Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-31
Nance O'NeiI, Wednesday,

John t. Schoeffel of Boston will nra-
sent Nance O'Neil in "Magda" at III,
Oue"a Eicu:e. ", Jnasday evening
NOV. p This brilliant actress was IN
Lewiston last Week. and the Journal in
): twu column article IN the play and
Sta s.lid in part;
The role Of Magdl is exacting both
u Itself ANA in it, suggestions. If laws
/ ;rdens on her ar;istically and in point
Of lEHIill"sS. So complex a role
demands experience. feeling, spirituali-
ty and beauty. Miss OrNeil has all oe
p-.i.ncr ana this she conceals l., studi-
Gus regard # Keeping within herself
ard by Il restraint Of powers that are
re YET. Ne L"iieNs. unieckoned even by
herself. Her personal loneliness is un-
uGeStIOntd-l beautiful face with
beautiful h lir and eyes that sneak
Her profile is Gre *. Her head is set
right upun hcr ShoulderS-a beautiful
neck indeed Graceful in every postura
natural hi herself. a lady you must
agree a trlebofn lady by divine in
| ne,itance AID ny intellectual sover-
eighty. she has No apologies To- make
for whatever ideals the play devises
She r;ight be anything great. She is
to its manor born.
with such superb euuipment did
Miss ONeil adorn the performance of
! Magda. An exquisite touch of sensi-
hility pervaded the entire play. a con-
scious urdertone of womanhood ben
| meath the bitterness of it all. This
vitaliZed the FIRST act as by a flash
| light. Cold bitter, rebelliOus. scOrnful
Magda moved through il, like an i'm
periOus queen. She came to life in an
instant and from that moment hearts
went out to her and the audience was
in full sympathy, quick with sensitive
appreciation. We do not know many
instances III a somewhat restricted ex-
perience in which audiences have bean
more breathleSsly lrtent than was that
which heard Miss O'Neil Wednesday
evening.
Miss O'Neil's drXterOus handling of
herself. her vocal gifts, the melloy
beautiful tone ana quality of her voice
and its ringing quality when called
upon are notable. We confess to having
fallen completely under the charm of
her personality and her powers If She
uOtS not 80 lar ;tllu VIII ner way, IL
will be by reason OF accident Of fortuity
which DO not now appear. She has
youth, hope, courage and love of art.
And witnal she has genius. Ana
genius will have its own.
Besides Magda. two, if not three
supremacy stirring characters are Of
fered-the first that of Col Schwartz,
portrayed by that sterling old actor,
Mckee Rankin. already famous a gen.
GRAFTON ago. man of profound intel
lectual acumen, thorough dramatic
training and wide experience. His
pathetic representation of the soldier
father was tragic in it's solemnity, and
appealing in it's lonesome dignity. AS a
portrayal it was mastery in its realism,
yet a role that requires a degree of
imagination and subtlety. Mr. Rankin
shared honors with the star.
Charles Millward as Won Keller was
quite perfect, polished. thoroughly in
control. Charles Dalton as the pastor.
was admirable. He. said things SO well
and with such expressive sentiment.
with transitions SO skilfully managed,
that his work was most cOmmendabla.
The others were in keeping with the
principals.
Five or six curtain calls followed
each act. Miss O'Neill is beautifully
gowned, III elegance with perfect taste"