The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-08
~ ISIS BERTHA GALLAND made
~ her New York debut Tuesday
night at the Criterion theatre.
4 - where she appeared with


night at the Criterion theatre.
Il II where she appeared with
james X. Hackett, in '"The
Pride of Jennico." The New York crit
les in yesterdays papers devoted con-
sidera Bile space to a review of Miss Gal
lands work. Clement Scott said In
the New York Herald:
There was considerable interest taken
in the appearance OF new actress. Miss
Bertha Galland. who was intrusted with
as fine u mclodramatic character as the
modern stage has seen. Marie Otillie.
Princess of Dornheim, has bit In her or
all the best Shakespearcan and other
roctic characters. She is the high born
lady who makes desperate love TO 3asii
Jennico In the guise of her own waiting
maid.
Thus equipped for comedy. tragedy.
melodrama-what you will-this waiting
maid Princess has the elements In her on
nearly all the brilliant women we have
loved on the stage. She is Beatrice, she
is Viola. she Is Nerissa, she is Julia, she
is Pauline. each and every one OF them
by fits and starts. 1t Is a part that any
actress of the first class would leap at
for all the art Of which she is capable
is packed up in a very small parcel
Now Miss Bertha Galland has evident
talent She is full of enthusiasm, she Is
bound to come to the front, but at pres
ent she has much to learn rs she has to
,n!earn. She has been badly taught ana
pcrsuaded that artiiciality is preferable
TO nature on the stage. She has TO enact
"A waiting maid. n confidential servant.
but She is never anything but a prin-
cess for half second. No one can be
deceived by her. Ever restless. she Is
not still or natural for five minutes to-
gether. 1t is all acting. acting, acting.
hnr nd addresses q her
sentiments to the topmost gallery. All
her coquetry is displayed by "kittenirg
about the stage and making faces behind
a fan. This may be done now and then.
but when repeated it becomes tedious
and bad art
However. the talent is there: the eX-
periercc will soon come, and the great
Improvement requisite is moderation, dis
cipline and courage not to do too much.
Such a part is a severe trial for a young
actress. and, she Is really SO clever that
] should like to sec her trained in n
school where comedy does not border on
farce, and where voice. style and di.--
tinction can wiring tragedy out of mclo-
drama.
Alan Dale said in the New York
Journals:
James K Hackett as Basil Jennico was
very tall and manly--I believe manly
Is the correct expression. His lOvemaking
always seems to me a tritie cold. Bend
ing like the leaning tower Of Pisa. he
topples over his sentiment. His height
seems to be against him. A large icicle
would do as we'll. But Mr.. Hackett
speaks well. Although his work in the
play Is not to be compared to what he
did in Rupert OF Hentzau." he had.
believe. a fair amount of appreciation.
The lady in the case was Miss Bertha
charming. very clever, very tempera-
mental. and a distinct acquisition. Iut
Miss Ga,land must rid herself of her lit
tie affectations-lier incessantly tripping
laughter. her over-elaborated "stage bus
mess" and a certain amount of insincer-
ity. I am quite aware that Miss Galland
will be gushed over, and told that she is
quite the incest thing that ever hap
pcned. She is. indeed, extremely nice,
but she has still a good deal to learn.
After the unabridged frigidity of Mr..
Hackett, however. Miss Galland was en-
incnty welcome. This young woman
looks like Marie Tempest. She will not
regret her appearance in this play.
The following is ouled fr,n the
Suns criticism:
Mr. IIackett is excellent in that kind
Of action. and it must be made a matter
of record that he won the approval OF
as fine an audience as the Criterion ever
held. His sweetheart was Bertha Gal
land, by whom the audience was capt..
waited completely. She was crude and
artificial, but she had dimpled pretti
ness and spirited dash which swept
away all thought Of criticism except ii
those who were there for that cspecia
purpose.
The New York Times contained the
following:
If there is any fault to be found will
"The Pride of Jennico." it is in the tirs
two acts, when there is disposition or
the part of Mrs. Richardson and Miss
1'urnisS to be rather talky. There Is
hint of much action and stir to come, bu
there also seemed danger that an audi
cncc would be tired before the piece d,
resistance was served.
At is due to the earnest work of Mr.
fIackett and Miss Galland that this di,
not become a settled fact, and that tn,
audience was patient was shown by Tho
way In which they rewarded the actors il
the last half of the play. Mr.. Hacket
and Miss Galland being called before thu
curtain five times, and the star beinl
compelled to make a speech, which mad,
him all the more popular.
Mr. Hackett came before the curtain
many times during the tempest of ap
plause that followed the stirring clima
to the third act. He thanked his we'll
wishers for tho figurative 'slap on tn
back for the present encouragement 70
the future" they had given to him, q;
struggling young man.
1t was a noticeable fact. too, tina
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