The San Francisco call., 1908-03-29
BY Waiter Anthony

A Magda not given TO mouthlngs or
hysteria, a sinner without hypo-
critics whining, woman of natural
impulses and passionate, potential ma
ture was what Mrs. Patrick Campbell
made of sudermann's unhappy heroine
yesterday afternoon at the Novelty
theater 1t was the last portrait 10
be hung by the noted English actress,
and 1t deserves a place in the best light
ION the line Beside the peryerse
Hedda. maniacaI Agnes. disillusioned
and frightened Paula, the picture Of
Mrs Campbellis Magda is best Ii is
clearest defined perhaps because most
reasonable and normal. and the very
essence OF Mrs. Campbells art is nor
mality and naturalness- She DESTROYED
no scenery yesterday in the suppressed
excitement of her final scene with her
tyrannical father. and no soap was
employed to simulate a frothy frenzy
Some may find fault with her Magda-
remembering the pantherIike fury OF
Nance O'NeiPs Magda- To others, in
cluding the writer, Mrs. Campbell s
conception will remain a finer memory.
The deep and touching sincerity of her
scenes with her sister, Marie; her teas
ing yet yindictive treatment of her
aunt; her real concern for her step
mOInGF ana n6I d0OIndlcuS Scut1iHcnto
toward her father were only part of
her many sided and complex delinea-
ton of the great singer who had risen
through sin to a knowledge OF herself
and thence to power.
One of the best scenes in the play
was between Magda and DR.. Won Kel-
| Ter. where he. pitifully mean and small.
/ demanded as the price of his offer TO
make reparatien that their baby should
1 hn 81 n raj With
/ what scorn and yehemence she de-
nounced him and the eonventionalities
/ which would rob a child of its mother
and . mother of her BABY That was
acting of sort not often seen. The
human side of Mrs Campbells $ art was
again evidenced in her love for heI
sister. expressing itself in a thousand
| tender glances and caressing touches
upon Mariess cheek or hand or arm.
There was little applause 10 inter
rupt the play yesterday. Audiences dc
not rise TO cheer Mrs. Campbell. Her
spell Is more like that of musician
1 who plays so keenly upon his hearers
nerves that they are reduced to silence
i There was something almost super
human in her Magda, as of a woman
quite beside herself, and in whom rea
son had ceased to be the motive factor
1 and had given place 10 impulse ans
illogical emotion.
For Mrs Campbelrs support ther,
was evident a tolerant interest on tn.
part of her audience which accepted
with kindliness the best efforts of thu
other players 1t is not unreasonable
to suppose that the presence OF he
mother in the same scenes is more o
hindrance than a helRt to Stella Camp
bell, who was best as Marie whel
her mother-but sister in the play
was not on the stage. She seemel
conscious of the difficulty of the situa
tion and shrank somewhat with
natural elf-consciousness. Her Mari
was girlish and sweet and innocent
and was quite her best piece of worl
this week Webster's impersonation o
, Dr. xon Keller was also somewhat bet
ter than of former roles. but Ii was IA
from being distinguished. He did
clever piece of work in his exit whe
questioned by Magda's father as t
their former relations in Berlin
For the rest the cast merely serve
to shed a darker hue on the back
ground of Mrs. Campbe1Is brillian
Z. artistry.