The Portland daily press., 1900-12-11
music AND DRAMA.
MRS. oARTER As zAzA.

| peared for the first time last evening In
this city at the, Jefferson theatre In
"zaza," play In which she has achieved
artistic greatness that no one can deny
her, much as they may condemn the
piece, hoping for the day when the drama
shall have climbed to so high plane
that only noble emotions shall be delin-
Gated, and lofty characters portrayed.
Despite the fact that It mirrors forth the
baser sides OF human nature, 'Iaza, -
David Belasco-s version OF the French
play by Pisrre Berton and Charles
simon, has had q most brilliant run
from the very evening OF lite initial per-
formsnce at the Lafayette Square theatre
In Washington, Dec. 20, 1898. For all
this. the theme OF the play, when you
get right down to the core OF IL, isa
disgusting one, since Zaza Is type OF
the coarse and brazen woman. vulgar In
words and manners, who Is born bad,
amid loose surroundings which are sug-
gested In the FIRST act by the offensive
rompings OF her companions as q mrid
bac aground. She was left an orphan In
babyhooi and was turned over TO the ten
der mercies Of foolish drunkard, of an
aunt who thinks only of her niece as a
commercial commodity. zsza, under
stands at least one side of mans
nature, a nd on bet that sne
cannot she brings Dnfrene to her feet
by rousing she animal in him. He ii
supposed to be an untrammele1 man OF
the world. but, in fact, he is married
man with an apology fer seeking compan-
sonship elsew here, inG smuch as his wife
is soullsss, stern woman with only
handsome face to recommend her. That
this was mere attraction Of the passions
is quite Obvious, for lara never has
spoken to DufIene until she has alured
him behind the scenes Of the theatre, In
which she is concert singer, though an
attempt is made to call 1t love affair,
and along this lire the play progre $685.
The next act finds them living happily In
little home near Paris and all goes well
until Zaza finds out that her paramour
has wife living In the city. Then the
strain OF the tigress shows itself, and Ike
all won en- of ter class, she 10 bent on re-
yenge, and first determines, In frenzy
Of jealousy, to break mp ths household OF
the other woman. There Is pathos in
the act which follows, and It contains
perhaps the most dramatic situation In
| the play. When she finds that Dufrene
has not only wife but child, her love FOR
him descends to the child, whose praltie
fascinates FER, anu size reasons that she
must go away and not destroy. Mrs
Carter's acting OF this scene is line, SIM
cere and altogether convincing, marked
with intelligence and the fullest sppre-
citation of the lights and shades. The
great scene OF the fourth act is her violent
parting with Dulrene, Offering, as 1t does,
the real climax of the action, and here
Mrs. Carter reaches a lofty height of emo
| tional work, attained by few, II any. sur
passed by none. She exemnllfles great
ness'i with all that the word implies.
Finding that Dufrenes love for her is
only secondary, beneath her hysteria and
Inconsistency there runs current of her
furious, all-sway.ng love, enthralling In
Its wonderful denotement. 10 Dufrens,
the wife does not preclude continued re-
Iations with Zaza With Zaza 1t is differ
ant. At that moment she understands
she Is going to send him forth-for the
child sake. Only she will test him
first, to see II he does love her. She tells
him she has told his wife the truth, and
he, changed OF an instant, curses her and
taunts her with degradation. Then the
| truth comes from her lips, and he would
win forgiveness, but finds IL withheld
Zasa gees back to the stage, but not to
wantonness nor new admirers, and when
So meets Dufrene again II is to reiterate
their association Is over.
From a dramatic view point "Iaza" Is
one of the strongest plays ever presented
to Portland theatrs-aoars. For the most
part 1t is consistent in its development,
and mingled with the almost tragic and
lewd are touches OF humor which make
you laugh when perhaps you ought to be
shocked. That psst-master OF stage craft,
Mr.. Belasoo, Is entitled to credit for ar
ranging the situations to make them best
Mt Mrs Carter, who lifts the drama to
plane far above that to which 10 is EMIT
led by its merits "Zaza" suggests moth
Ing, but rather comes right out and
parades immodesty, frankly depictingithe
| sins of the sexes 1t teaches no moral,
no mole than Camille, Sapho and other
plays which unfold the self-sacritice OF
women OF Zaza's class. Strictly speak
Ing. it is a one part play, and its life In
terest centers about Mrs. Carter, who's e
powers are kept on tensest strain, and
whose genius all must recognize, for she
stands peerless In the presentation of a
role Offering wide range for varied dra-
matte effects.
Mrs. Carter is admirably supported
and there are other characters in the
play which ara well drawn and finely
acted. Dufrensel who is most unsatis-
factory sort OF fellow, is presented not
obtrusively by Charles A. Stevenson
He plays the part on an even key and
when opportunity offers in the fourth
act, he rises to the occasion with brief
display OF strong emotion. Marie Bates
gives us sketch OF Rosa Bonnie, Zaza's