The Washington herald., 1908-03-08
NEW YORK THEATERS.

New York, March Mora in The
Dolls House" is hardly the best eharac-
ter to serve as a test of an actress
ability, but its familiarity to most play
goers compensates for its limitations in
the case OF an actress who speaks in
foreign tongue. Probably for this rea-
son Mime. Vera F. KomisarzhevsBy. the
Russian actress, chose il as the medium
OF her debut on an American stage. when
she appeared here Monday evening and
the early evenings of the week, at Days
Theater. with the members Of the Dra-
matte Theater of ST. Petersburg. Be it
known that Nine. Kom-is-ar-zhevs-ky
(observe the articulated skeleton Of the
name) is in private life the Countess
Mocravieff. the founder of the Dramatic
Theater in st. Petersburg and its man
ager She is enormously wealthy. and
withal a remarkable artist. and in the
face OF tremendous opposition and dis
couragement, she established her thea
ter in the capital Of the Car, and by
surrounding herself with the best players
available. raised il TO n position Of com
manding influence With all this she is
a, slight slender petite woman with a
plain face, but expressive dark eyes, in
which at times glow the fires of genius.
Her reception here socially has been ex-
traordinary. She arrived less than week
ago. but every day she has been attend
ing teas and meeting the Four Hundred
Of Gotham, with the Goulds as the lead
ers. She has shown something Of the
extraordinary energy which she dis
played in establishing the leading thea
ter in st. Petersburg in bringing the en-
tire personnel OF that organization 10
America at her own expense, proposing
10 play an engagement of FIVE weeks at
Daly's. Whether she will stand by this
determination In the face Of the dis
eouragenlent that is meted OUT 10 actors
on Broadway who play in a foreign
tongue, except in a few cases OF un-
usual interest carefully promoted long in
advance, as Bernhardt and Duse. and as
was the case with Herr Sonnenthal a
good many years ago. IS problematic at
all events. This much may be said with
entire propriety OF her Nora. that she is
an artist Of irreprOachable dignity, that
she has a widely expressive method
ranging from the lightest touches Of
resilient nature 10 the strongest denote
ments OF vibrant and impressive pathos
Comparisons with her countrywoman
Nazimova, are unavoidable. since the lat
ter was but recently seen here this sea-
son as Nora at a theater half a square
away. but such comparison is rather in
favor or the latest visitor. For Nazimova
makes Nora little more than a child.
while KOmisarzhevsky marks and dis
tinguishes the gradual change OF the
MOI int a-f..r
10 prepare the mind FOR the superhumau
step which forms the climax OF the play
What such comparison will amount TO
when she comes 20 play Hedda Gabler
remains 20 be seen. Nazlmovas Redda
Is a powerful portrait. which is height
ened by her youth and peculiar radiance
and beauty. II has left an enduring mark
upon the memory OF playgOers here. KO-
misarZhevszy's Magda is said 70 compare
with Duses. and her dellneation Of this
character will be awaited with interest.
She devoted the latter part Of the week
to Sudermann's Fires Of st. John" Her
support is excellent Her work suggests
the quiet. persuasive methods of Duse
and Mrs Fiske
The papers are much divided Some
deny her the possession OF great genius
and absolute brilliancy. but their fnal
her. the general tendency being 70 await
her appearance. IN a greater part than
Nora before passing final judgment.
Dustin Farnum's temperance on Tues
day evening al the Bijou. after his caIaml-
tous experience in THE Ranger al wal
lacks earlier in the season. amounted to
something like an ovation. with pretty
nearly all the regular hrst-nighters in
their seats. The play selected for him by
Manager Harris. 10 whom he has been
lent by Charles Frohman. was The
Rector's Garden" a play IN four acts
by Byron Ogley. another young play
wright II was, as Mr.. Farnum said
when after the third act he was vocifer-
ously called for, something OF Il leap from
the saddle 10 the pulpit for in "The Rec
tors Garden" he portrays an interesting
young Episcopal preacher. who has a
rival in Felix Cooper CWmiam Courte-
nay). just graduated from West Point. and
on the eve of starting for the Spanish
American war. Both are actuated by|
glowing affection fer Blanche Cincioni
lGrace Ellistonl. The greater part Of the
acticn IS laid in the very pretty and very
realistic rectory garden. with a profusion
OF flowers and gorgeous sky effects diff
fusing a dreamy atmosphere over the
stage The second act is an equally pho
tographiC BIT OF realism in the form OF
chapel interior with the congregaticn
in their seats on a Sunday afternoon. and
the young minister Dr. Prince in his
surplice, prayer book in hand Can YOU
picture the Nirginian and the Ranger in
the holy habiliments Of the church? Truly
spiritual apotheosis has possessed the
dashing Farnum,
Well. this young DR.. Prince is a popular
preacher. whom everybody, men and.i
women, likes. But Felix learns at
class banquet at West Point from a /
classmate that DIT. Prince was driven |
out Of Colorado. and is, in fact. parading /
under false COlOrs and assuming virtues /
which he does not possess When DR. /
Prince receives a call TO become bishop /
of Montana. and the elders OF his con |
gregation are about TO give him a high /
recommendation, Felix, oscillatinE be- /
tween duty and Jealousy. resolves 10 tell /
What he has heard, and before the elders /
demands that DR.. Prince give an account /
o. his life in the West. That is the point /
OF the play and leads up TO the climax I
OF the third act. For Or. Prince las led /
a romantic life. indeed. He has been A /
lockout IN a gambling saloon and once l
plotted 10 rob a train But when he I
tells his pitiful story in his own frank /
manly WAY Of how he rose from an out
cast as small boy to higher resolves.
and proves that he had only been a vic /
TIM OF circumstances. We in front To- /
gether with the astOnished elders. love
him all the more. And Blanche Cincionf. /
too, takes that view Of him. When he /
resolves to go away and disappear in /
the West 70 learn 20 become 4 master of /
his passions, as he declares. her heart /