The Washington herald., 1908-01-19

Russia, and IS practically new TO this
country. 1t was played by a company OF
Scandinavian amateurs IN Chicago I'm the
spring of 1895 and acted at one perform
ance last March at Carnegie Lyceum, IN
this city, by an English-speaking com
pany headed by Oda Nielsen, the Danish
actress, who was said to have learned TO
speak the lines Of Rita Allmers in English
after two weeks of study. The perform
ance proved a fiasCo and was not repeat
ed. The first performance Of the play IN
English took place at the avenue TheateT,
London. November .. 1896, with Janet
Achurch as Rita and Mrs. Patrick Camp
bell as the Rat-Wlfe. A series OF per-
formanees in the evening were given sub
sequently IN London by Mrs. Campbell in
the part Of Rita, which NaZimOya will
interpret.
In Les Bounons." or "The Testers" as
it is to be known heneeforth in English,
Miguel Zamacois. its author. directly
challenges those who say that a poetic
play is not what the modern public de-
mands Yet the Empire Theater was
packed 10 the doors on Wednesday even
ing, when Maude Adams made her first
appearance in the play and the enthusi-
asm was Infectious II was partly for
Miss Adams, whose hypnotic influence on
The average notwithstanding miss is
simply madding. but largely for the
clever play. which John Rafael has cleV-
erly translated into English rhyming me-
ter. The piece enabled Miss Adams to
score triumph in a role which the divine
Sarah recently created I'm Paris. IL is
probably the best thing Miss Adams has
ever done. for she played Rene de Chan
cenac, afterward the fool Chicot, with
fewer mannerisms, fewer grimaces and
meaningless gestures, than anything she
has attempted IN the past Which shows
that she is developing and becoming set
tied III her art. There was genuine music
in the manner in which she delivered the
rhymed verses in the tourney Of wit IN
which all the clowns engage before the
Lady Solange de Mautpre and her father.
The title Of The TESTERS Is suggested
by the circumstances that five wits enter
the lists for the Lady SOlauge's choice Of
a court fool She Is the daughter Of a
generous nObleman whose estates have
gone 10 seed through his goodness Of
heart and prodigality still preserving his
uncOmpromlsing pride 10 the last degree.
hene de ChanCcnaC, a young nObleman.
loves SOlange but as her father Is too
proud TO expose his poverty, he allows no
strangers In the moldeTing castle OF Maui
pre-, Bat Oliver, his faithful factotlm
and steward seeing how il is with his
young mistress who must foreg0 all
pleasure in life and live in cloistered Sc
ciuslOn, aTTanges matters so that soIange
feigns melancholy and de Mautpre issues
a proclamation announcing a tourney OF
wit 10 take place In his castle Whoever
shall carry on the victory n this contest
shall be milady's clown.
Three fools enter the combat. and latter
TWO others are announced. With the con-
uiysnce of Oliver, Rene comes. accom-
panied by Robert De Belfonte. also a
gentleman, and In love with the young
chatelaine, and disguised as a hump-back
Jester Rene easily wins the approval Of
mllady by his nimble Wit and graceful
improvisation.
This scene Of the Wit combat is a
charming bit Of writing. suggesting in
us rhymed elegance and delicate play Of
mind the famous duel episode in Ros-
tand's "CyranO de Bergerac," a play with
which The TESTERS may be COMPARED in
other particulars. especially in the at
. tempt 10 classify il. IN this scene Miss
Adams rose grandly 20 the occasion. The
improvisation 20 the breeze. a charming
BIT Of rhyme was admirably delivered by
the actress.
Solange becomes infatuated with the
supposed Jester. but deplores his hump
1t Is not till he casts off his disguise and
discards the def0rming pad that the
young girls love is wholly infamed Her
fathers pride, however. still bars the way
% their union. Then Rene Contrives 10
make II appear that a mythical buried
treasure, with which de Mautpre ha.
long beguled the Cradulity Of his serv-
ants. whose wages are long in arrears, is
uneart5ed on his estate Rene is rich
and has stocked the iron-boUnd chest
with gold and jewels II is brought IN
and opened, and now that de Mautpre is
again flush and pride need no longer
stand in the way hs takes the young
nobieman By the hand and places in II
that Of S0lange. with his blessing.
a strong comedy interest is created BY
q staggering Florentine bravo. VuIcano
in the employ Of de AIdutpre. who bulles
the inmates Of the castle and awes them
by his boasted sWOrdsmanship until dis.
armed IN duel with the supposed ChicOt
and sent adrift in disgrace. This par;
was admirably played by Gustav Won
. Seyfertitz. recently of the German stage
who makes his first appearance in an
Engiish-speaking part. Others in the cast
are ConsUelo Bailey (Solange). William
Levers Robert de- Belfonte). Edwin Holt
OLIVER. and Mathide CottreIly. who PLAY,
Nicole. one Of the humorous servants.
The performance is generally credited
with marking a distinct success for Miss
Adams, as well as the author.
FREn 2 SrHRAnER