The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-06

rector, at the Alcazar Theater, and during
this engagement was produced the Chinese
tragedy, The First Born in which they
both appeared, and which was so success
ful that Mr.. David BeIasco produced 1t
both in New York and London. with Mr..
Benrimo in his inimitable creation of the
old Chinese pipe-mender. 1t was this char
acter which attracted Mr.. Charles Froh-
man to Mr.. Benrimo's work. and through
which he accepted his offer to become a
member of the Empire Theater company
of New York.
Mr.. Belasco advised this step. but added:
when / have a theater of my own. i
want you to come back to me-" So. sew
eral years after. when Mr.. Belasco de-
cided to produce THE Darling of tie
Gods for Miss Bates. Mr.. Benrimo was
the first person engaged ard is now play
ing the father of the daughter of his old
star, and the mother. though not now
the center of constellation. still shine
brightly. and adds to the collection of PAN
ct: which have lighted the Imperial The
alter somewhat brilliantly for nearly four
months.
dIiC DdisS dit HtT CoIBpdI ptsdi
rehearsals yesterday morning at the In
periaI Theater for her special perform
ance of Ibsen's interesting play. "Hedda
Gabler," In which she will be seen at a
matinee. November Ii. One week later
Miss Bates will appear at a matinee per-
Torrance in David Belasco's tragic little
piece, Madame Butterfly" and the
comedietta. MY Aunt's Advice" In which
she made so decided a hit at the recent
Music Hall benefit.
Miss Bates originally purposed present
ing these plays at Saturday matinees. The
success of THE Darling Of the Gods"
however, has attracted such large audi
ences to the Imperial Theater that it was
decided not to vary the regular perform
ances of the japanese drama. Special
Thursday matinees were agreed upon.
Tn Ibsen afternoon will likely assume
the nature Of a social function. Miss
Bates has intermittently received half a
hundred notes requesting a special per-
Torrance Of "Hedda Gabler." Then. too,
so many persons are anxious to see the
Belasco star as herself. Several play
goers have witnessed her performance of
the Princess Yo-San half a dozen times.
ana Iley Wdul " ioOh ulou WISE DotSc
in modern costume.
In the presentation of "Hedda Gabler'
Miss Bates will be supported by J. Harry
Benrimo. Albert Bruening. Eugene Or
monde. Mrs. F. NJ. Bates. Leslie Preston
and Ruth Blake.
.'Hedda Gabler is a woman with whom
I have no sympathy. yet, as a study.
size interests me greatly" Blanche Bates
writes to The Republic.
'Hedds Is an icycle. with q white-hot
coal inside.
Her ardent soul fights all her life
with her frozen personality. The fight re-
suits in a draw. Neither conquers. but
both are victorious. The icycle extinguishes
the white-hot coal, the coal melts the
icycle. Each Is killed and insanity is the
result.
..Hedda is an exaggerated duplication Of
the old philosophical axiom hat there is
no perfect happiness in life. Her story is
a cruel one. She Is a woman with a soul
longing to do something n an ambition
that makes her want to be a somebody
but the little village where she lives and
the circumstances ty which she is sur
rounded preclude the realization of Ter
desires.
9 h marries a dry. uninterestfng pro-
fessor. whom she does not love. and she
fears the advent of an expected child by
this lovelesz union. An interesting man
comes into her life. Hedda does not love
him, but he inter ssts her. Another woman
has rescued hira from drunkenness and
persuaded him TO abstain from liquor.
"Hedda sets herself the task Of undo
ing a good woman's work. She finally
and makes once more . drunkard
Of the man who had been reclaimed. But
is needless to tell her story. for every
Of Ibsen is familiar with It.
.she is absolutely selfish and Q brute q