New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
THE DRAMA.
ANOTHER BELASC0 PAGEANT.
"The Rose Of the Rancho"

nically legal but outrageougly unjust and brutally
tyranrical seizure Of the estates Of Spaniards in
California after the Mexican War: but tho purpose
| Of the dramatist was not much to ilumine
| remote and forgotten rascality as to display
the Incidents of romantic love-story associated
with the nefarious proceedings Of that dstressful
and turbulent time That purpose has been ac-
conpished In pictorial scenes OF uncommon beauty.
The scenery of Southern California IS inexpressbly
charming for 1t combines tranquil loveiness with
awful grandeur and Is everywhere invested with
| poetic mystery The stupendous and austere
mountains. the boundess. lonely plains. the balmy
orange groves, the graceful palm trees, the fra
| grant magnolias, the abundance Of flowers, the
glorious blue skies and the sweet air-these and
| many other beauties unite to make that region
paradise. 1t is In Southern California that the Rose
OF the Rancho blooms, and Mr.. Bslasco. who knows
that country well, has made his stage garden OF
luxury and a dream Of splendor to convey It's
charm. The investture OF the play blending old
Spanish architecture with almost tropical
wealth OF natural beauty is therefore magnificent,
and II considerably excels the play itself.
Details OF the story have been furnished in this
place 1t Is simple, almost trite story, but It Is
told in action than IN words. and the telling
OF It proceeds from sensation point to another,
With cumulative effect Divested of outward
hourishes, 1t is the portrayal of conflict between
virtue, animated by love. and vlany iHpeIed by
cupdity and brutal license. The vuisarian would
seize the estate OF old Spanish family. The
hero, who loves its young mistress would save 1t
for her: and in order to accomplish that object. he
IS compelled to pretend fraternity with her oppres-
| sor-for which she temporarily distrusts
him: but his purpose is accomplished, his fidelity
is proved, and his love is rewarded. In all this.
happily, there Is no examination into the remote
causes OF the universal passion; philosophc
| essay masculine strength as opposed to feminine
weakness; treatise on elective affinitiea. The
| play is old-fashioned meiodrama,-a fabric OF
situation and incident,-in a new-fashioned dress:
those plays that the spectator observes with
interested desire to ascertain how it will turn
out. No type of character is presented, nor is
any special effort made to vartegate the old types
Kearney. OF Washington, is the handsome. gallant,
expeditions young cavalier who has loved and res-
cued the endangered maiden in a hundred plays OF
ths past. Kincaid, Of Beaver, is the same old
blackguard and bully who seems victorious for a
moment, but is always finally discounted, IN the
chronic story of the Far West. Don Luis is the
debonair but disappointed suitor. from whom the
Bride OF Netherby always rides away Fatner An
tonic is the good and gentle priest who cheers the
dropping spirit and bestows the ecclesiastical oene-
diction. The only persons who SAVIOR of e1cep-
tional quality are Sefiora Kenton and her daughter
Juanita-the stern and formidable woman
vital with Spanish hatred OF the invading Amer
lean; the other, passionate caprtcious wilful girl
who can be sweet and tender, but is customarily
piouant independent and resolute IN her own
characters strongly reminiscent OF the ma
tron and the heroine in the novel OF Ramona. But
all the same the old tale of power protecting weak
ness stretagem defeating duplicity. and love tri-
urnphant over hate, pleases and will continue to
please Intrnsically 1.-THE Rose OF the Rancho,
though felicitous in theatrical eIpedents and sus-
tained suspense, Is not exceptional work OF
dramatic and literary art; but It has positive and
abundant theatrical merit, impaired by the ex-
perienced and skifu hand OF Mr.. Belasco. and the
production of It is worthy OF his fame.
In the acting there but little that rose above
the level respectable naedocrtty, and since, dra-
atically the play for the most part moves on that
level much more was reasonably to be expected
Mr. Charles Richman. now as heretofore is a sonsy.
healthfu interesting thoroughly good fellow. and
unusually earnest Kesrney, Of Washington;
while Mr John W. Cope, Kincaid, Of Beaver,
assumes, In painfully natural way. the obnoxious
Observation-Disclosures repulsive personal ap-
pearance-cornrnonly and not erroneously, ascrfoeo
to the Western breed OF ruflan Miss Frances Starr
as Juanita Kenton is pleasing to contemplate. but
if she possesses, in any considerable degree. the
faculty OF irpersonating anybody but herself, sne
succeeded In concealing It. Acting is, among other
things the assumption and continuous maintenance
Of an imagined personality: but that is far from
being custom with the younger female perform
ers-the numerous Ethel Barrymores, Eleanor Rob
sons and Marie Doros-just now on the stage. The
real of this period, real because they
.rpersonute (and those are very few, are persons
tn or nearing, middle age. It TO be thought
quite enough for girl to have a pretty face
nnd a GLIB tongue and TO dress prettiyi she IS
then an "actress," Miss Starr very neatly dis
played the usual feminine faculty for coquettsh
behavior; but. IN the situation OF the drama
that absolutely requires eotingthe art 70 disclose
a tenpestuous conflict OF impulses and emotion IN
the heart Of a young woman who loves yet doubts,
and is rnaddened by mixed and contending surges
OF passon,-her performance eliminated IN vehe-
rnence and rafting loquacity Her talent is that
Of the sngerue, but It seems to be imperfecty de-
veloped for experience has not yet taught her 20
conceal artihce refrain from doing the same
thing over, and over, and again. till at last
the mixture of arch cajolery and childish pet
uiance becomes insipid with saccharine
notony. Her personality Is attractive, being that
of a sweety pretty and lively little girl, OF whom
It may be said. as Desdemona says of her inno-
cent hand. "it yet has known age and felt no
sorrow" Depth of emotion and power of express
capered; she prattled she mischevous
and now demure; but very obviously artificial and
weariIy nonotonous Mr.. Benrimo gave most
broken Spanish servant, lementing for his
! dered master. Mr.. Belasco has restored the old
green curtain, and a welcome sight SC wes Mr..
| Belasoo and Mr.. Tuly were called and cheered,
and the manager expressed his gratitude. and his
| pride IN Miss Starr. The play would deserve
| cess for it's scenery alone. 1t surely will have
| prosperous career, for it's purity and beauty are
decisive. It should be recorded that the audience
received Miss Starr,-who is not unknown here,
| for grace vivacty, and personal worth-with much
J favor; as indeed it did everybody who appeared
| and everything that happened. The night Of new
| play at the Belasco Theatre is occasion Of
festival-the public ordaining like good King Dun
can. that
| Signs Of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
| PROGRESS OF DUcEY TESTIMONIAL.