The sun., 1903-11-11
MAUDE ADAMS IN A NEW PLAY.
HER RETURN IN "THE PRETTY
SISTER or JOSE" 4 TRIUMPH.
Combination Of Moonlight, Guitars
and Vows OF Loye---Carmen without
Her Cigarette--Briiliant Audience
Enthusiastic Over Stage Romance.


Her Cigarettc---Briiliant Audience
Enthusiastic Over n Stage Romance
1t is doubtful il -Parsiial,' when 1t comes
to Herr Conrieds big. yellow bird trap on
upper Broadway, will create such a rumpus
as the return of Maude Adams did last night
across the street at the Empire Theatre
There was a Gordon of police, carriages
were massed In tangled squads and curious
mobs of people lined the sidewalk. 1t al
most looked as if another Mayor had been
! elected. A New York theatre public Ia
loyal. 1t has always loved Maude Adams
and 1t has missed her for several seasons.
So when she made her entrance, after
the baldest sort of preparation on the stage
of the New Empire, she was given welcome
that would have shaken the nerves of a
popular gladiator in pa!my Rome. It did
shake the little woman; shook her, startled
her. and those near her saw her tremble,
saw her eyes fill. But she kept a whip
hand over her nerves and her gratitude
and the play went on. 1t is called The
Pretty Sister Of Jc se : and 1t was written by
Mrs, Frances Hcdgson Burnettneed we
| say, after last night--the author Of Little
Lord Fauntleroy" and The Little Princess =
the vital topic now, as she was in the Iobbies,
as she was in the cafes, as she was during
the entr actes. She looked exceedingly
we'll, fuller of face, brighter Of eye, more
elastic in movement, and with the came
fragrant charm of personality. II is still
hower-like face, hers s--pensive, poetic
and a keyboard from which sweet music
is often heard-withal, one restricted in
compass.
She can with her gracious art express
the woes OF a white soul the arch coquetries,
the supple entertainments of tender hearted,
proud nature; but when she sounds the
tragic note Miss Adams sings fdlsetfo: in a
word, she has lightness Of touch. mobility
in mood but the grand manner she has not i,
not even the mock romantic manner that
the pasteboard play demanded. Adorable
as she is, Maude Adams is not n Calve
Her Carmen last night was too cerebral
cigarette treating young person who
would never bring blush to the cheek Of
her real brother-F -Fountleroy.
Miss Adams has a head which would
grace the easels OF Carriere, of Whistler;
her general cast of feature is Celtic. Her
brow is thoughtful, her eyes beautiful, with
the spiritual beauty that is not often en-
countered in Spain-a modern head. char
acteristic. subtle and Of an exceeding
charm; To set the owner Of this head in a
Spanish village. or in Seville, there to be-
come enarnored of bullhghter-be he
never so poetic-is not fair. To set this
girl dancing with her English tigure-above
all. her modern speech--is to perpetrate All
anachronism. Miss Adams has too great a
sense Of huInor to dance Spanish music
well.
The fact is that Mrs. Burnett's Spain is the
Spain Of A. d. 1900, the Spain Of Merimee,
not the real Spain OF Emilia Pardo Bazan.
The dashing bullfighter, the simple village
maiden the gentle ecclesiastic, the radiant
loving brother, the admring chorus-why
here is material for first class operetta
of style that stalled years ago. II we had
seen live men and women instea of con-
Vent'onal puppets. the monotonous environ
ah! tho sweet senoritas. the brave matadors
of our grandmothen!-might have been
pardoned.
But it was oil on the Carmen key. a New
England Carmen, a Carmen without the
Low lands" is masterpiece in compari-
son; II you must have Spanish ola podidu
in your theatrical stew, for Marta il
not altogether stucco and mandolin, NOON
light and tears. She has hot blood in her
veins.
However, and this is the main thing,
Miss Adams achieved veritable triumph.
BY sheer will power she acted into the
skin Of Pepita the peasant girl who
fears fears love in III me tn person & OF e huiihghter
brutally. How Sebastiano won her love.
despite her fears, Is the story told in fits
and starts by the play wright,
The scenic scheme is very pretty. painted
by Z rncst Gros and Gustav ST enger has
provided characteristic music, ful! OF Span
ish rhythms and color. The production was
staged by William Seymour. At the end
OF Act III, after many recalls, Miss Adams
made very short speech and was cheered
more than when she drew that fierce stiletto.
Her support was excellent. Henry Ainley,
all English actor, proved himself to be
young man Of intelligence, good looks
and temperament. His carriage is graceful
and confident, his voice sonorous. He
speaks the English language clearly, and
be acts with uncommon feryor. In Act Ill.
the lovemaking takes place at a we'll where
Pdpitd has gone for water, Here Miss
Adams and Mr.. Ainley were admirable.
In Act H., a scene in public garden at
Seville. the actress played the coquette to
perfection. But she should not dance.
Hers is not the nature, the physique, for
the abandon of Spaniard. Her singing is
distinctly better, for she possesses a rich
contrato, we'll trained. and she sang her
little song with much musical taste and
feeling.
Mrs. W. G.. Jones was admirable as an
ancient duenna; G. H. Hunter, capital
priest. 1t is a pity that he had a past.
Jose, a mere shadow OF his pretty sister,
was enacted by Edgar Selwyn Sandol
Milliken played small part very well!
The lovers are united at last and the only
thing missing is the toreador's song Of
Georges Bizet. However, il Is quite inutie
to indulge in criticism Any play in which
Maude Adams appears will surely Al the
Empire Theatre. After all, Is she not Maude
Adams?