New-York tribune., 1908-03-25
THE DRAMA.
NINE. KALIcH AT THE GARDEN.
Marta of the Lowlands. +"

lands has been known on TIE American staso
since $780, when on October L. Mr. Fiske produced
it. at the Manhattan Theatre ef which he then was
the manager, with Hobart Bosworth and Coronna
Ricardo in the leading characters-Manehcn ana
Marta. Last night, still under Mr.. F1skes direc-
ton, it was represente the Garden Theatre. as
vehicle for efectinE the reentrance here OF NINE.
Bertha Kalich, who appeared as Marta Inc part
Incorporates NOR, of suffering than Of action but
at intervals il operates In dramatic situation. and
thus it affords opportunity for acting Marta
a handsome peasant girl in Catalonia mas peei'
practically, enforced to misconduct, oy Sebastian,
an aristocrat. Sebastian purposes to wed "eai'hs
woman Of the higher class. while, at the same
time. privately keeping Marta as mistress IN
order to accomplish that iniqutty he ordalns ana
procures-wfthout the slightest necessity OF doing
so-the marriage OF the peasant girl TO one Oh MS
laborers shepherd, named Manelich, an honest'
simple. truthful man. who, ignorant or tne reia-'
ton that has subsisted between the girl ana ner
feudal lord gladly and gratefully receives Marta as
a wife. Marta, on the other hand believes that
Manelich is Of her degradatoin, ana tnat
he marries her with knowledge of the ignonlliiy ol
such union. After the marriage the wire De
of the deception that has been prac-
tised to blind and beguile her husband, and IKE
disappearing the worth Of his character anu
the sincerity of his love.-she becomes ahectonate-
~ attached him Sebastian intrudes himself
pursuant to his licentious scheme. and, in scene
of savage conflict. he is killed by Manelich- now
enlightened to the detestabe character and vile
conduct of his employer, and to the cruel op-
jected The home of Manelich is among those
mountains Of Catalonia which diversity the bleak
ana torrid plains of the Spanish peninsula,-so
graphically Indicated In the novel of Don Quixote,
and to that home Manelich ultimately conveys
his WIFE >eXonerating her from all responsibility
for the concubnage forced upon her by the villain
GUS Sebastian, and from all blame with reference
TO her afflicted and miserable past. She has been
Marta of the Lowlands. and she has suffered much:
she shall be Marta of the Highlands now, and
she shall be happy in a life.
EthlcaIly the drama is abortive, because its
implied preachment of the forgiveness of sin is
pointless and inappropriate.-seeing that the
heroine has not been sinner but victim: there
is much pity; there is nothing to forgive
The character OF Manech is incredible. but
fabric Of fancy it possesses elements Of ideal
heroism. The merit of the play resides in its
occasional theatrical situations-the most ef-
fective of which displays Maneich's discovery
of the treacbery of hfs master and the deplor-
able misfortune of his wife. Martas disclosure
of her disgrace and anguish is pathetic. and that
passage provides actress with good occasion
for the show of feeling and power. Dramat-
cally. the piece, while marred by gross i'm
probabilities and by much triviality and verbiase,
is fortunate in movement-not very brisk
toward a potential crisis and a happy culmina
ton The theme is not agreeable TO good taste.
but this period happens TO be one m which
there is reason for thanksgiving if play pre-
sented at any of theatres does not prove to
be either salacious or brutal,-or both. This one
was handsomely mounted, and IL was acted IN a
reputable Nine. kalich while some
what elderly in aspect, for young and bloom
ing Spanish beauty, assumed that identity with
a decisive expertness that might be expected in
the performance of actress Of trained talent
and ample experience. Certain qualifications
sentiaI to great acting she has not thus far,
veaed- Some Of those qualifca ations.-indicated
IN this place before now,-are: A sumpt-
uous, supple figure, that can make actual
the ideals of statuary; mobile countenance, that
strongly and unerringly express the feelings
of the heart and the workings of the mind: eyes
that with the majesty startle with the
terror thrill with the tenderness of their soul
subduing gaze; a voice, deep, clear, resonant
flexible, that range the wide compass CT
emotion and carry its meaning. in varying music,
to every and every heart; intellect shape
the purposes and control the means of Tlimetic
art; deep knowledge of human nature delicate in
tuitions; the skill to listen we'll the art 10
speak; imagination grasp the ideal of a char
in ali its conditions OF experience; the IN
stnct of the sculptor to give it form, of the paint
er. to give it color. and of the poet. to give 1t
movement; and back of ALL the temperament of
genius-the genalized system.-to impart
to the whole artistic structure the thrill of spir-
ituaI vitality; in word the soul of the horn ac-or
TO make it live
The personality revealed by the acting of Nine
KaIich appears be hard, resoute, aggressive.
and self-complacent The physique seems domi-
mated by that tenacious vitality characteristic Of
the race from which she springs. The figure is tai
and thin; the movements agile, but not graceful
The arms long; the hands are large nervous.
and flexible The feet conspicuous. The eyes
are large and dark. The mouth is advantageous
one for the purposes of the stage being well
formed and moderately large The brow is good;
the nose is long. The voice is loud, sometimes
harsh the utterance is somewhat forced. The
articulation is somewhat defective partly because
voice has been strained, and partly because OF
the cadent method of speaking common to almost
all continental European actors. The manner is
self-conscous the assumption Of character is arti
fetal; the employment of stagebusiness is precise
and deliberate The actress is proficient but she
is not interesting, and she has not at any time
here risen above the standard of respectable
mediocrity. An actor however, in a few hours
upset any estimate that has been made of powers,
faculties, and attrbutes-and sometimes that has
been done. Judging the future by the past Nine
KaIfch not only has not shown herself to be a
great actress but she will not do That she will
be prosperous there is reason to believe. f!
for she is not only resolute but she Is
under the direction of one Of the most
persistent and energetic managers now associated
with theatres. and he appears TO think highly
of her abilities In that she is fortunate Her per
formance last night was at its best on the level
speaking-as in the recital of the story of her life
TO the sympathetic old peasant. Her outbursts OF
frenzied feeling were so artificial be melan- |
choly- Mr.. Henry KoeIker who appeared as Man
elich. was duh and heavy A more completely
interesting performer has seldom emerged TO the |
public view. Mr. Koeiker evinced much t1rgid |
agitation from time to time, but impaired no por-
ton of II his auditors. There was no inner
sonation and variety of speech than .b.re /
is in the grrmTner and rumble Of the brass drum
nor was there any consistency OF Identification
the person Of the second act being completely az |
variance, except IN the tonsoriaI particulars OF a
clean shave and a carefully dressed wig with the |
person of the first. a middle-agcd child named
Nari,-presumaby a precocious senius,-dIsturbed /
the proceedings by squealing In most distressfuI