The Washington times., 1904-10-04
Brilliant Actress RedeemS
Rather Artificial Tragedy.
The SCrceresS A Bril-
liant Pageant.
Fritz Schef'S New Opera
Well Received - Harry
BereSford an ArtiSt-Bills
Elsewhere.

MIS- EaLIiCA Campbell uHQuestlOna Oily
one OF the foremost OF EngIish-speaking
actors, thaugurated her season at the
Columbia Theater last night by pre-
senung for the first time IN this tongue
THE Sorceress" of Victorieu Sardou.
The audience was finely reflective of the
favor which this actress enjoys among
the distinguished and fashionable, and
she received at its hands demonstrations
OF the most hearty admiration. But the
play trlumphed. as undoubtedly il did
triumph, by virtue of the Interpretation
given its leading role rather than
through the merit OF inherent, Intrinsic,
dramatic strength.
The S0rceress"-Iike la Tosca. o"
Les Divorcons" and Theodore" from
the same pen. and "Magda." The Sec
ond Mrs. Tanqueray," and THE Joy OF
Living from the same repertoire-has
its rise in purpose 10 glorlfy Illicit
love. To both these artists, and TO too
man. others, theatrical art has never
been am idealizauon OF the beautiful.
IL is. Instead a medium for-the crea-
tiorlzof mere suspense OF the portrayal OF
livid emotion. Both of those qualities
EFe ln the popular mind so readily assoc
ciated with HaisOns that emotional ac-
tors and observing piaywrights deal In
little else. Their defense against tho
natural repuguance they excite is mere
IS that they treat OF ''Jhe great realities
OF life" which is. undoubtedly, the
province OF the chemist and the ply
stefan. but hardly that OF the artist.
Stage Mechanics and PageantTy.
Constructed out of perishable. snowy
''staf." like q dramatic exposition build
ing, the ingenuity of the architect is
expected TO hide the clap-trap OF the
builder. Scene, costume. and dialogue
may differ with playWrights of this
school. but situation and development
are as certain as a problem I'm physics
So the theatergoer with a capacity 20
love Hamlet or 10 laugh at The Mar
rage OF Kitty attends THE Sorcer-
ess" or a Modern MagdaIene' with in
terest only in the theatrical craft thus
put 70 use. These limitations are pc
culiarly unfortunate with Nj Sardou,
because he is the pre-eminent crafts
man among living playwrighUs.
in this 4ease the scene IS that OF
Spain az the time of the inquisition, the
costumes are a brilliant mixture of
Moorish and Spanish. and the dialogue
Is The stin hard product or common
place French inaptly translated. The
fancy runs riot. Those were days Waeu
the church was a pageant of brave col
ors and shadow OF bllghtng big5try
Moors and Spaniards were alike hot
Dloo1ed. lmDeIuouss supersuuOus. The
world was awakening, but 10 these peo-
pie sun STEPPED in the degradation Of
the uQulslJlou. the awakening only wild
eued the horizon Of their prejudice And
az LAese conditions are employed 70
make The SOrceTess a wonderfully
impressive spectacle.
A Moderate Role SuperbIy Acted.
The role OF the star is that Of mes
merist daughter or great Moorish
physician, loyal To her people, with the
fauaticism Of the M0hammedau. and
passionate in her love as OtheIl0 him
self She casts the spell Of her woman's
charms over a Spanish officer and taxes
him prisoner while she gathers herbs in
me moonlight. and. binding him fast as
NlFien bound Merlin, she Yields herself
as prisoner again 10 an overwhelming
t0N- for her captive His love grows.
like hers. until both cast themselves
against The mpreguabIe wall OF religious
persecution and die together. the man
ulLlhlnE poison from the W0mau's lips
without this artist as the enChautress
t---te could De but one situation of exc
C- --s- .--.1-lai-5 5A -Ae Whoie play. ana
l--e -i-l-4-ss In Paris, where Nine Bern
La-at originated the role, indicated that
hoy even mat mistress u stage aTLi-
HelaLtE had uncovered any more. But
MIS- CamIDeL llfuses life into almost
every scene by contributing 90 her role
qda--li-s which would make CORE
#.a
Det- u-suucL-Ee I'D the annals of The
siege Her voice IS more than music
u noWs Ike so1teued notes from the glo-
llnleli0 ana IS as Tfd8leur OF llteiIl-
seAce as the printed page INTENSIVE
.a-ternates in her bearing with the most
seclcIiFe playfIlness, and high pride
WIN complete Self-abueEa cation OF d0Eged
sIUbbOruueEs. She has The air ar nm
attn Of the Old Testament
Company Limited by Playwright.
Her associates lose color by comUari-
son. The chief among them. Guy stand
ing, appears as the lover and acts his
role with duh fervor. He has been long
on our stage. and his cFaftsmaushiD has
improved steadily, but he is as far from
creative greatness as The Maitland from
the sculptor. Frederick Perry acts as
cardinal the head OF the i1gTfzfrf.-g
sumed priesthood RepOse serenity CON
sclous strength, and intensity are the
qualities or the chuTchmau. not the rrIf-
tclan craft or the advocates FURY
Alice Butler Gertrude CoEalau. Mar
kaIel Bourne. Mildred Beverly. Henry
4l--lels IT, Edgar allen Wolf George
Elddeil and. more than all Of these.
ul-er MellisE-WhO acted AeFgutfg a6-
mlrab.y at this same playhouse two
wears aED-preEeuL acceptable gHarar-
ter-zatious- But they like the lesser
cLtl~ctersr a-l seem Inadequate because
OF Lae WOODEN arthciaIty o. the scenes
Throngs Of peasants voiciug neither
beEtrf nor worse than the usual quick
y-,5ii.s-t or Ile mob q brilliant com
pany or the Spanish nobility attendant
on splendid wedding. the iuqulsitIou.
sitting brutality iu "a noble cafnadrs#
ana The pomp and umptu0usuess of "a
moorish household give color 10 tHe
stage pictures The spirit Of pageaUtrg
- lA1etq. one or the most true forces
or tle play But superior 10 am thIs.
ana as though d. were framed by Ia l5
hhe deep intensity Of Mrs CauubelfS
boIlEayaL 70 Is, in spite Of ali the Iml-
tauous on the play. one Of the few eylfi-
billions Of positive. intense dramatic
ttreHgtl which tho modern stage af-
foTdE.