The times., 1900-12-25
AT THE THEATRES.
The NHtionaI-oIgn xethersoIe.

Olga Nethersoie's protrayal of Fanny
Legrand, the most notorious scarlet
woman of the contemporary drama, is not
novelty TO Washington. yet were one to
judge by the reception accorded the Eng
lish woman at the National Theatre last
night, the reviewer might readily believe
that both the star and play, "Sapho,
were being witnessed for the first time.
Since her appearance in this city last
year. Miss Nethersole's "Sapho" has been
liagellated by the sensationalists, decried
by the dramatic purists. chastised by the
non-theatregoing element of the country
and patronized and applauded by almost
everybody who has had the chance of see
ing this very remarkable production As
On the occasion of her former local ap-
pcarances, those at the National last
night were, during the earlier passages of
the piece inclined to be shocked by the
open display of wantonness. but were con-
strained later on TO shower their hearty
approval upon the chief player.
Alphonse Daudet and Adolphe Beiot's
'Sapho' has been readapted foE the ma
tive stage with a great deal of success
by Clyde Fitch. The playwright has fash
ioned a curiously shocking specimen of
dramatic depravity which at times is
very interesting but which at other pc
riods is tedious and wearisome and tends
to fatigue the audience. He has evidently
only endeavored TO put forward, with the
cleverness of brilliant pen, the ;ioid-
inous the goatishness of that stratum of
society of which the Legrand woman so
well typifies. His story for the most part
is splendidly told. 1t follows the book
closely i'll its principal scenes and shows
in the foremost scenes the enticement of
the good looking. country Jean Guissin
by Fanny, commencing at fancy dress
ball. She selects the pumpkin from the
crowd OF revelers and after a few hours
love emaking induces the amiable fellow
to carry her up four flights of stairs, to
her room. The good girl, Irene, is brought
on the scene in the following act, during
the progress of which Sapho completes
her fascination over the young man. The
separation of the lovers in the third act
allows Miss Nethersole the best chance OF
the entire performance for the display of
her remarkable powers, and in the express
sions of agony over her desertion by Jean
she is distinctly at her best. The con
Guiding scene with the returned father
of Saphos child. and later on, the return
also of jean fails to arouse the sympathy
or start the feminine tears Mr.. Fitch
must have had in his minds eye when he
wrote it, and instead of being touching, 1t
has much of the comic about it.
This. in brief, is "Sapho.' the much
talked about and censured play. 1t is un-
doubtedly piece of considerable worth,
which will continue to pack the theatres
in which it is presented with curious
crowds who will go expecting 10 receive
series 6f violent shocks TO their moral ma
lures. and be greatly disappointed by being
well entertained at times, although for the
most part they will experience feeling of
fatigue. and will wish the four acts were
ell over and regret that such a competent
actress should find it necessary TO resort
exclusively to a repertoire of concupiscent
dramas.
The production is on the same scale of
magnificence as last year. The ballroom
scene in the first act is particularly good
representation of a revelry and with the
throng OF auxiliaries cleverly stage man
aged, the effect is admirable. The work of
Miss Nethersole is that OF the passionate
creature. from first to last, and she ex-
hibits the notorious falsity and fickleness
of women OF the type with uncommon
fidelity. She retains the bad practice of
delivering many OF her speeches with her
back to the audience. and while this may
be defended by the excuse that the ext
genCIes Of the scenes demand 1t, the habit
is open TO condemnation If for no other
reason than it precludes the lines from
being heard distinctly by the persons in
the orchestra chairs more than half the
time. The new leading man is G. Harrison
Hunter. an actor Of evident intelligence
and merit. George Wharnock is the Dach-
elette and Fred Thorne is Uncle Cesaire.
Miss Eleanor Carey, who will be remem-
bered By local theatregoers as a member
OF last summers stock company at the
Columbia Theatre. displays her thorough
methods in the role OF Nine Hetteml.
Contrary to her original plan, Miss
NethcTsole will continue to present
"Sapho'' every night during her engage
:nent at the National. except Saturday
night, when she will present for the first
time anywhere her own version of Suder-
mann's ''Magda." which she intended to
produce on Thursday night This change
has been decf1ed upon only in view OF
the great demand for seats for ''Sapho."
There Will be a special Christmas matinee
of the play.