Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-12
'zIRA' PROVES A
REAL SENSATION
BELASCo PLAYERS DO VERY
WELL Whit
Miss Albertson Has Her Best Chance
Since She Came and Makes the
Most of lt-Stone and
Yerance Do Well

To say that Miss Lillian Albertson's
work in "Zira,' presented at the Be-
lasco theater last night, was splendid
would be placing 1t within the sphere
of criticism, and to tell the truth Miss
Albertson was fairly above criticism.
Miss Margaret Austin, over whom
New York raved when she made her
initial. appearance in the title role of
the play, gave Los Angeles her inter-
pretation of the part scarcely more
than a year ago. 1t was splendidly
done, of course, but to those who had
seen both the fair Margaret and Miss
Albertson let it be said, and without
nattery, that if there could be any
preference Miss Albertson would have
the lead simply on the basis of per-
sonal appearance, for her acting was
on par with the great Anglin.
1t was by far the best Miss Albert
son has given Los Angeles; glimpse,
as 1t were, of what she can do, for the
entire play rested upon her. From
start to finish there was not flaw.
Every accent of voice in the remark
ably intense performance was perfec-
tion, every action true and convincing.
every word and gesture breathed, as
it were, from a racked and aching
spirit.
At the close of the first act Miss
Albertson, enacting the role, faints and
falls to the stage. OF that one act
last night an epic might have been
written. There was no play fainting
about it, and for moment the audi
ence sat horror-stricken as the crash
of the falling body came to them.
Miss Albertson had turned upon her
heel, put her hands over her eyes and
dropped her length to the floor. An
athlete trained to the rough work OF
the football field and the gymnasium
might have done it without danger,
but that a woman a delicate, beauti-
full woman, could drop around on a
hard board floor as Miss Albertson did
was almost beyond comprehension, and
If she is able to repeat the trick for
the balance of the performances then
there is not strong man in Los An
geles who will not take his hat OH
to her.
The staging is remarkably we'll done,
a compliment to the work of Hobart
Bosworth.
AS stated, "Zira" is decidedly a one
person play, and Miss Albertson holds
all the credit AS Rev. Gordon Claver-
ing Harry Glazier presents studied
and finished performance. Lewis Stone
as Captain Arnold Sylvester offers a
treat in artistic work. and the only
regret is that he has not greater role.
MISS Eleanor carey, tne new Ineih-
ber, as Lady Clavering, Miss Florence
Smythe as Nellie Garthorne, William
Yerance and Lee Beggs are refresh
ingly clever in the ordinary roles they
are forced to assume.
The only other strong role of the
play is that presented by Miss Adele
Harrington. That Miss Harrington is
clever in many ways is beyond ques'
ton, but in the great denunciatior
scene of the second act she fails tt
be convincing. A little more fire,
little more energy, even to ranting, an6
the role of the wronged and robbed
woman might be more properly given
But a performance or two more viii
probably round out the few incidental
wrongs of the play.
"Zira," as a magnificent product OF
what the coasts greatest stock com
pany can do, is worth going far to see