The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-12-16


&@SaNS living actresses, h y
S worlds greatest tragedi-
skMNd enne. NJ a d me Duse
SS5pY comes of a family of act
ors of tragedy, on her
fathers side, two genera tions having
served on the tragic stage. At the
age of Al she. of the third genera
ton easily stands the worlds Queen
of Tragedy.
The Italian actress differs in her
art essentially from Bernhardt, he.'
famous French rival. AS one writer
we'll expresses it: sit is, indeed, this
naturalness in her art that has placed
her in the position she now occupies
that of the greatest living actress.
Her methods are almost diametrical-
ly opposed to those of Sarah Bern
hardt, who is the personifcation of
theatricality in every move, every
gesture, every facial play she makes
while on the stage
This is Signora Buses third visit
to the United States, which country
welcomes with great pleasure and
appreciation this very gifted artist.
She is appearing in three tragedies,
works of her fellow-countryman, Ga
brielle d'Annunzio. The plays are
Francesca da Rimini,'' La Citta
Morta," and la Giaconda." For the
last two years the newspapers have
been busy coupling the names of
Duse and d'Annunzio, and it is re-
ported that the great actress, who is
also reported to have horror of
publicity being given her private af-
fairs, was SO overwhelmed at the
credence bestowed on these stories
all over America that she almost de-
cided to dispense with an American
tour. AT any rate, her visit is made
a year later than originally planned
The stories are to the effect that
Madame Duse was making herself
conspicuous by showering upon dan
nunzio an affection that he was coli
spicuously weary of. 1t was also re-
peated that the signora was so heart
broken over d'Annunzios cruel cold
ness she had decided there was no
spirit left in her to continue her
work before the public; and that, in
the very height of her success, She
was contemplating retirement. Well,
either reconcilement has been eff
fected, or else the stories were pal
pably false; here Madame Duse is
with us, acting in d'Annunzio's plays,
her fire undiminished, her art better
than ever.
Though virtually born to the stage,
Eleanora Duse has had to fight her
way to her present exalted position.
Her face, which, while beautiful. is
very sad, seems to us to hint of the
weary struggle that had to be gone
through with before her superiority
won general recognition.
Her father, like her grandfather,
although both were actors of consid-
cradle reputation, was not financial
ly successful. At the age of 10, in or
der to help in getting the daily bread
for the family, the little girl was put
on the stage. From the first know
ing one here and there judged her
the possessor of unusual talents and
prophesied great things for her For
several years she labored away in the
lesser theaters, but at the age of 16
enjoyed a decided piece of success;
as Juliet winning applause from u
large Florentine audience, and from
that on her fame grew rapidly ana
persistently.
Although noted for lack of rant
ing in the rendition of the tragic
roles she portrays, Signora Duse has
the true southerner's power of emo
tional expression. Love and despair
are expressed with an eloquence at
once thrilling and under control, and