The Washington herald., 1906-12-09
Il NEW STAGE GENIUS:
NINE. ALA NAZINOVA
By MARIE B. SCHRADER
By MARIE B. SCHRADEP

SIDES very strongly. but the reports of
our being exiled on account Of this play
are very incorrect. I was back in Rus
sla last summer and expect to go again
next year, so you see"
do you intend playing emotional parts
when you finish with 'Hedda GabIer,
madsme?'
No. Certainly not. After 'Hedda' I
shaH do The Dolls House and The
Master Builder There are many actress
IS who play what you call emotional
parts which usually means one tremen-
dous scene in the middle act. There is
nothing TO that. You splutter and make a
noise and that's all. But TO play q role
in which you must think and show v0IIr
emotion In your face. that is the type Of
play which attracts me. On my opening
night In Hedda Gabler' / was called
upon for speech, and I said. No. let
me feel, not speak; and I meant IT, I
Ike Ibsen, Sudermann. Hauptmann. the
German school, the Norwegian. and the
Russian 1 can't bear the French school.
with its 'Zazas, its Dame aux Camellias.'
which you call Camille It's so easy TO
make people laugh or cry. but to send
them home with something to think
abOut-ah, that is different
I Ike Maeterlinck and d'Annunzio to
read but not to act | have PLAYED
Monna Wanna in Russia. as weIIas. nearly
al the great plays by the modern writer's.
l have acted 'Zaza,' too. In Russia fl
was hard, so hard, but one learned much
by experience. Here il is easy, verv. easy.
and one gains little In nv country we
played five and six new parts every week
VI our hVes. Here you stay in one play
SOMETIMES three years. That part I do
NOT ike. 1 would never consent TO do
such thing. It debases art. Just be-
cause play makes money is no reason
why an actress must bury herself in II
10 You think so2 I am too ambitious 10
DO that / must think, and I can't think
one thlng for three years No. never I
would rather do as they DO in Russia.
The salaries there are not so bad. but an
actress must provide all the costumes
worn in every play, and when there are
several acts in five or six different plays
each week, you can figure out about how
expensive that would be. How lovely II is
mere where your managers are so gen
erous, and the actress has nothing TO
think about except her role"
Was your conception of Hedda in
huenced by the Interpretation Of any
one else. madame2''
NO. indeed. for I have never seen
'Hedda Gabler' played I studied her for
myself, and ir my acting 7 have a reason
Tor everything I do. Every expression Of
my face is carefully thought out; every
movement of my hands, my head. my
body, is planned beforehand I study all
the time when I am not playing. that is
the reason I invite you to my dressing
room"
What do YOU think OF Bernhardt and
Duse2"
What can I say about the two greatest
artists on carth?' answered Nazimova
They are so entirely different that they
can in no way be COnfOunded I must
tell you of my first impression OF Bern
hardt which were gained from graphic
phone which shouted her great scene
from La S0rCiere, in which she arraigns
the church. 1t was everything cxcept
anything which in my mind could be re-
lated 10 the wonderful Bernhardt. but
when 1 saw the divine Sarah. herself.
oh what a difference. She is truly di-
vine. and l adore her I love Duse. too.
Each is so perfect in her way that Il
would be impossible 10 choose between
them. Ny school Of acting is not that Of
Bernhardt, nor is il that Of Dusa."
May ] ask what it is?" I inquired
Madame gave an amused glance out Of
the corners Of her long eyes She had
finished her makeup and her ewes were
still more wonderful than before. for. Ike
-Ine. Bernhard. she has originality I'm
applying the COlors TO her face She closed
her eyehds almost 10 the lower fringe Of
lashes and said:
I mean 10 found a school Of nv own
in which actors and actresses viii work
with naturalness for their motto. But it
Is time for me to go on the stage or
Tesman viii wonder where I am"
Then NazimOva stood up for the first
time. and I remarked: How tan YOU are.
madame"
You think so2 You are mistaken. III
am only five feet four inches and q half.
But ! make myself look tall That's art.
you know, 10 act and look what you are
not
New York, Dec. Z.