The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
sALVINI AND DUSE.
The Great Italian Players in Gabrielle
D'AnnunziO's Drama.

Philadelphia Times.
a cablegram printed in the Philadelphia
Times of Monday, dated in Rome the
previous day. was to the effect that Tom
maso Salvini and Eleanora Duse are to
come to the United States for tour in
the play "D'Annunzio' as written on the
Dante legion of the lovers of Rimini. 1t is
TO be hoped. of course. that the cablegram
meant just what it said, and that the two
players really are to come here joint
stars. But it is TO be feared a mistake
has been made. Salvini is now seventy
three years old. and. while it is said that he
is in magnificent health and physical condi-
tion. is hardly likely to cross the ocean for
a tour of professional activity in foreign
land after having virtually retired per-
manently from the stage of his own coun-
try. When we last heard OF him i'm activity
he was giving his overwhelming embodi-
ment of Othello TO the Iago of his elder
son Gustavus, and. in all probability. 1t Is
the latter who has been engaged to accom-
pany Duse here. He has never been i'm this
country. but his reputation in Italy IS high
lie Is spoken OF as an admirable actor. or
uncommon versatility, clever alike in the
classic and modern drama, and able To go
IN "A night from lago TO Tanqueray. IL was
announced some months ago that Duse - to
DE brought here again during next season.
If she comes in D'Annunzio plays Gus
tavus Salvini would seem the most avail
able good actor she could bring along for
the chief masculine characters.
There are other reasons for doubling that
the great SalvIni was meant by the cable
gram. The most important is that his visits
10 the United States in the past were not
profitable for all concerned. He. il is true,
came a contract that guaranteed him "A
certain amount of money for each per-
forma1ce, but II is not thought his Amer
lean managers made any money from the
ventures. All things considered, he has
been the greatest actor of his age-not in
consuTumate versatility. bat in grandeur,
power and tragic force. He represented
In his prime-and his prime extended well
beyond his siXtieth year-the very highest
development OF the mimetic art have
bee VOuchsafed. But mis- wares were not
Tor every market-certainly not for the
American public. always reluctant in mat
tiers of the theater when the vernacular is
not within ready comprehension Salvini
would never come here on a venture. as a
shareT in possible profits. He is immensely
wealthy and very thrifty. 1t was related
OF him that when he made his first con-
tract for an American tour the Italian form
Was used, with certain conditions such as
obtain In the provincial theaters of Italy.
Among these was a stipulation 10 the ef-
feet that Salvini was entitled TO the use Of
a certain number of candles for his dress
ing room at each performance. candles be-
ing necessity in some OF the smaller Ital-
ian towns not blessed, as yet-Or az that
time-Sith modern methods of illumina-
ton. 1Of course. Salvini had no more use
for candles In this country than he would
have nad for stage coach 10 take him
from town to town. and his American man
ayers never thought the stipulation more
than mere form. signed by them in good
natured anticipation of the surprise the
actor would receive when he happened
upon electricity and gas In even the mean
est OF our playhouses. But Salvini, the
story goes. insisted on his pound OF flesh
as represented by the candles, and gaining
his point took back with him enough
dips 10 light his villa for the rest of a
reasonable lifetime.
To he considered before any other aues-
ton in a project of the kind is the possi-
bities of profit. With two stars OF the
weight OF the elder Salvini and Duse in
conjunction, 10 is very doubtful III there
could he return on the investment even
with a reasonable manifestation of interest
by the public, sufficiently large 10 repay
the impresariO undertaking the venture
Wnen Duse was here she never PLAYED
more than four times in a week; her health
was not strong enough. 10 permit OF her
going through the routine followed By
American stars. And Salvini, too, confined
his appearances To four or five perform
ances each week. On the nights he did not
appear when he was last among US, enter
tainments We're given by his company.
beaded by his talented younger son the
lamented Alexander. With Duse and SAL
VIM playing on alternate nights. suppOrtC q
BY the same company. very attractive set
OF programmes might be arranged: but
they could not under such an arrange
ment, be regarded as joint stars There
ara not many plays I'm the repertoire OF
either In which the other could appear TO
good advantage. Each. indeed. Is the stl-
preme exemplar OF "a school. buses Des-
ceMona could be nothing more than inter-
esting. offered in the same performances