The Washington herald., 1907-04-25
DRAMA OF LOUIS KY STAGED
Miss NethersOle Appears in Her Yer
sion of "Adrienne Leeouvreur.
Large Audience at the New National
Theater Sees Emotional Drama
Well Presented.

Miss Nethersole again showed herself
an adept in emotional lines al the New
National last night, where she presented
the first time in Washington her own
version Of "Adrienue LecouvTeur" In
the darkened room scene in the third act,
and again when she meets her rival in
the fourth. her remarkable emotional
powers carried away a theater filled with
lovers Of the drama.
The play in which Bernhardt made such
a success had been rendered into English
some years ago, but Miss NethersOle did
not find the adaptation satisfactory, and
a great portion Of last year was spent by
her in revising the original translation
and IN adapting it to the more modern
needs. That she succeeded was attested
in the two scenes. when two women pas
sionately in love with the same man
sought to wrest the secret from each
other and likewise to gain supremacy
over her rival Princesse de Bouillon.
played by Miss Rosalind Ivan, was the
chief female character next to that of
Mile. Lecouvreur, of the Coincide Fran
caise. the part taken by Miss Nethersole.
The scene is laid in the French court
in the period OF Louis XIV, about 1890
Maurice de SAKE. who is the heir TO the
throne Of Poland. comes 10 Paris incog-
nito, and begins an intrigue with the Prin-
cesse de BOuillon. Shortly before his return
10 his native land he meets Adrienne lie
couvreur, and falls desperately in love
with her He is gone for several months,
and on his return seeks out the premiere
actress. who gives him some flowers tied
with golden cord. Knowing his depend
ence on the Princesse de Bouillon in his
political adventures, he calls on her
While there she secures from him the
flowers, since she intuitively knows they
were given him by a woman. These flow
ers play an important part in the de-
velopment OF the plot.
The second act setting IS an exact repii-
ca of the green room Of the Coincide
Franchise as it is at the present time,
and the events which transpire there
gave melOdramatic flavor TO that por-
ton Of the play.
By an intrigue the Princesse de Bouillon
and Mile. LecOuvTeur are in a villa after
the play. II is here that the two rivals
meet for the first time. but owing TO the
darkness the princess is unable TO learn
the identity Of the other Here is given
Miss NetheTsOle's first opportunity to
display the talent which has brought her
fame.
Again. in the next act the rivals meet
This time in a reception room IN the
princess home, where the actress comes
10 entertain the French nobility. She re-
cites lines which practically lead to a
denouement, but the actress returns 10
her own home, leaving her lover with the
princess
Soon after her return a box arrives,
presumably from Maurice. The actress
opens the little casket and finds in IL the
flowers she had given the man she loved.
She presses the flowers 20 her lips and
thereby inhales poison, with which they
had been strewn. This first makes her
insane and then causes death. Before
her death Maurice arrives and assures
her that his love is for her alone, but il
is too late. The death scene is dramatic
and well played by both principals
The play is remarkably well staged
and the settings and furnishings could
scarcely be improved upon. II did lack
rhythmic swing. due probably to the
fact that this version of the play had
been presented but few times 1t was
Il 80 before the final curtain fell max
ing il somewhat of a long evenings en-
tertainment.
Considering the conditions under which
"Adrienne LecouvreuF' was given the
minor parts were satisfactorily portrayed.
Frank Mills as Maurice de SAKE, read
his lines well, which also can be said of
William Clark. as Able de Chazeuil
At the matinee yesterday Camille g
adapted from Ia Dame aux Camelias."
OF Alexander Dumas. hls. was rendered
before an appreciative audience that filled
the theater. The piay has been seen So
often that comment is scarcely necessary,
except 10 say that the cast was well bal
anced and the audience went away ap-
parently satisfied The ballroom scene. In
the fourth act and the death scene,
showed Miss Nethersoie master of her
art As an emotional actress she has OPP
portunity this week in the repertoire she
is giving to display her ability to an TN
usual degree.