Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-02
NETHERSOLE
PLA US SAPHO
FITCH VERSION OF OLD DRAMA
is REVIVED A
STAR SCORES SUCCESS IN THE
NAME ROLE
Other and More Recent Pieces Seem
to Have Deprived the Play
of Its Power to
Shock

attempt an extensive review OF the Fitch
lied "Sapho," which Miss Olga Nethersole
and her exceptionally capable company
presented at the Mason last night. The
storm of protest and adverse criticism
which followed the original New York
presentation, and which has been re-
peated since, with varying degrees of
severity, all over the country is still
fresh In the memory of habitual theater-
goers despite the lapse of several years.
Its only apparent result was to increase
Mr.. Fftchs royalties and to establish
the play securely in Miss Nethersole's S
repertoire.
Since then we have met Mrs. Dane ard
other OF the Shaw heroines; we have be-
come more intimately acquainted with q
host of Heddas and Magdas; and 1t is
possible, indeed 1t is likely, that were the
Fitch Sapho to be given its premier today
little comment would be caused by the
fact. 1t is no longer dramatic caviare
1t has, in large measure, lost Its power
to shock even the jeune file.
Differs from Old Play
Clyde Fitch's version of Sapho differs
In essentials from the drama which was
familiar to American audiences for years
before Miss Nethersole elected to essay
the role and before Mr.. Fitch had been
hired to reconstruct 1t for her use. Fitch
has given us a more colorful first act; and
he has given us the incident Of the spiral
staircase, which was good advertising, II
1t was claptrap dramatics. On the other
hand he has practically eliminated the
character of Alice Dore as an acting part,
and he has omitted entirely the scene at
jeans home In the country.
Miss Netehrsole brings to the role OF
Sapho all her acknowledged power as
N1rf1 Nf tf4-
sinuation, all her art of depicting wo-
mans suffering. Whatever may be said
OF the play, of its excuse for being, and
OF the dramatic value OF Mr.. Fitch's
adaptation, there can be little but praise
for the maner of Miss Nethersole's reali
cation of its chief character. 1 am in
clined to think, however, that the role
would gain in strength by lighter and
more frivolous treatment in the first act.
Here Fanny LIE Grande Is shown as one
of gay party of revelers, living the life
that was hers before Jean came into 1t
to change it. Yet she holds herself some
what aloof from the gayety, and for no
apparent reason.
Her Artistic Work
One thing that Miss Nethersole does
and does finely is to indicate the slow re-
finement of her passion for Jean. At first
hers is a wholly physical attraction; 1t
Is uncompromisingly the appeal of sex.
Then comes possession and with 1t a
surer and a more abiding sentiment.
There is a difference in her caresses. a
tenderness In place of the earlier flame of
desire. The old Fanny LIE Grande. as she
herself says, is dead; and the new Fanny
reckons her life from the day she first
met Jean.
Mr.. Frank Mills gives consistent por-
trayal of the young student, lacking
somewhat in fervor in his love scenes, but
admirable in the scene wherein he breaks
with Fanny; ard admirable too, upon
his ignominious return and his resub-
mission to her sway. This Is the last
scene of all and is excellently handled by
both players.
AS for the others, Mr.. Robert Bolder
gives US an amusing Characterization of
Uncle Cesaire; and Miss Adeline Bourne
good character bit as his wife. The.
Decheette of Mr.. Lawrence Grant and the
Flamant of Mr.. Langhorne Burton like
wise merit praise
The prompter was again in evidence last
night and on at least one occasion, made
himself heard even in the back rows.
The production from a scenic standpoint
leaves little to be desired; though some
few of the first act masquerade CO.'S
tunes show over long use.
Tonight Miss Nethersole will present M.
Paul Hervieus 1.-THE Labyrinth" To-
morrow night Carmen" will be the bill.