The Washington times., 1908-01-05
ALA Nazirnova
Is Compelling In
The Comet
BY A. H. BALLARD.

New York. Jan. 4
rs NE ALA NaZIAIOVA again
NH flashed her art and remarkable
pc -sonauty upon New York
this week in an absorbingIy
grOtesque role contained in a peculiar
play. The Comet" BY Owen Johnson
at the Bijou Theater.
To awaken intense curiosity, and ac-
centuate a further step in artistic ad-
.yanCement. seems to be the chief re-
suit of this last move OF the Russian
genius, who is fast gaining an ascend
ant power over US. Once il appeared to
be a hopeless task for this actress 10
attract gOodly numbers to the ittla
BijoU house of amusement on Broad
way; bat now she crowds il. ard a
larger professional home will be needed
If her geometrically progressive infiu-
enCe and popularity continue 10 in
crease as they have in the last year
or so.
Her play OF this week is best sug~
Eested by an attempt at rough impress
s4onistic word painting. The story, tha
moral, the message. the authors ef-
forts. are only incidental TO the weirdly
effective volubiIity, force, versatility.
comprehensiveness of the actress. She
is steadily earning her triumphant
place. Her art. as II proves its capacity.
truth. and compass, viii surely make
US call her The NazimOva, yet: II for
nothing else than the fact that there
IS no one now IN America who has the
mental vision and technical sweep Of
this magnetic woman from a foreign
land. She has been Hedda Gabler, Nora,
Comtesse Coquette, and Hilda, portray
ing and Illuminating broadly separated
spheres of human existence; and now
she is Iona, the Comet typifying
great. successful actress. who once was
q wrOnged young girl, has received eN-
perience in the world OF men, ana
now returns to the home OF Dr. Raw
anei, who once ruined her, and whose
son she now steal away. The play ls
merely contrasting the burned-Out ashes
Of her life with the fresh enthusiasm
of a Vita boy. FeTnand- II would Dc
idle to rail at Johnson, the playwright,
for having slipped Dumas, lbsen, Suder-
mann, Bj)TnsOn, MaeterlinCk- Augustus
Thomas. and who not, for inspiration
whereWitE to frame up his current We
hicle for The NazimOva- It Is only q
happy fact that Brandon lyman Is re-
fTeshing nd convincing IN hls repre-
sentati0n Of budding, alI-hOping manly
aspirations NaZimOva (Loua, III
Comet'D annexes this Unbitten, mascu-
line peach and the contrasting fires.
SHADOWS. depths. inrhllll6Ss SlHLlAAl-
canoes. possibilities, fateful happenings
of their respective lives, form the sub
tect-matter Of a wonderful series OF
dynamic scenes.
Her Wonderful Costume Effects.
You can never forget the undulating
grasping presence Of Nazimova as she
floats in on the stage-draped In gray
voluminousness, with triangular bag
sleeves: a train that reaches back TO
helTs ruins; chin in the air; e throat
yards in length; hat that completes the
clutching lines of the whole-au con-
vaying the impression of some strange
being that VIII suck in a section Of the
world and land il in perdition-a HUI
man Vampire that only lacks the
| hooked claws to be utterly horrible and
/ fearsome The white face of sleepless,
! Iimitless wisdom and fatigue only
heighten the Hogarthian picture. There
| is no one IN these regions who knows
/ how to dress a part like that, except
/ this mystical entity of histriOnism who
| mas grown upon US of late No one can
/ afford to miss this radical, stirring,
| eruptive impersonation, this latest feat
| of The Nazimova.
OF course, the play is unCauny. aRd