses, but she is certainly on
the road to that title, and rapidly pass
Ing over the way to the goal. One Sc
cret of her success is the vitality of her
presentations; she throws into them the
virile quality that is rare in a woman.
Another key to her success is her re-
markable clearness of enunciation and
her unstudied eloquence of emphasis
and infection. She throws soul sinto
her voice and that voice is apparently
as easy and natural in its most potent
passages as if she were asking for the
passing of the dish at table. Her per-
sonality is authoritative and absorbs
the characteristics of the part she as
sumes. The charm of her vocalization,
with it's masculine quality, is something
no study can give-it is a gift. Back
of 1t all is intelligence and perception
OF the truth, truth as she conceives it
to be Her engagement here ought to
receive the tribute that patronage of
art owes to genius. She ought to be
encouraged. not f1attered The danger
before her is fiattery and the careless
ness it always induces. One must think.
however, that behind her strong and
authoritative work there is a mind
sufficiently well balanced not to be
thrown out; mind that will distin-
gu1sh between genuine admiration and
hattery; mind receptive of criticism
and ambitious to constantly draw near
er to the ideal. Miss O'Neil will to-
night appear as Magda part that ap-
parently one might say was written for
her personality. 1t was not, but she
fits into the calls of the title role Won
derfully and makes it a splendid art
work. Tomorrow night she will appear
in the Camille" that Bernhard pre-
fers, and in which she saw the great
French artist repeatedly. We will have
opportunity, therefore, to determine if
she copies at ALL or whether she pre-
serves her originality, which is pre-
1erable in an artist always, even if
faulty, since it is one of the induces of
genius. Tuesday night as Peg Voting
ton in Reads famous comedy of Masks
and Faces" We will be able to compare
her with some of the most distinguished
Old school artists of the world. for such
as Laura Keene, Ellen Tree, Julia Deane
Hayne, Mrs. John Wood and a long line
OF geniuses made Peg Wellington de-
llghtful. Whether in refined comedy.
just touched with pathos, Miss O'Neil
is equal to her best, remains to be scan
1t is recorded. however. that with the
daring characteristic of the American
she played Peg Wellington in London
not long ago in a community that has
seen the greatest artists in the role re-
peatedly, and that she won there warm
commentator and unstinted praise.
Wednesday night she will give us 1.-THE
Shadow" a tragedy on which Pinero
built his play THE Second Mrs. Tan
queray 1t was subjected to severe
criticism in San Francisco last week.
but it is worthy of record that never
theless for three nights it packed the
California Theater beyond seating ca
pacity. There is scarce any light or
color in it, we are told. but it is con-
ceded that it is dramatically powerful.
thursday night Miss O'Neil will to our
mind be tried very severely. If she
can sustain herself in that famous COM
edy. THE School for Scandal" invest
her role with originality and not make
1t weighty with her force and assert
1veness. she will achieve positive viz
tory. She must surpass Kathryn Kid
though she is-who was
the last seen here in that play. or we
snail suffer disappointment. In "Thp
JeWess, better known as Leah" we
Will know exactly where to place Misc
o'Neil on Friday night the conclusion
Oh the engagement. 1t Is cloth cut to her
Inquire. 1t is one of those tragic. strong
Intense is the better word-plavs in
which Miss O'Neil may be srpnosed to