The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
NEW YORK THEATERS.

New York March Alt was TO be pre-
dicted that Nine. Vera F. Komisarzhev-
sky, the Russian actress of the ST. Pc
tersburg Dramatic Theater. would find IL
profitable policy in the end to eurtail
her engagement al Days Theater- And
on Tuesday morning the announcement
went forth that she would close at the
end OF two weeks, thus renting two
weeks Of the five Of her engagement orig
inally outlined.
Socially she has been lionized here by
society. but the Goulds and the rest who
entertained her at teas in her social ca
pacity as the Countess Mouravien. were
conspicuous by their absence at her per-
formances. and her clientele was made
up almost entirely of her countrymen.
They occupied the gallery and shouted
"Bravar trying 10 make up in enthusi-
asm what they lacked in numbers-ail of
which is patriotic. from a Russian point
Of view. but improbable when there is
rent TO pay and a strong company TO
maintain The American contingent stay
ed away. Few English speaking play
goers were present at any time The
press criticised her coldly, and some en-
gagged themselves with more concern
about her unpronoanceabIe name than her
appealing art
Unfortunately. the distinguished actress
had early put gentle but firm qUietus
on the busy press agent. When he sug-
gested with becoming mOdesty sundry
well-tried and infallible devices for pro-
noting interest in her visit Ike tanbark.
milk baths. &c. she met his weil-meant
advice with an emphatic injunction.
No she is reported TO have said: ''if
they won't come 10 see me for the sake
OF my art they may stay away" The
American press agent was struck dumb.
He stared at her. and then went off and
told his friends that the Russian woman
was obviously shaky in her intelleCtuals-
CnfOrtunatel,, moreover. she chose
plays that are deficient IN the sort Of
heroics which appeal % the eye. Her
work is predominantly quiet and sug-
gestive- She does not beat doors and dis
solve In tears. and 60 about with the
emotional snifiie, handkerchief pressed 20
her nOstrils. Her art lacks the grand
stand" element. and her method reminds
one more OF Mrs. Fiske's than any one
elseS. In the interest Of truth she makes
no concession 10 claptrap
In Sudermann's Battle OF the Butter
flies she might have been one Of the
minor characters, so far as any effort
went 20 lift Rosie by a tour de force into
a thrilling entity. But that is what the
author intended. and the authors inten-
ton is obviously her keynote Yet this
performance was amazingly interesting
even TO US who understood nos a word OF
what was said and knew little of the
~. 90
pany was simply enchanting. Every part
was played 10 the life The characterize
ton OF the miserly old Wlakelmann by
NelidOv Was az amazing example Of peev-
ish Senility reduced 10 tho last fraction
while KomiSarzhevsky Rosie was the
living embodiment Of girlish simplicity
and Br3yich's Kessler irresistible as a
legere depletion OF a suave and persuasive
man Of the world. With nothing 70 20 by
except the brief English outline % the
action act by act. Ia the programme. Ii
was remarkable how the animated but
well-considered mimeJic work Of the en-
tire troupe enabled the non-Russian ele-
ment % follow the plot
The Sudermann comedy was given only
Monday night and Wednesday matinee.
The remainder OF the week was divided
between A Child OF Nature q play by
4. y. Ostrovsky. and The Children OF
the SUM- By Maxim Gorky. Down 10
this writing this scribe has not seen
her in anything heroic or hysterical, and
she has yet 20 show him that she can
soar in passionate outbarsts with the
SAME facility and grace that she can de-
DiCt the intellectual figures OF her roper
toire. types created by the passions rath-
er than the mind.
scoring one or the shortest runs. Of the
season In "The Rector's Garden. by
Byron Ongley. The play was not put on. |
as viii be remembered. until Tuesday
night OF last week. Il finished the week
al the Bijou and then was withdrawn.
Manager Henry B. Harris decided that
to be the better policy. though the Satur-
day matinee was crowded with Mr. Far
nuns female admirers The actor HIM
SELF lacked confidence i'm the vehicle. and
expressed his doubts 20 friends that the
piece had staying qualities. but deferred /
70 the judgment Of his manger The lat
ter had gone 10 great lengths IN the way
OF expense TO mount il in a manner that /
Should appeal TO the eye. but its weak /
spots were laid bare az the first perform 4
anCe.
Farnum has resumed his hunt for
suitable play, and it may have been his
haste IN this connection which led 10 his
arrest Tuesday morning on Upper
Broadway for exceeding the speed limits I
in his automobile. Anyway. the actor
was arrested by a policeman and had 10
leave his 500 watch for collateral TO ap- |
pear in court.
Margaret Anglin has modified her
plans. and is again in tie cast OF The /
Great Divide" with Henry Miller. after
a short season in The Awakening Of I
Helen Richie which does not mean
that her new play is a failure. On the 4
contrary, all reports are 10 the effect that /
Miss Anglin has again demonstrated her
Judgment about plays and scor-
ed decided triumph in the new part. /
But The Awakening Of Helen Richie" /
was brought out this SEASON merely 10 i
comply with the contract she had with /
the author, compelling her to produce II /
az this time or forfeit her rights Her
was 10 give il a two weeks 4
try-out and then depart for Australia for
her twenty weeks tour. This arrange /
ment has been revised, and instead Of 1
going to Australia at this time. as orig
inally planned, her departure has been |
postponed until May
In the meantime Edith Wynne Matthi- \
son. who temporarily took her place with /
Mr. Miller. is bringing out her new PLAY. !
The Servant IN the House." In Wash /
lngton, and Miss Anglin has resumed her
tour with Mr.. Miller on his way 10 San
Francisco. where the actress viii ar
rive in time 10 take the steamer. for. Aus
tralia-
Miss Bertha Galland is said TO have a
play for next season which bids fair to
rival The Thief in dramatic power and