The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-14
ADJUSTMENTS

Three acts Of conversational introduc-
ton and two in which Miss Nethersole
has abundant opportunities for her pre-
sentiment OF the name part bring "Ad-
rienne Lecouvreur' within a few minutes
OF the witchng hour. The curtain was
scheduled &c rise last night at S O'Clock
sharp. The fact that II did not rise until
$50 was, in view OF the length of the
play, an exasperating incident that even
the excellence Of Miss Nethersole's acting
cannot make US overlook
There is not in 'Adrienne Lecouvreur'
the appeal. the heart interest that is
found in Miss Nethersole's "Sapho.''
Paula. in THE Second Mrs Tanauerav."
is bad woman. but for an evenings in
tellectual entertainment leaving the
amusement feature entirely out of the
question, The Second Mrs. Tandueray''
is so immensely superior TO "Adrienne
LecouVreur' that a comparison is hardly
possible. 1t seems a pity. too. for Adri-
enne is q good woman who loves and is
loved honOrably
The people in "Adrienne Lecouvreur''
DO not seem as real as those in the other
plays Miss Nethersole has presented to
Salt Lake audiences There is not there
the play is big, once it has gotten prop
erly into its swing. What is the ele-
ment that is lacking. the element that
reaches out beyond the footlights and
touches the heart-strings OF the audience?
1t may be said that the modern play
gOer can know but little OF the life 'Ad-
rlenne LecouVreur portrays. But this
is true in no less degree Of ''Sapho" and
there can be no doubt of "Sapho's" APP
peal as the part is played by Miss Meth
ersole. Nor can it be because 'Adrienne
Decouvreur' is all but solid tragedy, for
solid tragedies there are in plenty that
envelop in their sombre pail all that IS
sympathetic in the human heart
Miss Nethersole's Adrienne was all that
could have been desired in portraiture
of that type. Her opportunities are few
~ ~
then that she confirmed. in the minds Of
those who have been privileged to see her
only during this eng9 cement. the impress
sion Of her great genius. Nothing more
superb could be imagined than her read
ing of the lines in the scene where she
entertains the guests OF the Prince and
Princess de Bouillon.
Here she was matching her strength
against the strength of her rival for the
love OF Count Maurice de SAKE AS she
faced the princess and pronounced the
words that pierced the heart Of the grand
dame like dsggers OF ice. the mimic story
OF the great lady who .diShOnored the
illustrfous name of her lord her artistry
was perfect. Had Miss Nethersole been
herself the victim OF the lady's intrigues
had the scene that she was playing 20 an
audience been n leaf from her own life.
she could not have displayed more emo
ton; her face could not have been touched
with more varying shadows; nor could
the final. proud triumph with which she
idCcu AcI rival Ile lilSOleDl triumph OF
eyes and shoulders and manner have been
more subtly achieved. 1t was art in the
highest sense.
The death scene in the final act was
real, horribly real. She had been poi
soned with poison so deadly that very
little Of IL on flower would cause par
tial coma, then delirium and death All
these phases of mortal illness were spread
out before the audience in a manner that
left on every mind an indelible impression
their ghaStlinesS. Very gradually Mas
Nethersole sank into the coma The
pleadings OF her lover fell on ears that
heard them not and so until. with sud
den laugh, laugh that was not loud but
that was crazy it sent a shudder
through every nearer. the period Of de-
lirium began. IL is almost violation or
the sanctity Of a death chamber to tell
the story.
There are two other parts. both splen-
didly done last night. besides the name
part. These are the parts OF Maurice de
SAKE Drank Mills and Princess de BouiI-
Ion Miss Rosalind Ivan). Mr.. Mills was